Interview

The following interview was conducted with NEED's president, Dr. Gary Davis, in the Fall of 1998. We hope it provides you with a better understanding of our view of life, ministry, and evangelism.

1. What are the defining characteristics of NEED's ministry?

We do things backwards. We stand at the focal point between the church and the world and call the church INTO the world, instead of calling the world to come into the church. If Christ immersed himself in our world, can we do any less?

2. What do you think are the most powerful forces driving our culture today?

Depends on which generation you're talking to. But overall, a need for personal significance [to someone or something] and a driving need for independence stand out as paramount. Oddly, these two forces seem contradictory, but on a personal level, they exist symbiotically. Just listen to our culture's pop music.

3. Where do you think American culture is moving?

We're becoming less civil, less trusting, and at the same time more entrepreneurial. You can already see the gulf between the professional and private sectors of life. We dwell in a dichotomized reality that renders us dysfunctional. We live in two realities, one personal, one public. It's hard to live split lives. So we put ourselves first and let the next guy fend for himself. Economically, we flourish; emotionally, we flounder. It's a good beginning to the end of western civilization as we have known it. But it's also a wonderful atmosphere for the exercise of anything that's good in the human spirit.

4. What do you think will have the greatest impact on our culture in coming years?

Three things really: the instability of the Pacific Rim economy, the acceptance of alternative partnership relationships, and the "high-tech/high-touch" safety net of isolationist relationships over the Net. The U.S. economy is so tied to world economy that if one arena falters, then we're all in trouble. We've redefined the family through divorce and homosexuality already; all that's left is carte blanche societal acceptance and cultural integration of any kind of "family" structure whatsoever. Finally, continued isolationism will dilute our ability to trust each other in business, interpersonal, and international relationships. This will lead to a further breakdown of whatever cultural values still exist in western culture. We will become a culture of independent, eclectic isolationists, longing for relationship while fearful of it.

5. How has the expression of Christianity changed in the last 10 years?

Overall it hasn't; that's the problem. Albeit, there are some examples of churches trying to express the faith in the same terms employed by their surrounding environment, but for the most part, the expression of the Christian faith is tied to the historical amalgamation of church and western culture that joined forces 350+ years ago.

6. What forces will affect a Christian witness/presence in our culture in the coming decades?

Probably the first force that will affect the Christian witness is the dichotomy between the professional and private value sectors of our culture. The media seems obsessed with relegating all religion to the subjective realm, especially Christianity. In its place we have fostered a propensity to "build your own religion," eclectically selecting personally desirable aspects from all religions. Western Christendom's natural inclination to hang onto past formulations of the gospel and rubrics of systematic theology as if sacrosanct will further erode the Christian presence in America. I think the affect this will have on individual Christians is to force us into retreat and isolation from the world when the going gets rough (safety first, risk/faith second, you know).

7. What do you think are some the greatest challenges facing the church in America today?

Actually, there are a number of interrelated challenges. I once read in a fortune cookie, of all places, "Nothing worthwhile is ever accomplished without passion." But the church in America today seems almost afraid of passion and of passionate people. We've become a religion of words, of the Book, and of "propositional truth." We forget that Truth is primarily personal. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:6) We need to put the passion back into our faith and not allow it to continue as a mere affirmation of PC, theological, propositional truth. Also, the church needs to be in the business of providing individual meaning for a world fraught with confusion, insignificance, and lost meaning. There is a silent cry for some external reference point to life among so many westerners. Many religions offer people that reference point in terms of ritual. Christ offers us a reference point in terms of a relationship with him. Our lives need to reflect the impact of a relationship with Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the church will be seen as contriving meaning out of co-dependence and peer approval.

8. How does your organization (NEED) address these issues?

What we do is quite simple, actually. It is summed up best in our byline; "NEEDinc, immersing Christians in contemporary culture." We exist to help Christians live out their lives individually and collectively in such a way that they make sense to their friends, networks, and business associates. We teach Christians how to become transparent reflections of Jesus Christ in the surrounding culture. And we have fun doing it!