The Celtic Way of Evangelism

Synopsis of THE CELTIC WAY OF EVANGELISM, by George G. Hunter III

   This is one of the books that influenced the founding of Christ Community Church and continues to inform our view of missions and evangelism. 

1. The Gospel to the Irish
Saint Patrick, after being captured by Celtic pirates, experienced 3 things:
            a. natural revelation
            b. learned Celtic culture and language
            c. began to love his captors and hope for their salvation
     After escaping, he returned to Briton and years later returned to the Celtic people, and began doing evangelism in a way that was in stark contrast to the way of the dominant Catholic Church at the time.  Roman Catholic churches performed liturgy in Latin and imposed Roman form of society and culture.
 
2. A New Kind of Community, A New Kind of Life
     Patrick’s idea of “indigenous Christianity” continued to influence other missionaries. Experiencing the place of the community: Circular outer wall and gate (hallowed ground), porter’s dwelling, cathedral, chapels, round tower, Celtic crosses, cemetery, well, abbot’s house, guest house (choicest sight, most comfortable, etc.) , small cells for one or two people, large dwelling for families, kitchen, refectory, scriptorium, library, work shops, farm land, grazing land, etc.
    This community focused on community life and addressed “middle-life” issues… “Here one finds the questions of the uncertainty of the near future, the crises of present life, and the unknowns of the past. Despite knowledge of facts such as that seeds once planted will grow and bear fruit, or that travel down this river on a boat will bring one to the neighboring village, the future is not totally predictable. Accidents, misfortunes, the intervention of other persons, and other unknown events can frustrate human planning…this middle realm is inhabited by “mechanical” forces such as manna, spells, omens, evil eye, or luck, and/or by more “organic” presences like spirits, ghosts, ancestors, angels, demons, lesser gods, etc….” (pg 31).
    Prayer life was very much concerned with and involved in the minute to minute of everyday life. Celtic Christians would learn prayers to say for waking up, for getting dressed, and for starting the morning fire, for bathing, etc.
 
3. To the Picts, the Anglo-Saxons, and Other Barbarians
   The term "Celtic church" is controversial because it implies separation from the dominate Roman Catholic church.  However, this book argues that Christianity continued to spread in ways distinct form the Roman Catholic church.
The Roman Catholic leadership were concerned with the way “barbarians” practiced Christianity and instead wanted everyone to do it the Roman way, and they eventually got their way. “Nora Chadwick observes that, ‘the disappearance of the idiosyncratic Christianity of the Celtic Church was inevitable, owing to the absence of the central organization; but it is impossible to reach the end without feeling of regret. A Christianity so pure and so serene as that of the age of the saints could hardly be equaled and never repeated’” (pg 41).
    The same issues persist today in America and various countries, where some folks try to force a church style (Colonialism).
 
4. The Celtic Christian Community in Formation and Mission
    This is how Celtic Christians did evangelism. So inspiring! Page 47-55
            a. TEAM
            b. PREPARE PEOPLE TO LIVE W/ DEPTH, COMPASSION, AND POWER IN MISSION
            c. IMAGINATIVE PRAYER (St. Patrick’s Breastplate pg 49)
            d. HOSPITALITY
            e. ROLE OF SEEKER’S EXPERIENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN THE
                        PROCESS OF CONVERSION
 
5. How Celtic Christianity Communicated the Gospel
     This chapter is very speculative. But it seems story telling, art, poetry, song, were all ways the gospel was communicated.

6. The Missionary Perspective of Celtic Christianity
     This chapter addresses the missionary energy in the Celtic church which spread throughout the British Isles and into continental Europe.

7. The “Celtic” Future of the Christian Movement in the West
      There are movements of Celtic Christianity happening today in organizations like The Alpha Course, and AA.