PASTORAL MODES IN A THEOLOGY OF EVANGELISM GEORGE ALAN REKERS submitted in ...

382 Pages·2014·8.53 MB·English

PASTORAL MODES IN A THEOLOGY OF EVANGELISM
by
GEORGE ALAN REKERS
submitted in accordance with the requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY
in the subject
PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
at the
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
PROMOTER: PROF J T DEJONGH VAN ARKEL
JOINT PROMOTER: PROF W J ABRAHAM
JUNE 1997
******""*""****
Student number: 3053-348-1
I declare that, Pastoral Modes in a Theology of Evangelism, is my own work and
that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and
acknowledged by means of complete references.
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Pastoral Modes in a Theology of Evangelism
by GA Rekers
Degree: Doctor of Theology
Subja:t: Practical Theology
Promoter: Prof J T de Jongh van Arkel
Joint Promoter: Prof WJ Abraham
Summary: The pastoral visitation practice of Continuing Witness Training (CWT) is theoretically
intended to cooperate with Gad to lead individuals to Christian conversion, but reconciles fewer
individuals to God than anticipated. This empirical theological study of Praxis 1 analyzed the visited
individuals' (1) perception of care-concern by the visitors, (2) post-visit positive mood, (3) satisfaction
with the visit, (4) sense of God's presence in the visit, and (5) decision to pray to establish a
relationship with Jesus Christ. in association with (a) the amount of the CWT presentation given, (b)
the length of the visit, and (c) prior religious involvement.
Greater amounts of the CWT presentation given resulted in greater satisfaction and greater
conversion prayer. Longer pastoral visits resulted in greater satisfaction among females and males, in
greater conversion prayer in females, and in higher post-visit posilive mood in males. Lower prior
religious involvement resulted in greater amounts of the CWT model presentation being given to
females, and in greater conversion prayer in males. Although 60% of Individuals visited reported no or
minimal religious involvement, the complete CWT presentation was given to only 19%, and a
substantial portion of CWT was given to an additional 17%. Among this 36% of those visited who
received the CWT presentation, 55% decided to pray to establish a personal relationship with Jesus
Christ.
This situational analysis identified lour praxis problems: (1 ) inconsistent application of the
CWT model with unchurched individuals, (2) dissatisfaction among 25% of individuals visited, (3) lack
of sense of God's presence in the visit reported by 23% of individuals visited, and (4) 31% of those
visited being outside the stated unchurched target population for CWT visits. These praxis problems
and related findings in the descriplive theological research were addressed by formulating a revised
practical theology upon which to base Praxis 2. This revised theology of evangelism incorporated a
multi-modal model of pastoral rote-fulfillment (inYolving ketygma, didache, and paraklesis) as an agogic
situation of primary initiation of a person into the kingdom of God, by proposing multiple contacts within
a pastoral theology of care and counseling.
Key terms: Evan9elism; pastoral care; pastoral counseling; home visitation; empirical theology;
pastoral theology; mitiation; kingdom of God; presence of God; Christian conversion; kerygma;
didache; paraklesis; agogy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgments xi
CHAPTER 1
THE THEOLOGICAL RESEARCH PROBLEM AND RESEARCH
GOAL: Identifying Deficiencies In Evangelistic Praxis 1
1.1 The Theological Research Problem 2
1. 1. 1 Potential Problem in the Theories Behind the CWT Model 4
1.1.2 Potential Problem in the Application of Theories 6
1. 1.2.1 Inadequate Evangelistic Outreach to General
Population 8
1.1.2.2 Inadequate Retention of Church Members 1 O
1.1.2.3 The Challenge of the Societal Context 12
1.1.3 Potential Problem in Both Theory and Application 15
1.1.3.1 Content-Based Evangelism 16
1.1.3.2 Manipulation-based Evangelism 17
1.1.3.3 Relationship-based Evangelism 18
1.1.3.4 Effects of Different Types of Evangelism 19
1.2 The Purpose of This Research Study 20
1.3 The Specific Goal of This Study 22
CHAPTER 2
A THEOLOGICAL APPROACH AND METHODOLOGICAL MODEL:
Addressing the Neglect of Evangelism in Contemporary
Theologies 2 3
2.1 The Neglect of Evangelism in Contemporary Theologies 23
2. 1. 1 Neglect Related to Shifts in Soteriology 25
2.1.2 Neglect Related to Modernity and Postmodernity 26
2.2 Object of Theology 28
2.2.1 The Faith Relationship of Humans with God 29
2.2.2 Theory of Praxis Promoting Initial Encounter with God 30
2.3 Methodological Model for This Study 32
2.3.1 The Monodisciplinarity of "Applied Theology" 34
Table of Contents ii
2.3.2 Multidisciplinarity, Interdisciplinary, and lntradisciplinary
Models 34
2.3.3 Model Selected for the Present Study 35
2.4 The Type of Empirical Theology Adopted 35
2.4.1 Empirical Research in Practical Theology 38
2.4.2 The Object of Empirical Theology 39
2.4.3 Practical Theology as a Theological Operational Science 41
2.5 Deployment of the Zerfass Model to Study Theory and Current
Praxis of Evangelism 48
CHAPTER 3
THE THEOLOGY OF EVANGELISM UNDERLYING PRAXIS 1:
A Southern Baptist Theory of Evangelism 4 9
3.1 Questions Pertaining to the Practical Theological Theory
Underlying Southern Baptist Evangelism 50
3.2 The Prevailing Southern Baptist Theology of Evangelism 52
3.2.1 Baptist Faith and Message 52
3.2.2 Hobb's Interpretation of the Baptist Faith and Message 53
3.2.3 Drummond's Contemporary Theology of Evangelism 53
CHAPTER 4
DESCRIPTIVE THEOLOGY TOWARD A SITUATIONAL
ANALYSIS OF CURRENT EVANGELISTIC PRAXIS:
Study Variables Selected 59
4.1 Descriptive Theology for Praxis 1 59
4.2 Encountering the Presence of God Through Pastoral Care or
Counseling Dimensions of Evangelistic Visitation 61
4.2.1 Counselee's Perception of "Care-concern· by the
Pastoral Counselor 63
4.2.2 Counselee's Satisfaction with the Pastoral Visit 64
4.2.3 Counselee's Positive Mood After a Pastoral Visit 64
4.2.4 Sense of God's Presence in the Pastoral Visit 65
4.2.5 Prayer to Establish a Relationship with God 66
4.2.6 Church Involvement by Counselee 66
4.2.7 Conversational Dialogue in the Effective
Communication of the Gospel 67
4.2.8 Proportion of CWT Model Presentation Given 69
4.2.9 Length of Home Visit 69
Table of Contents iii
4.3 Reasons for Omission of CWT Model Presentation 69
4.4 Summary 69
CHAPTER 5
EMPIRICAL THEOLOGICAL METHODS FOR A SITUATIONAL
ANALYSIS: Sampling, Measures, and Hypotheses 71
5.1 Participants 71
5.2 Procedures 73
5.2.1 Independent Variables Assessed 74
5.2.2 Dependent Variables Assessed 74
5.3 Instruments 75
5.3.1 Care-Concern Scale (CCS) of the Therapist Rating
Questionnaire 75
5.3.2 Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-Short Form (CSQ-S) 75
5.3.3 Positivity Index of the Session Evaluation Questionnaire,
Form 3 (SEQ-3) 75
5.3.4 Questions on Perception of God's Presence in Session 76
5.3.5 Counselee's Prayer to Establish a Relationship with Christ 76
5.3.6 Lenski's Religious Involvement Scale (RIS) 77
5.3.7 Conversational Dialogue Questions 77
5.3.8 Percentage of the CWT Presentation Given 77
5.3.9 Length of CWT Visit 77
5.3.1 O Follow-up Equipper/Apprentice Questionnaire 78
5.3.8.1 Care 78
5.3.8.2 Intuitively Ruled Out 78
5.3.8.3 Hesitant or Unprepared 79
5.3.8.4 No Opportunity 80
5.4 Descriptive Statistics Regarding Current Praxis 80
5.5 Study Hypotheses 81
5.5.1 Central Study Hypotheses 83
5.5.2 Complete Versus Partial Presentation of the CWT Model
Interview 84
5.5.3 Visit Length 84
5.5.4 Interaction of [a] the Variable of Complete Versus Partial
Presentation of the CWT Model Interview and [b] the
Length of the Home Visit 85
5.5.5 Church Involvement 87
Table of Contents iv
5.5.6 Interaction of [a] the Variable of Complete Versus Partial
Presentation of the CWT Model Interview and [b] the
Church Involvement Variable 87
5.5.7 Conversational Dialogue Variable 88
5.5.8 Interaction of [a] the Variable of Substantial Versus Partial
Presentation of the CWT Model Interview and [b] the
Conversational Dialogue Variable 89
5.5.9 Interaction of [a] the Variable of Complete Versus Partial
Presentation of the CWT Model Interview and [b] the
Conversational Dialogue Variable 91
5.6 Summary 92
CHAPTER 6
RESULTS OF THE SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS OF CURRENT
PRAXIS: Description, Correlations, and Hypothesis Testing 94
6.1 Participants 94
6.2 Reliability of New Measures 95
6.3 Validity of New Measure 96
6.4 Situational Analysis of Current Praxis 97
6.5 Descriptive Statistics 97
6.5.1 Church Involvement 97
6.5.2 Amount of CWT Model Presentation Given 98
6.5.3 Length of CWT Home Visit Counseling Session 101
6.5.4 Satisfaction 101
6.5.5 Positivity Index 102
6.5.6 Care-Concern 103
6 5.7 Perception of God's Presence 103
6.5.8 Summary of Dependent Measures on Counselee
Reaction to Home Visitation Session 104
6.5.9 Conversion Prayer 105
6.6 lntercorrelations 107
6.7 Association of Variables 108
6.8 Hypothesis Testing 108
Table of Contents v
CHAPTER 7
A MULTI-MODAL THEOLOGY OF EVANGELISM AS
PRIMARY INITIATION INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD:
A Revised Theory for Visitation Praxis 2 114
7.1 The Task of Revising Practical Theology Theory for Praxis 2 115
7.2 Summary of Empirical Findings on Praxis 1 Needing
Theological Reflection 117
7.2.1 Description of CWT in Praxis 1 118
7.2.2 Amount of CWT Model Presentation Given 120
7.2.3 Visit Length 121
7.2.3.1 Interaction Between Amount of CWT
Presentation Given and Visit Length 122
7.2.3.2 Previously Low Religious Involvement 122
7.2.3.3 Interaction Between Amount of CWT
Presentation Given and Previously Low
Religious Involvement 122
7.3 Praxis Problems Identified in Situational Analysis 122
7.3.1 Praxis Problem #1-lnconsistent Use of the CWT
Model Presentation with Those with Unknown
Relationship with God 122
7.3.2 Praxis Problem #2-0ne-Fourth Visited Dissatisfied 124
7.3.3 Praxis Problem #3-0ne-Fourth Visited Doubt God's
Presence in the Visitation 124
7.3.4 Praxis Problem #4-31% Visited Already Evidenced
Relationship with Christ 125
7.4 A Theological Model of Pastoral Role-Fulfillment as an
Agogic Situation of Primary Initiation of a Person into the
Kingdom of God 125
7.4.1 Evangelism as Primary Initiation Into the Kingdom of God 126
7.4.2 Evangelism as God's Transforming Action Through the
Intermediary of Pastoral Role-Fulfilment 130
7.4.3 The Hermeneutic Moment and the Agogic Moment in
Evangelism 133
7.4.4 Moving Beyond Limitations of Proclamation Alone to
Agogic Evangelism 134
7.5 The Three Modes of Pastoral Role-Fulfillment Necessary for
Evangelism 135
7.5.1 The Mode of Kerygma 137
7.5.1.1 Announcing the Active Rule of God Through
Jesus Christ 138
7.5.1.2 CWT Should Connect the Hearer's Situation
with the Saving Work of Jesus Christ 139
Table of Contents vi
7.5.2 The Mode of Didache 141
7 .5.2.1 Initiating Individuals into a Discipleship of
Living "the Way" 141
7.5.2.2 Teaching the Truth of God's Actions Through
Jesus Christ 143
7.5.2.3 CWT Should Initiate New Converts into the Life
of Discipleship 143
7.5.3 The Mode of Paraklesis 145
7.5.3.1 Encouraging Transformation of Thoughts and
Lifestyle 145
7.5.3.2 Addressing Individuals in Their Contingent
Situation 146
7.5.3.3 CWT Should Address Individuals' Contingent
Situations with Encouraging Care 148
7.6 The Action of God in Evangelistic Pastoral Role-Fulfillment 150
7.6.1 The Action of God to Bring Individuals into His Kingdom
Through These Three Modes of Ministry 150
7.6.2 God's Revelation of Himself and Pastoral Care/Concern
in CWT Praxis 152
7. 7 Evangelistic Pastoral Role-Fulfillment as an Agogic Situation 154
7. 7.1 God Draws Near to Actualize Salvation 155
7. 7.2 Need to Communicate Depth of Human Predicament
in CWT 155
7. 7.3 A Radical Reorientation in Spiritual-Mental Functioning
Should Be the Goal in CWT Praxis 156
7.8 Summary 157
CHAPTER 8
A THEOLOGY OF PASTORAL CARE FOR EVANGELISTIC
VISITATION: Revised Theology for Praxis 2 159
8.1 Pastoral Care, Pneumatology, and Ecclesiology 161
8. 1.1 The Early Church Empowered for Evangelism by the
Holy Spirit 163
8.1.2 Ecclesiological Models 166
8.1.2.1 The Church as Institution 167
8.1.2.2 The Church as Mystical Communion 169
8.1.2.3 The Church as Sacrament 170
8.1.2.4 The Church as Herald 170
8.1.2.5 The Church as Servant 171
8.1.3 Adopting Features of Various Ecclesiological Models 173
Table of Contents vii
8. 1.4 The Community of Faith as an "Ecology of Care" 175
8. 1.4. 1 Fowler's Incorporation of an "Ecology of
Care" and "Ecology of Vocation" in His
Practical Theology 175
8. 1.4.2 Gill-Austern's Community Theory for Pastoral
Cara 178
8. 1.4.3 A Community of Caring and Evangelism 183
8.2 Origins of a Practical Theology of Care for Evangelism in the
Church's Encounter with the Needs of Others 184
8.3 What is the Gospel? 185
8.3.1 Evangelism and the Gospel 186
8.3.2 Verbal Proclamation of the Gospel 191
8.3.3 Eschatology, Caring Action, and Verbal Witness 193
8.4 Revision of the Conceptualization of Evangelism 198
8.4.1 Survey Data on the "De-Churched" Population 199
8.4.2 The Christian Community and Evangelism as Christian
Initiation 199
8.4.3 Contemporary Definitions of Evangelism 202
8.4.4 The Parakletic Dimension of Care in Evangelism 202
8.5 Pastoral Home Visitation and Evangelism 205
8.6 Attracting the "De-Churched" 207
8.6.1 Interests of "Nonchurched" Individuals 208
8.6.2 Life Priorities of the "Nonchurched" Individuals 209
8.6.3 Reported Factors That Would Draw "Nonchurched"
Individuals to the Church 21 O
8.6.4 Expectations of "Unchurched" Individuals in the US
and the Model of Jesus 212
8.7 Examples of Personal Needs Requiring Care 213
8.8 Communicating the Care of God to the Unchurched Individual 217
8. 9 Pastoral Theology of Care and Counseling 219
8.9.1 Hiltner's Pastoral Theology as Study of Shepherding 220
8.9.2 Wise's Interpretation of the Meaning of Pastoral Care 222
8.9.3 Patton's Pastoral Theology of Care in Community 225
8.9.4 Oates' Pastoral Distinctives of Counseling Related to
Evangelism 228
8.9.4. 1 Distinctives of Pastoral Counseling Related
to CWT 229
8.9.4.2 Tensions in Pastoral Counseling Related
to CWT 231
8.9.4.3 Pastoral Evangelistic Outreach 233