Killing Curiousity? (3 of 3)

First, we opened the question "is the church killing curiosity?". Second, we saw how curiosity was a major reason for the explosion of the ancient church, which was a heavily persecuted and private group. I thought I would end with some of my personal thoughts about being salt (see part 1).

As I have thought and written these posts, I have asked myself "how am I not being salt?" and "what does it mean to be salt?". Since I am all about embracing the friction, here is a personal confession. I am more comfortable telling people about the hope found in Jesus, His truth, His love, the need they have deep inside; than I am living it out. In fact, I actually believe that my ability to bridge their need to Jesus, to give the answer, to explain the gospel is more effective than me living that truth out. I have this strong tendency to help them understand their need as if they would not know it without my help. I feel like I have to explain the answer to them clearly. I feel like I have to convince them. Oh, it is not always conscious, but my actions prove this to be true.

But salt is not about being the answer. It is about living in the answer. It is the catalyst to bring thirst. Jesus is the answer, the water of life. Don't get me wrong we are called to know the reason for the hope that is within us, but we are also reminded that we are to be set a apart, a peculiar people, aliens. And to be honest, there is not much difference between my life and the non-believer down the street. What is it that sets me apart? What is it about my life (the way I live) that creates an insatiable curiosity in those around me? I am thinking that we do not have a problem of people hearing the answer. We have a problem of people seeing the answer.

Killing Curiousity? (2 of 3)

Here is the context around the first post (from Houses that Change the World). Curiosity is one of the major reasons many historians give for the great amount of people becoming Christians in the ancient church. Why is this amazing? The ancient church had an incredibly different context than our churches today. In fact, the differences would seem to me to decrease the amount of people coming to faith.

Picture of the New Testament Church (up to AD 312)

1. Persecution could break out anytime. This was a time that always had this possibility. Joining this sect was clearly not the easy life.
2. There was no public evangelism. You would not see many public speaking engagements. It was too dangerous.
3. No "attractive" worship services. Generally, people outside the Christian circles were not invited or even allowed to Christian meetings. After Nero's persecution, many closed their doors completely to outsiders.
4. Not mainstream religion. This was the counter-culture that was very secret and private.
   

Isn't that crazy? This is the context of the church when it experienced some of its greatest growth! Here are a few ideas why such an insatiable curiosity was built in this context:

1. The incredible community these Christians had. Their lives were wrapped around their Christian community
   
2. The love and peace that flowed within this community as well as towards others, even as they faced death.
3. The extreme faithfulness to their beliefs and their king.

What other ideas do you have on why this curiosity was built in outsiders? How do we fit these principles into our present (almost opposite) church context? What have we lost as the church? How do we get it back in our church age? What do we change? get rid of? add?

Killing Curiousity? (1 of 3)

Here is an interesting quote from Wolfgang Simson's book Houses that Change the World :

Today we are sometimes in danger of pressing home answers to people who have not even asked the right questions, and preventing people from becoming truly curious.

Is the church killing curiosity? It seems the consumerist mindset around American churches has the danger of doing just that. Wolfgang continues...

Jesus described himself as the water of life, and the disciples as the salt of the earth. If people eat salt, it will make them thirsty, even if they have not been thirsty before. If people are not yet thirsty for the water of life, feed them salt. Then they will become thirsty, and then they will drink.

What do you think about curiosity being a part of evangelism? What are your thoughts?
(Here is Seth Godin's thoughts on curiosity in the business context)