The Celtic Way of Evangelism - George Hunter

A superior presentation.

George Hunter III has made a significant contribution to our understanding of how to do evangelism among Neo Barbarians in his The Celtic Way of Evangelism. It is an excellent example of what I look for in a book on things Celtic.

He is careful with his research, shifting what can be known for sure on the one hand from legends and over the top embellishments on the other. Yet he also brings to the table current understanding about human communication and rhetoric which help to fill in the gaps of what little is recorded from this time frame.

The book is profoundly prophetic. The year it was written (2000) is about the same time that many upstarts and "thorns in the sides" of UK dioceses were extending themselves in unconventional ways to reach people they knew needed Christ and the gospel. These types, asking for forgiveness rather than permission, constantly risked church discipline.

Yet by a miracle of God when the Mission-Shaped Church report was not only endorsed but made the "pet project" of Canterbury these same "scalawags" became the darlings of the church. Many are now Canons of cathedrals. How did this happen? Because their startling methods proved remarkably effective at winning all sorts of pockets of the UK to the love of God in Jesus. Who but a few could have guessed that their approaches stunningly paralleled the Celtic way of evangelism.

THEMES
Whether or not the current trends in church planting or Fresh Expressions in the UK are actually dependent upon Celtic studies, the similarities Hunter describes in the themes of Celtic approaches hits the nail firmly on the head. (p. 47-52)

1) Celtic Christians usually evangelized as a team (not as lone-rangers)

2) Those in the monastic communities were prepared to live with depth, compassion and power in mission.

3) There was a generous use of imaginative prayer pervading the community - a decidedly right brain activity).

4) Hospitality to seekers, visitors, refugees and guests was central to their life.

5) Conversion comes through belonging. Belonging Comes Before Believing.

In every place I visited on my Fresh Expression Pilgrimage of June 2008, these five themes could be observed being lived out in ways appropriate to the people being reached.

The Celtic eagerness to adapt to the local culture - while maintaining biblical faithfulness - beats at the heart of the Fresh Expressions movement.

CELTIC MONASTIC COMMUNITY LIFE
Especially enlightening was Hunter's description of the layout of a Celtic Monastic Community and how guests were received (Chapter 2). I had been wondering why monks at such remote places as Iona and Lindisfarne would sometimes also have another place further away to be alone. Hunter helped me see that the Celtic Monastic Community could actually be a very busy place. Added to all the normal activity of a human community, plus the unique dimensions of the alternative life lived there, plus greeting whatever guests who spontaneously arrived - well it allowed for little privacy.

THE CHALLENGE FOR THE CHURCH TODAY
Yet the most challenging aspect of the life of these communities for today seems to me to be item 2) above. For the Celts living with depth, compassion and power in mission meant (p. 48):

a) Voluntary contemplative isolation: Go to your cell and your cell will teach you everything.

b) Having a soul-friend who would be a spiritual helper in keeping you accountable

c) Involvement with a small group

d) participating in the common community life

e) thereby gaining experience in ministry.

It was a rigorous calling. A people living in voluntary accordance with these high standards would be immensely attractive to neo-barbarians searching for genuine community.

THE FUTURE
Hunter is skeptical that a Celtic Monastic Community fully living into all the above is possible for our urbanized environs. He lists instead a number of examples of ministries current at the publication of the book which fulfill the above five themes in part.

Yet in the last few years the New Monasticism has indeed begun to re-establish a form of urban monastic life remarkably similar to what Hunter describes (though certainly most are not rural). "Boiler Rooms" as described in Punk Monk are perhaps the closest. Interestingly enough, these "Boiler Room" rose out of Revelation Church, UK which Hunter features.

It was an enjoyable, enlightening if all too brief study.
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