When Christianity Spreads Faster than Cholera
Tragedy struck the village of Kunkwa in Ghana, West Africa. The day started out rather pleasant. As the rain started to soak the ground, the farmers were happy for their crops—at first. The problem was that the rain never stopped—all day and all night. Eventually, several areas of the village were flooded with water. Debris from the field flowed into the well, turning this water hole into a breeding ground for cholera. As unsuspecting villagers drank the water, they quickly fell ill. In the span of a few days, sixteen people died. As the sun rose the following morning, piercing wails could be heard from the huts around the village, alerting everyone that another loved one had passed away.
There’s a backstory on the church efforts in this village. Prior to the flooding, the local church and mission had empowered believers to construct a hand-dug well in this village. Lined with concrete and raised above the ground, this water source protected the surrounding families from the silent killer. Not one member of the families using water from this well died. Bereaved families noticed the families around the new well were not getting sick and wondered why. Even more important, they asked, could the grieving families close their well and use water from the new well? The cholera in the village quickly disappeared as all the families in the village began to use water from the safe well.
“Who knew that this sickness was coming to this village?” I asked from the front of the church.
Silence. No hands in the air. No one anticipated this tragedy, including me.
“Christianity spread—faster than the cholera ever could have. ”
I continued, “Only God knew that this was coming. God sent a church to your village to help you dig a well that saved your lives. Who would like to know more about this God who saves your village?” Hands shot up! Revival. Renewal. The church grew as people came to learn more about this God who rescued them from cholera. Christianity spread—faster than the cholera ever could have.
By digging a sanitary well in the village, it opened the hearts of the Kunkwa people to the gospel. Deeds demonstrate the truth of the gospel. Often, our most powerful witness of Jesus is when we explain the gospel with our words and demonstrate the truth of these words through our deeds.
DEEDS + WORDS + LIFESTYLE = HOLISTIC EVANGELISM
When Jesus first painted a portrait of salvation, he used terms that surprise us today. Instead of merely describing how to get to heaven or simply talking about how to promote social justice, he actually combines both. He carefully chose a passage that referenced Isaiah to illustrate this:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:18–21)
It is clear that Jesus’ desire was to proclaim the gospel through words. Since the gospel is not intuitive (people will not simply figure it out without explanation), the good news must be proclaimed. At the same time, words alone are not sufficient. Deeds substantiate the words and demonstrate the goodness of the news. Jesus illustrated this through his ministry as he cared for the poor and outcasts in society.
Bryant Myers explains, “Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, that are not just, that are not for life, that are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings.” Since God intended for humanity to flourish though healthy relationships resulting in shalom, poverty occurs when key relationships are disrupted or broken. Myers identifies these key relationships with God, others, self, and creation. Comparing this to Jesus’ sermon again in Luke 4, we understand salvation through several perspectives. First, God desires to restore our relationship with him so we can experience his favor. Second, our relationship with others is restored by breaking the chains binding us, thereby gaining freedom from oppression. Third, self-dignity is regained as we accurately see ourselves as God intended us to be and made in his image. Finally, our relationship with creation is restored when oppressive systems are addressed so we can walk in harmony with God’s created order in our daily lives at work, play, and home.
To reveal this picture of salvation to a needy world, our witness is most powerful when our words, deeds, and lifestyle all point to Jesus. Intercultural evangelists need to consider their cultural contexts in order to increase the impact of their witness.
THE IMPORTANCE OF DEEDS
The villagers in Kunkwa trusted Jesus as they saw his power demonstrated over cholera and also heard the words that explained this power to them. This demonstration impacted the community in several ways, none of which would likely have occurred by the proclamation of words alone.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WORDS
In addition to deeds that reveal the kingdom of God, Jesus’ reading in Luke emphasizes the use of words to “proclaim good news.” Understanding the recipient’s particular worldview helps frame the gospel in a way that makes sense and is relevant to the listener’s concerns. The intercultural evangelist needs to engage the listener’s worldview in order to catch up on God’s conversation with that particular person or group
IMPORTANCE OF LIFESTYLE
“A Christian lifestyle is the most vital witness you can offer others. This means all of life demonstrates the gospel to others—including your work, play, family, social media, and the rest.”
The third essential aspect of holistic evangelism is lifestyle. Lifestyle combines with deeds and words to create resonance for evangelism. While deeds refer to good works done for others, lifestyle refers to the overall manner of living. This is important since many people can do good for various reasons (some good and some bad) for a short time, but a lifestyle regularly motivated and guided by the love of Christ will stand out so “you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life” (Philippians 2:15–16).
A Christian lifestyle is the most vital witness you can offer others. This means all of life demonstrates the gospel to others—including your work, play, family, social media, and the rest.
When the deeds, words, and lifestyles of Christ-followers all point to Jesus, this is a powerful witness that people cannot lightly dismiss. If you doubt this, just ask the members of the church in Kunkwa!
Adapted from Effective Intercultural Evangelism by W. Jay Moon and W. Bud Simon. Copyright (c) 2019 by Walter Jay Moon and Walter Edward Simon. Published by InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. www.ivpress.com
W. Jay Moon is professor of church planting and evangelism and director of the Office of Faith, Work, and Economics at Asbury Theological Seminary. Along with his wife and four children, Moon served for thirteen years as a missionary with SIM, primarily in Ghana, West Africa, among the Builsa people, focusing on church planting and water development. He is the author or editor of several books, including Intercultural Discipleshipand Entrepreneurial Church Planting.
W. Bud Simon is a mission consultant who was a church planting missionary in Brazil for twenty years. His doctoral research at Asbury Theological Seminary explores the effects of the shame/honor worldview for evangelism in Brazil. Simon has presented at many academic conferences, including the Evangelical Missiological Society and the Association of Professors in Missiology. He regularly teaches on evangelism to missionaries and churches.