By Jonathan Dooley, M.A. Christian Education
When I think of Evangelism, my thoughts tend to envision street preachers, door-knockers, televangelists, maybe even extremists, and bigots. We would not argue that it is a calling, duty of a Christian to evangelize (Matt. 28), but why do most Christians fear sharing their faith? There are probably many reasons, but I agree with Tite Teinou, Professor of Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and propose that it is because we, Post-moderns, do not wish to take on the label of exclusivists.
“A Christian Exclusivist” – holds to the position that there is no other way to salvation except through Jesus Christ. “Exclusivists tend to be branded as religious bigots and as people whose message produces strife, discord, and violence. In a day when tolerance is perceived as the highest value…they must be avoided like the plague; they must be silenced.”[1]
In Streams of Living Water, Richard Foster makes a similar evaluation in regards to evangelism. “This lack of receptiveness has its roots in the modern absolutizing of tolerance and relativixing of belief. Every lifestyle is to be tolerated. Every belief is be accepted –unless, of course, it is an all exclusive-truth claim…”
The post-moderns are not without opinion or the boldness to state them, but when it comes to evangelism it seems that the generations has gone silent. I do not feel that it is due to lack of boldness, but a fear of being perceived as intolerant.
I serve as a campus minister at a Christian university in Dallas, and I recently asked a group of students to write encouraging notes to fellow students on snack bags for finals. Most bags had scripture verses written on them and a few funny quotes. One bag stuck out to me and I pulled it aside. The message on the bag read, ‘Respect all Religions.’ Not that I naively think that all the students serving were Christians, but none of the believers in the immediate area seemed to have much of a problem with the message. This small example struck a cord with me about the great level to which tolerance had invaded our theology. For to respect something is to revere or place value on it, something a Christian Exclusivist cannot do of false religions.
“…Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?...What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
(2 Cor. 6:14-7:1)
“The battle has to be fought not mainly at the level of technique or strategy, but at the level of how absolutely real and relevant and precious Jesus Christ is to me.”
-John Piper[2]
REGAINING COURAGE
People can tell if Christ is essential in your life or not. Think of how difficult it is to tell someone about something or someone you don’t know too much about. It will be uncomfortable and awkward. But if God is your life and you are close to him, people will be able to see your passion.[3]
Is God everything in your life? Is he absolutely essential to you?
“The more you meditate on the gospel and help your people mediate on the gospel, the easier evangelism will become to them.”
-Mark Dever[4]
Our Precious Gospel
Creation and Fall – The gospel begins with Creation (Genesis). God created the world and everything in it. It was good (Gen. 1). Adam and Eve, the first humans, chose to sin (disobey God) the result of their actions was huge. They broke our fellowship with God. Now we all face God’s wrath. (Rom. 5, 6:23, 1, 3:23)
Redemption – Now God who is Mercy, chose to send his son to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus Christ came to earth and died on a cross so that God show his wrath to Jesus and we would be forgiven (John 3:16-21, Rom. 5:6-8). After being killed Jesus came back to life, proving what he said was true, and tells us how we can be reunited with God (Rom. 1:4, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 18-21, 3:18-22).
God and Us – God did not create us because he needed us. God is content in himself. If he wasn’t he couldn’t be God. He created us out of the outflow of his pleasure and love (Eph. 1). We were created to be with our Creator, but because of our sin (The Curse of Gen. 3) our Good Creator cannot be with us and must punish us. We need a Savior.
God’s Solution – God’s solution to this was to send his son (1 John 4:10). Jesus was fully God while he was here on earth (John 1, 17:3, 20:31, 1 Cor. 8:6). He experienced everything that was human (pain, hunger, tiredness, temptation,..). Jesus was willing to die for us. Jesus understood his mission and taught about it while on earth (recorded in the Gospels). Jesus said that He was going to die for all humanity so that they could have eternal life with the Father God (Mark 10:45, Rom. 3:22, 5:15). It was the ONLY way (John 14:6). He proved what he said was true by dying and then coming back to life and accending to heaven (Rom 8:34).
Our Response – If I want to come to be reunited with God I must turn from my sin (repent) and turn to God. We cannot pursue both sin and God (1 John). Our response is to believe God’s promises in Christ. It is by this belief and faith in Jesus Christ alone are we reunited with God. We now leave our old life behind and follow Christ and his teachings (Rom. 10:9-10, 12:1-2, John 3:16-21, Eph. 1-5, Phil. 2).[5]
Our Worshipful Response
“Evangelism is the natural overflow of a life lived in joy as a worshiper of God.”
-Mark Driscoll[6]
In Luke 5:1-11, Jesus calls Peter, James, and John to follow him and become men-catchers. The fishermen had been fishing all night with no avail. Now Jesus comes to them and tells them to put out their nets again. They obviously do not really believe Jesus, but they humor him. The catch is so great their nets begin to break and boats begin to sink.
“In other works, the point is: this is an utterly unprecedented catch of fish in a location that seemed hopelessly unproductive the night before. And it was caught at the powerful and authoritative word of
Jesus.”[7]
Through the power and authority of Jesus Christ working through faithful men-catchers people will come to know the Lord. After seeing Christ work, Peter threw himself at the feet of Christ in utter humility. It was not an opportunity to start a revolt or make some money (Ex. Trust Jesus, get fish). He fell on his face because he was looking at pure grace, and felt unworthy. This how we must approach sharing the gospel, with humility. We must share as justified sinners who feel unworthy of grace overwhelmed with thankfulness.[8]
What did Jesus tell them to do next? Leave everything and follow Him. He calls us to do the same; to pursue Him wholeheartedly. His final instructions on earth to his disciples were to go share the good news he brought (Matt. 28).
We share the gospel because….
We desire to be obedient to God. In Luke 5:5, we see Peter obeying Jesus, not exactly wholeheartedly, but obedient. Even though they were all tired Christ acted. It doesn’t matter how weak or tired we are Christ, who never wearies, will always bring his name glory. It doesn’t matter if we feel like it or have affections for the lost. We were told to not hold on to this good news, but to share it like he did.
We should love the lost. Apart from Christ, humans will never find escape from God’s wrath.
“Meditate with deep solemnity upon the fate of the lost sinner…Shun all views of future punishment which would make it appear less terrible, and so take off the edge of your anxiety to save immortals from the quenchless flame.”
-Charles Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students
“Dare you go and claim relationship to Christ and profess to have his Spirit...and then make no effort, or only a few faint efforts, to save those for whom he shed not tears only, but blood?”
-Edward Payson, The Complete Works of Edward Payson
We love God. In Luke 5:10, Jesus calls the men to leave their great catch, boats, everything they know, and follow him. They left it all. We must consider everything as rubbish next to following Christ (Phil. 3:8). If we love God then we will want to see him glorified on earth. This is our one special privilege. Its something we cannot do in heaven.<![9]
AIMING TO EVANGELIZE
“Christian conversion is the act or process of being changed in a person who believes and treasures Jesus Christ, his saving work, and his promises above everything else, including all that we were believing or treasuring before conversion…I conclude that it is unbiblical to say that we are not aiming at conversion...he [God] calls us to join him in this goal. Not to aim at it is to put ourselves out of step with his command and his spirit.”[10]
Setting Your Aim
Are you being used by God to share the gospel? Do you know where to start?
In This We Believe, Lee Strobel offers some encouragement to believers seeking to regain their aim for sharing the gospel.
Ask God to increase your love for lost people. Jesus wept over lost people. He had great compassion for them. We tend to build an ‘us versus them’ mentality. Do you have compassion for the spiritually lost? (Luke 15, John 4, Matt. 5)
Pray consistently for the Lost. “Jesus seems to have prayed for his tormentors actually while the iron spikes were being driven through his hands and feet; indeed, the imperfect tense (original greek) suggests that he kept praying, kept repeating his entreaty, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ “[11]
Reach out in a way that fits who you are.
Confrontational Style – Peter (Acts 2)
Intellectual Style – Paul (Acts 17)
Testimonial Style – Blind man (John 9)
Interpersonal Style – Matthew (Luke 5:29)
Invitational Style – Woman at the Well (John 4)
Serving Style – Dorcas (Acts 9)
Build bridges of friendship with the Lost. For people to listen to you and value what you say you must enter their world. You must build ‘no strings attached’ friendships. You must be willing to be their friend even if they won’t make a decision about Christ. Be a listener.
An Overflow of the Heart
How do I share the gospel without sounding preachy? How do I begin to talk about God?
Out of an authentic, humbled, honest, surrendered Christian life the gospel will flow easily. What is your heart filled with? Do you have an intimate relationship with our creator or is it only surface level? People around you (especially lost) will be able to tell how much you really care about gospel.[12]
“The word of God is not some little jingle to manipulate customers to buy your product. The word of God is truth that aims to claim a person’s rational mind and win a person’s authentic affections. So we may be unashamed when we man-fish with the word of God. Its truth, not technique.”[13]
If you feel uncomfortable sharing about Christ and his gospel, then first take a moment to reflect on your relationship with the Lord. Are you living complexly surrendered? Do you understand the weight of the gospel? Jesus’ death on the cross?
“We cannot preach the good new and be the bad news.”
-Richard Foster, Streams of Living Water
MISSIONAL LIVING
Most people are just waiting for someone to take an interest in them. We all like to talk about ourselves. Your challenge is not to talk but listen. You must begin to purposefully incorporate others into your life.
Encountering the World
Jonathan Dodson, Pastor of Acts 29 Church (Austin, TX), offers some practical ways to seek out these new relationships in an authentic way.
Eat with Non-Christians. Make it a habit of eating with co-workers, family members, neighbors.
Walk don’t drive. Make it a practice to make to walk places in order to say hello to people you pass. Strike up conversations. Engage the world around you.
Be a regular. Instead of going all over the city go to the same places. Become a regular at a grocery store, gym, coffeeshop, barber…Get to know the staff.
Find a hobby with Non-Christians. Find an interest you can share with others. Be intentional. Be an example of Christ in all arenas. Maybe give lessons in your hobby.
Be an active member of your community. Participate in nonprofits in your area, clean up a local park, attend festivals, concerts…Love and pray for your city. Serve your neighbors.[14]
“It is imperative that Christians be like Jesus, by living freely within the culture as missionaries who are as faithful to the Father and his gospel as Jesus was in his own time and place.”
- Mark Driscoll[15]
Jesus cared about the lost and hurting world and so should we. He is concerned with the hungry, hurting, poor, orphans, the people who cannot take care of themselves.
Sharing Your Story
People will believe the gospel to be true through the leading of the Holy Spirit and the authentic transformation of life of a follower of Christ. In our postmodern society it is very true that actions speak much louder than words.
“Being missional means actually doing mission right where you are. Missional means adopting the posture of a missionary, learning and adapting to the culture around you while remaining biblically sound.”
-Ed Stetzer, Planting Missional Churches
We are to be imitations of Christ working different jobs, living in different cultures, different countries, compassionately yearning to reach every man, women, and child created by God with his gospel. This is evangelism. And you must always be ready to share your story.
How will I share the gospel when the time comes?
Lets follow the example set by Paul in relationship with King Agrippa (Acts 26). He told his story to the king in three parts.
- His life before Christ.
- How he met Christ.
- His life after Christ.[16]
This is a simple way to share your story that will allow you to clearly present that gospel. As you explain how you met Christ, it’s absolutely vital that you explain gospel in its entirety. For example, to leave out the wrath of God would lead to us not needing a Savior. Or without explaining what it means to ‘confess Christ as Lord’ you will give the impression that a person is saved by reciting a prayer. A person is not saved by a prayer, but by repentance from sin, belief in the promises of Jesus Christ for salvation, and submission to Jesus as LORD.
May We Be Faithful
We have been given the special assignment “to communicate the only message in the world that can change a person’s eternal destination.”[17] The gospel is the most important story we can ever hear and ever share. May we be faithful to follow our Savior and share the transforming message of God. May the gospel encompass every aspect of our life and may be imitate Christ more every day.
“Let all the nations hear the word by sound or writing. Spare no place, spare no tongue nor pen; but be obedient to the Lord God and go through the work and
be valiant for Truth upon the earth.”
- George Fox
[3]lt;!--[endif]--> IBID
[5]<!--[endif]--> IBID
[7]<!--[endif]--> John Piper, Breaking Nets, Sinking Boats, and Saving Men (Desiring God Online: 2002)
[8]<!--[endif]--> IBID
[9]<!--[endif]--> Mark Dever, The Need for Evangelism (Desiring God Online: 2009)
[10]<!--[endif]--> John Piper, Breaking Nets, Sinking Boats, and Saving Men (Desiring God Online: 2002)
[11]<!--[endif]--> John Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount (Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1985)
[12]<!--[endif]--> Lee Strobel, This We Believe (Mighigan: Zondervan, 2000)
[13]<!--[endif]--> John Piper, Breaking Nets, Sinking Boats, and Saving Men (Desiring God Online: 2002)
[14]<!--[endif]--> Jonathan Dodson, Simplified Missional Living (The Resurgence Online: 2009)
[15]<!--[endif]--> Mark Driscoll, Evangelism (The Resurgence Online: 2009)
[17]<!--[endif]--> IBID
