10th May, 2011

GORDON PREECE

How’s your water-cooler witness going? A few years ago Sydney Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen challenged Christians to boldly evangelise around the water-cooler at work. A Herald writer slammed this as a violation of Australia’s religious pluralism and the private nature of religion. But Jesus offers living water to share around the water-cooler, over coffee, or a beer. But Jesus isn’t only the end, He’s also the means, so let’s look at how Jesus practiced water-cooler witness with the woman of Samaria in John 4.

PICTURE: © Terry Morris (www.istockphoto.com) "Water-cooler conversations about moral issues are often embarrassing. But behind moral and lifestyle issues of what’s worthwhile - whether bedroom, boardroom or ballot-box ethics - lie identity, relational and character questions of self-worth and religious/spiritual questions of worth-ship - what do you give absolute worth to and will it satisfy your spiritual thirst?"

Jesus firstly crosses racial, sexual and spiritual barriers by going through half-caste and religiously plural Samaria and talking to a socially outcast woman getting water in the heat of the day. A tired and over-worked Jesus gently approaches her and asks for water. Their common humanity and mutual felt need for water builds a bridge of hospitality instead of hostility. Jesus surprises her, sidesteps her stereotypes, treat her as someone with something to offer and opens up a relationship. Need comes before creed. Belonging before believing.

The woman is intrigued by this ‘man who fits no categories’ (Eduard Schweizer) – and gives no easy answers. Even more so when he offers her life-giving water. My favourite definition of evangelism is ‘one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread’ - or water. The woman wants his water but doesn’t really know what she wants. Desire often comes before definition. And moral boundary-breaking often reflects a desire for more. Jesus puts his finger on it. She’s had more husbands than Liz Taylor or J-Lo. But behind ethical issues lie issues of ethos – character, identity or spirit. Her multiple partner disorder probably also symbolises Samaria’s spiritual adultery. Maybe also her abuse at her ‘husband’s’ hands.

She’s evasive - morally ‘I have no husband’ - and religiously - ‘we worship here, you in Jerusalem.’ Behind the symptomatic moral and religious issues cropping up at work - Jesus sticks to spiritual thirst and identity - his and hers. Her comprehension of Jesus and herself increases incrementally. From ‘one greater than Jacob’, to ‘a prophet’, to Messiah, to ‘Saviour of the world’. ‘Witness’ the way black preachers use it interactively - ‘have I got a witness?’ – is less like cognitive knowing about than like being known sexually in all our vulnerable nakedness. And that takes time and trust. It is also less about abstract truth than personal, relational troth – Jesus in a sense husbands her back into God’s people – wells and especially Jacob’s well were famous pick up places and Jesus has the best pick-up lines - asking her to buy (give) him a drink.

Water-cooler conversations about moral issues are often embarrassing. But behind moral and lifestyle issues of what’s worthwhile - whether bedroom, boardroom or ballot-box ethics - lie identity, relational and character questions of self-worth and religious/spiritual questions of worth-ship - what do you give absolute worth to and will it satisfy your spiritual thirst? Jesus connected before he corrected the Samaritan woman. He started with felt needs and moved to ultimate needs. If it’s good enough for him it should be good enough for us as we witness by work and word in workplaces and at watercoolers.

Dr Gordon Preece is Priest-in-Charge of Yarraville Anglican and Director of Ethos: EA Centre for Christianity & Society (www.ethos.org.au).

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