Biblical Perspectives on Evangelism: Living in a Three-Storied Universe

by Walter Brueggemann

In this timely and provocative work, Walter Brueggemann applies his experience and skills in the area of biblical interpretation to the theme of evangelism. He argues for the importance of considering afresh how the Bible itself thinks and speaks about evangelism, how it enacts the dramatic claims of the "good news."

Brueggemann here describes evangelism as a drama in three scenes, concerning (1) God's victory over the forces of chaos and death, (2) the announcement of that victory, and (3) its appropriation by those who hear the announcement. This same dramatic sequence, as he shows, is many time re-enacted in the Bible; the times and circumstances of the re-enactment may differ, but the essential message, as well as the structure of its presentation, remains the same.

Genres: Theology, Evangelism, Religion, Biblical Studies, Christian, Christianity

139 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Walter Brueggemann was an American Christian scholar and theologian who is widely considered an influential Old Testament scholar. His work often focused on the Hebrew prophetic tradition and the sociopolitical imagination of the Church. He argued that the Church must provide a counter-narrative to the dominant forces of consumerism, militarism, and nationalism.

Reviews

[Tony Villatoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book! Deep and insightful, as Bruegemman always is. My favorite chapter was chapter 3, where he writes about Forgetters becoming Rememberers. Sometimes, Christians forget what the Lord has done in their life that they "grow careless, weary, jaded, and cynical both their faith." (70) I love his engagement with the Old Testament.

I'l update this later, bit for now, here are 2 quotes:
"It is a conversation to which all are invited. From our several enslavements we are summoned to a common, liberated obedience. That conversation is difficult and unfinished. It is a conversation that promises our life shall come together in wonder, love, and praise. What news! -47”

"If in Joshua 24 the serving of God is to embrace the story of God, then what does it mean to put away the gods of the ancestors? I suggest this requirement means that one no longer lets the stories of the other gods shape identity, perception, or imagination... The changing of gods is the changing of stories. -65"

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace, Memory, Faithfulness, and Life

Rooted firmly in the Hebrew Bible, in God's loving grace and the possibility of human response, reminding us about ways to be and ways to live as the people of God (=as the Church), just as in many of his other books, throughout Biblical Perspectives in Evangelism Walter Brueggemann emphasizes the importance of the commandments—the describes the ten commandments as "the working documents for covenanted community..."

The world is about a multi-faceted "3-stories" of architectural floors or tiers and narrative tales about the lives of people: long-time insiders to the gospel, typical outsiders and the next generation coming up. In addition, there are three central narrative stories in the salvation story (Heilsgeschichte) that in turn opens us to 3 scenes to the evangelism drama:

1. God's victory over chaos and death
2. the announcement of that victory - "gospel"
3. its appropriation by those who hear the announcement

and 3 stories are focal and normative and definitive:

1. the promise made to the [Israel's] ancestors
2. deliverance from slavery
3. the gift of the land

Brueggemann offers a pair of concrete definitions of evangelism, an activity impacting every aspect of life, personal, public, economic, political...first on page 10 "Evangelism ... is the invitation to re-imagine our lives in these narrative modes." And last, in the conclusion on page 129 "Evangelism ... is an activity of transformed consciousness that results in an altered perception of world, neighbor and self, and an authorization to live differently in that world."

The author brings us a trilogy to illustrate the 3 stories:

1. Joshua 24 "a meeting at Shechem whereby outsiders become insiders"
2. in Nehemiah 8 forgetful at least one-time insider members are "re-tented into the passionate vision of risk and vulnerability that is decisive for the community."
3. ongoing conversation with the offspring of believers/insiders = "children becoming adults." In this [hopefully] dialogue, [page 55]"It is always 'them' and it is always 'us,' always then and now, always there and here, concerning all of this community of telling and listening through time."

That continuing, continuous conversation is because "...in Jesus Christ, God has overcome the power, threat, and attraction of the power of death" and [pages 37-38]"...the continued re-enaction of this dangerous [page 38] news ... is the definitional account of [the church's] life in the world." But what news, news for what? [page 43] "...news for alternative obedience in the world" as we [page 46] "...recover the focal drama of baptism, which is a subversive act of renunciation and embrace" and are summoned [page 47] "From our several enslavements ... to a common, liberated obedience."

Regarding our ongoing need to live faithfully in the twenty-first century yet possibly concerned that the texts we rely on were transmitted and recorded thousands of years ago, WB reminds us "...all through the Bible the gospel has been exactly and precisely concerned with social relations related to power, goods, and access. Indeed, there is almost no aspect of the biblical presentation of the gospel that is otherwise." [pages 40-41] "The victory of God in our time over this deathly idolatry is hidden from us. ... It is hidden in the cross where it is always hidden, and in all subsequent manifestations of the power of the cross." In his marvelous book The Land, WB explains how the Church has concentrated on covenant to the near-exclusion of the centrality of land in the biblical witness and, without a doubt, in current twenty-first century politics and economics.

Some reasons for us to remember, remember, remember...include that "Everything depends on a live memory. Everything is jeopardized by careless forgetting. Everything rides on remembering and forgetting." [page 78] and "Remembering is the hard choosing of an alternative present, authorized by a subversive past. When that subversive past is given up, an alternative present is rendered completely unavailable." [page 84]

page 72 by the time of Nehemiah 8, Israel is a "people of the book." But in the re-texting of Israel in the Festival of Booths "Israel must bodily re-experience and re-enact the memory, recovering its vulnerability in bodily exposure."

Amidst all this talk about following and keeping the commandments in gracious response to the God Who in Jesus Christ calls us, saves us and sanctifies us by grace, [page 114] Martin Luther begins his Small Catechism, traditional preparation for First Communion with the Ten Commandments, "...for the one with whom the church communes is Lord of the commands. Finally it comes down to that, but it does not come down to that quickly or simply."

In his conclusion, WB insists evangelism isn't an ecclesial, a church thing nor a church agenda but "It is rather an offer that we might be on the receiving end of 'all things new.'"

I find it impossible to recommend this book highly enough and it deserves at least 50 stars, so why not read it and see for yourself?

[Matthew Prydden · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book on evangelism that barely gives Jesus a mention is a strange thing. Walter Brueggeman splits up the issue into 3 main categories - evangelism to the outsider, to the jaded insider, and to the young. For someone whose expertise is in the Old Testament its no surprise that the main texts are all Old Testament texts, and while we can learn plenty from the Old Testament it seemed to stretch the exegesis at points in formulating an understanding of evangelism based on the Old Testament alone.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hesitate to give this five stars because I am probably much more a conservative "evangelical" than Brueggemann, but it was a great read, very interesting, somewhat profound and thought provoking, and had some great practical applications. It made me want to read more Brueggemann, which I did. So far I greatly value his work but am still on the fence trying to figure out the implications of some of his conclusions and even his presuppositions that get him there.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

School text book.