Page 131 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 23

helping to make all these decisions, for example through ethical behaviour and our prac�cal com-
about break arrangements and room layouts. But mitment.
once, when he was late for a mee�ng, he heard Strong theism, on the other hand, is convinced that
from outside the door how the others were making everything up to the present day and as long as it
fun of certain people and unduly disparaging them. exists is held by God and that there is nothing that
When he entered the room a�erwards, the conver- would be without him and could be understood wi-
sa�on died down and moved back to a more re- thout him. God's ac�vity is not limited to a specific
spec�ul tone. Apparently, his presence had so far �me or space, but is fundamentally unlimited in
prevented such derailments without him having in- space and �me. God is not just an addi�on to the
ten�onally outed himself as a Chris�an. theory and prac�ce of exis�ng “neutral” explana�-
Jesus says that we are the light of the world (Ma�- ons of the world. In everything we do, not just in
hew 5:14), that we carry his light within us and “pious ac�vi�es” such as prayer or reading the Bi-
bring it into our rela�onships. The light of Christ ble, the work of God is assumed and expected.
that is in us shines, and we can be sure of this, whe- Basically, this means for everyone, whether engi-
ther we realize it ourselves or not, because he longs neer, teacher, mail deliverer, lawyer, nurse, sales-
for others. Perhaps this is precisely why the third person, etc.: I am not just a Chris�an in a neutral or
conversion does not lead us into ac�onism in the even unchris�an workplace, but my workplace and
world, but into being there, being light, without ha- my actual task there are deeply influenced by God.
ving to do anything special. Recognizing this and helping to shape it is a challen-
So the adventure is “Closer. More Beau�ful. Fur- ge of the third conversion. This also includes re-
ther”: being present in the world, learning to see spec�ng and apprecia�ng the work of God through
this world more and more through God's eyes and non-Chris�an colleagues.
discovering (helping to discover) traces of God in This change of perspec�ve challenges everyone to
every person's life. search for what this means in concrete terms, not
only alone, but also together with other Chris�ans
The Kingdom of God in all rela�onships and roles with the same jobs and areas of responsibility.
So far, the third conversion has been described in
terms of rela�onships with individuals. However, all The challenge for the church
these rela�onships do not take place in a “vacuum”, This challenge is linked to a call to churches, not
but in certain roles and structures, in the context of only because the third conversion raises ques�ons
the family, the neighborhood, in leisure �me, in so- for the individual, but also requires support and
cial responsibility, in voluntary work and at work. It usually a rethink within the congrega�on.
is important to enter these spaces of ac�on, to al- The increasingly outward orienta�on of the indivi-
low yourself to be sent into them. dual, which should not be prevented under any cir-
Everywhere there is the kingdom of God, there is cumstances, is in danger of causing mistrust in the
space where God's will is done (because that is congrega�on - among individual members as well
where he sustains being and life) and where we can as the church leadership - or at least concern about
ac�vely strive for openness to God's work. We are the spiritual development of others. This can set a
the city on the hill, we are the salt and the light of vicious circle in mo�on: The concern or mistrust
the world. Supported by our rela�onship with God, leads to cri�cal queries, which in turn lead to more
supported as members of the body of Christ, we withdrawal on the part of the congrega�on mem-
take our place in the various spaces of this world. ber, and so on.
The fundamental ques�on will be whether our un- Mee�ng the challenge in a suppor�ve way first re-
derstanding of this world is characterized by a quires an understanding of this development of a
“weak theism” or a “strong theism”. In a weak the- long-�me Chris�an and then spaces to send these
ism, we believe in a Creator God, we believe in red- church members. This may involve an appearance
emp�on through Jesus Christ, but we understand of le�ng go, but will ul�mately open up spaces to
this world as being le� to its own devices. Since make this person and their experiences frui�ul for
crea�on, everything in it has run according to the congrega�on.
certain laws. Our task is simply to add to God in Smaller congrega�ons in par�cular are pushed to
some way, through evangeliza�on, through prayer, the limits of their capacity and �me if they really

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