If worldview / theology comes from the nervous system, then evangelism-as-argument is a categorical error.
You can’t argue someone into safety. You can’t convince a body to trust.
So evangelism stops being about transferring correct beliefs (or winning a metaphysical debate) and becomes about creating experiences where trust in Reality becomes possible.
In this frame, evangelism is not “Believe this about God” but “Come see what happens when you live inside this way of relating to Life.”
(This brings to mind Jesus’ words: “Come and see.”)
Evangelism, in this sense, is a modeling of a regulated nervous system. Embodied peace. Communities where rupture and repair are practiced. People whose lives feel more inhabitable.
The gospel of a trustworthy Reality that we can open up and relate to… spreads because it’s livable (not because it’s “true” in the abstract).
I grew up wanting to make sure I believed in the “correct” view of Reality. The “right” truths. The objectively true worldview.
Now I care more about what RELATIONSHIP with reality helps me become more whole, loving, courageous and alive.
Which isn’t about morally judging one worldview or truth claims over another. Instead, the judgement / discernment I’m trying to tune into is: “Is this relationship with Reality still helping me grow - or is it helping me stay defended?”
The “growth” I’m most interested in is learning to fully inhabit my life. To be present to all of it. To trust my self and life enough that I can relax and open up to experience all of it more fully. That is my understanding of becoming more “fully alive.” Life to the full.
And my “evangelism” is about offering environment where trust can grow. Naming what I’ve found life giving. Inviting others to come and see. And protecting people from coercive formation systems.
It’s not an evangelism that says: “You should believe this.”
It’s more like: “I’ve found a way of relating to reality that has made me more alive, more present, more trusting of Life. And you’re welcome here if you want to explore that.”
That’s not fundamentalism. And it’s not relativism.
It’s respect for developmental timing.
In this framing, I guess I could say I DO WANT TO CONVERT OTHERS. Haha!
I want to offer relationship and story and practices that allow their nervous systems to be converted to live more in coherence, peace, trust.
I’ll call this FORMATION EVANGELISM. And contrast it to Belief Evangelism.
This kind of evangelism requires totally different approach:
Belief Evangelism sees the human as a rational agent.
Formation Evangelism sees the human as a regulating system.
Belief evangelism uses authority, urgency and argument to persuade.
Formation Evangelism uses authority to create safety. Slowness is respected.
Belief Evangelism sees resistance as rebellion or blindness.
Formation Evangelism sees resistance as information about their nervous systems capacity or original formation.
Belief Evangelism is going for raised hands in the pews, prayers prayed, numbers counted.
Formation Evangelism is tracking increased capacity to feel, more presence under pressure, greater love, truthfulness and courage.
Belief Evangelism needs salespeople, explainers, defenders.
Formation Evangelism needs hosts, witnesses, companions.
Belief Evangelism comes with pressure, anxiety, fear of being wrong, fear of being out.
Formation Evangelism comes with curiosity, spaciousness, welcome, patience.
Belief Evangelism says “Let me explain reality to you.”
Formation Evangelism says ““Let me introduce you to a way of living that has changed how reality feels.”
Belief Evangelism tries to get people into heaven.
Formation Evangelism helps people live fully here on earth.
Belief Evangelism sees that people need convincing, information, appologetics.
Formation Evangelism sees that people need safe places to practice trust.
Belief Evangelism is focused on getting people to name Reality in the same way.
Formation Evangelism is focused on helping people find the language that help their systems open and trust Reality more fully.
Belief Evangelism is focused on getting people to use the same stories and practices to relate to Reality.
Formation Evangelism is tracking what stories and practices would be most helpful for this person to open and trust Reality more.
This kind of evangelism needs churches that act more like formation ecologies (not belief factories). Communities that are practicing technologies of retraining how humans trust reality.
Communities that are not spreading beliefs about God. But offering ways of inhabiting Reality that make trust possible.
Evangelism, in this view, becomes creating spaces where a more loving universe becomes believable - because it’s felt and trained through story, practice and relationship.
Reminds me of the St. Francis of Assisi quote, "Preach the Gospel at all time, use words when necessary."
This whole idea you've framed out does leave me with an important question about how we, or anyone, transitions from "Belief" to "Formation" when it is precisely the beliefs that are causing the fear and restrictedness. In my journey, the world changed when I changed what I believed about the world, it was only then that I was able to build the connections I needed with people who were capable of being a safe, more regulated space for me and for each other.
I've been thinking a lot lately about how to make this transition easier for people. Something they don't have to walk alone like I did. How do we evangelize for loving and nervous-system-regulating beliefs so that people can be more loving and regulated?