The “face of fascism” turns out to be my face and your face, unless we turn our faces individually and collectively towards the neighbour and enemy in relentlessly creative new embrace. The Gospel addresses this: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it (Mark 8:35). There is evangelism without the Gospel: it is ubiquitous; and, says Jeremiah, profoundly iniquitous.
Dominant American evangelism, following Luther, calls the individual to find a gracious God without concomitant reference to neighbour or enemy. Theologian Walter Wink taught that the Gospel calls us without exception to find God in neighbour and enemy, or not find God at all!
Wayne Northey was Director of Man-to-Man/Woman-to-Woman – Restorative Christian Ministries (M2/W2) in British Columbia, Canada from 1998 to 2014, when he retired. He has been active in the criminal justice arena and a keen promoter of Restorative Justice since 1974. He has published widely on peacemaking and justice themes. You will find more about that on this website: a work in progress.
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