Title: Sharing Faith Today:
1Sharing Faith Today Evangelism in the midst of
trauma
2Evangelism in the midst of trauma
W. Bruggemann Our theology is defined by how we
respond to suffering
3Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Evil and Suffering The challenge to evangelism
4Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Challenging us emotionally and intellectually
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7Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Responding to the intellectual challenge
8Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Two forms of evil Moral and Natural
9Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Moral Evil Evil perpetrated by humans
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12Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Natural Evil Suffering with no human
intervention
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15Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Human Natural Evil A heady mix
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Natural Evil Challenging our faith in two
ways.
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Natural Evil The philosophers logical
argument..
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Challenging our faith Does God have the power to
interveine?
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Challenging our faith If he has the power, why
doesnt he interviene?
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Natural Evil The evidential challenge
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The scope of natural evil brings into question
Gods existence
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Emotional Problem Understanding the crisis of
faith
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Why me? How can this be fair? Am I loved by God?
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Emotional Problem In what kind of God do we put
our trust?
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What kind of responses are out there?
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Unsatisfactory perspectives on Evil and Suffering
27Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Life as a struggle of good versus
evil (Zoroastrianism, New Ageism)
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29Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Evil as the absence of good, or evil as an
illusion
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31Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Suffering as a punishment
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33Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Suffering as a consequence of The Fall
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35Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Useful models
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Drawing on the experience of Christians who live
with these questions.
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The Christian faith makes a difference even
though it seems illogical!
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What does the cross have to say about suffering?
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Jurgen Moltmann (1974) Elie Wiesel Where is
God?
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41Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Models of Evangelism that respond to the trauma
of evil and suffering
42Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Evangelism and apologetics in partnership
43Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Evangelism through small group study relating to
crucial issues
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In response to the intellectual arguments
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Present an accurate perspective of good in the
world.
46Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Emphasise that that human beings have free-will.
47Evangelism in the midst of trauma
that good can sometimes arise out of hardship,
suffering or evil.
48Evangelism in the midst of trauma
that Christ suffered hardship and endured evil,
and can identify with us.
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that God suffers when human beings suffer.
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the mission of God in the Old Testament.
51Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Jobs response to suffering and the reward of
the righteous.
52Evangelism in the midst of trauma
our response to our own suffering, eg Sheila
Cassidy.
53Evangelism in the midst of trauma
.the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal
life.
54Evangelism in the midst of trauma
.that the purpose of suffering is beyond our
understanding.
55Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Practical support to those who are suffering
56Evangelism in the midst of trauma
The pastoral visitor as a reminder of the
presence of God and the Church.
57Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Encouraging relationship with God rather than
dogmatic belief
58Evangelism in the midst of trauma
People before doctrine.
59Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Evangelism and the Church as a centre of healing
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62Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Charismatic healing in Europe and North America
an insecure backdrop
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Charismatic healing in Africa, Asia and South
America
64Evangelism in the midst of trauma
Preaching a total gospel
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Offering the Church as a place of healing with
safeguards
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Reclaiming healthcare
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Conclusion The evangelists response to
suffering and evil.
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Conclusion Programmed teaching
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Conclusion The Church must reclaim its healing
ministry