Richardson teaches that Jesus did indeed pay the penalty for
our sins, that His death on the cross is an example for us and that He is Victor.[1]
He believes that each of these ideas needs to be taught by the church. However,
Richardson also holds that in different eras of history, the theory to first
present to those outside of the church should change. In the modern era, with “growing
individualism, economic freedom and rising nationalism”[2]
Luther’s focus on justification by faith resonated strongly with the populace.
Richardson believes that this is no longer the case.
Instead, he encourages us to start sharing the Gospel with
the Christ as Victor approach. He explains:
In our postmodern culture we cannot
assume . . . people are familiar with Scripture or basic biblical ideas. We
cannot assume that they feel accountable in any way to a supreme being. We
cannot assume that they even think at all in terms of sin. We cannot assume
that they will need to have any logical consistency or coherence to their ideas
about God. After all, the postmodern assumption is that we create our own
reality in the arena of spirituality. In a biblically illiterate,
subject-centered postmodern world we face new challenges to communicate the
gospel in a meaningful, true and resonant way. [3]
Then he goes on to say:
The modern worldview saw belief in
Satan and the powers and principalities as primitive and outmoded. In a
postmodern world, interest in the spiritual world, in angels and devils, in
magic, the occult, and fantasy has mushroomed. People today can see themselves
as pawns of powers that are bigger than they are. They look to the spiritual
world for meaning and help. Shows and books and articles on angels have
multiplied. Jesus’ victory over darkness and Jesus’ deliverance from the power
of addiction are dimensions of the good news whose relevance has returned with
intensity.[4]
So, what do we think? Is the Christ as Victor theory the
best way to first engage postmoderns with Jesus?
[1] See
Colossians 2:13-15 for example.
[2] Rick
Richardson, Evangelism Outside the Box (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2000), p.
122.
[3] Rick
Richardson, Evangelism Outside the Box (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2000), p.
122.
[4] Rick
Richardson, Evangelism Outside the Box (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2000), p.
126.