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We should approach our task in Europe humbly.
We should approach Europe thoughtfully.
We should approach Europe wisely.
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Dr. BOB WALDRON, Executive Director
Dallas, Texas
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Anyone who took Journalism 101 learned that a news story should answer four basic questions: Who? What? When? and Where? Perhaps another question is even more important for our evangelistic approach to Europe. It is the question of How? How should we approach Europeans as we intensify our efforts to share the message of Jesus with their continent? I suggest three essential attitudes.
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- We should approach our task in Europe humbly. Christianity arrived on the Continent during the first century when Paul and others preached in the European cities of Philippi, Corinth, and Rome. For several centuries afterward, Europe served as the cradle of Christianity. She also was the birthplace of the Reformation through European leaders like Luther and Calvin. Even the Restoration Movement, where many of us trace our roots, had its beginnings in Europe. Churches of Christ exist in America today largely because of Europe’s rich Christian history and we should therefore approach the task of re-evangelizing Europe with a generous supply of humility.
- We should approach Europe thoughtfully. According to missionary statesman, Jim Reapsome, Europeans “fear that we won’t do our homework, we won’t take time to read our history books.” Europeans, like Americans, more readily listen to immigrants who show respect for their adopted country by studying its history and language before arriving, and by continuing their studies afterward.
- We should approach Europe wisely. When the Berlin Wall collapsed, Americans from many ecclesiastical backgrounds, including our own, stampeded into Eastern Europe as if heading for the Klondike Gold Rush, some even greedily hoping to strike it rich by hitting the mother lode of conversions. According to Reapsome, “Eastern Europeans appreciated our concern and our generosity, but they were wary of our tactics, our individualism, our buying out local people, and our penchant for public relations and fundraising gimmicks and gold mines.” A wiser approach calls for the American church to behave like ladies and gentlemen, to listen carefully to what European Christians are saying and to formulate our evangelistic plans together. Pledging a partnership of mutual respect with our European brothers and sisters makes good spiritual sense.
The task is huge, the enemy strong, and we cannot be victorious unless we link arms with one another and beseech the help of our mighty God.
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