“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
Romans 1:16
Evangelism is a loaded word.
For many people, including me, whenever I hear that word spoken, a taste of bile rises up in my throat and I want to go run and hide. There really should not be any reason to fear this word, for evangelism merely means to “spread the good news of Jesus – – the gospel.” What can be so bad about that? As a Christian, is that not my calling?
Well for me it brings up dark visions of a guy in a double-windsor knot, scarlet red tie, pointing at me saying, “Get busy winning souls for Jesus, you slacker! And you call yourself a Christian? What kind of yellow-bellied pastor are you? You don’t go house to house on Saturday mornings, you aren’t standing in the street arguing, you rarely even have altar calls – – if I was Jesus I wouldn’t even let you into heaven!”
I have known Jesus since 1989, and shame and guilt, like a dark creeping shadow, has been following me ever since. I love Jesus more than life itself, but I hate the idea of going up to complete strangers trying to get them to accept the gospel. “Hey if D. L. Moody could do it, so can you!”
I remember early in my Christian walk I allowed that shame and guilt to rule me. I will never forget one dark and stormy night when I felt terrible because I never talked to one person about Jesus. So I went to the local gas station, and decided to buy a 3 Musketeers candy bar for the purpose of talking to the cashier about Christ:
Cashier: “That will be .75 cents”
Me: “Um, eh, well…did you know you are a sinner?”
Cashier: “What?”
Me: “Yep…you need Jesus?”
Cashier: “No, I need .75 cents or you aren’t getting that candy bar!”
Me: “Oops, sorry, here you go! And, have a nice day!”
What a fiasco! I can remember taking 35 students to New York City to talk to bums on the street about Jesus. By that time in my life, I got pretty good at knowing how to twist conversations to make people feel stupid. Well, my students looked like deer in the headlights when I asked them to go “share the gospel” with people sitting on the sidewalk talking to themselves. I can remember watching the poor students as one after another was being rejected and completely ignored.
And when they would come back with heads hung low, and wanting to be anywhere than where they were, I gave the good pastoral response, “Hey, just remember, Jesus was misunderstood and persecuted too.”
This is the evangelism I have been taught, and for many years it is all I knew. Over time, instead of it being “Good News”, it has become for me and many people raised in the church, “Good News Gone Bad”. Like selling a bag of rotten apples to people eating fresh strawberries. Why would anyone get excited about losing a debate with a complete stranger, or feel good about accepting a message just to get you off their back?
Could our view of evangelism be wrong? Can I be honest with you, the longer I have been a pastor the more I rebel against the idea of having evangelistic crusades and outreaches. After doing a lot of research, I have found our notion of evangelism has been shaped by an era that is long gone. We have adopted the tactics of the 19th-century snake oil salesman who is trying to produce immediate sales fast.
The gospel is not something to sell!
Even Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:17, “Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.” In 1 Thessalonians 2:3-9 Paul even says we are not “trying to trick you” but giving you “our very lives.” The gospel isn’t a fancy game of sales gimmicks and formulas (Roman Road) or easy, no-obligation contracts given freely to help seal an eternal deal (The Sinner’s Prayer). The gospel is entering into a new way of life. It is asking people to give their complete loyalty to a new King and to invest everything they have now for a future they can not see.
The gospel is a message that is built on trust, not heavy-handed arguments or loud-mouthed pastors (who are usually overweight) banging on pulpits to impress his congregation that he is a true “Champion for the Gospel.” Why do vainly confident men think they are more persuasive than the Holy Spirit of God? Why does playing music to draw a momentary tear hope to seal a deal that is eternal? Altar calls and worship concerts are like a Mary Poppins Pie-crust Promise, “Easily made, easily broken.”
So, if the old traditional methods of evangelism are not the answer, what is? First of all, I must admit, sometimes formulas and arguments do work – – but usually, it is because other things have been done to bring a person to a point of decision. The problem with us is that we are impressed by numbers and people making emotional decisions on a powerful Sunday morning service. But we must never forget, God is always working (John 5:17), and yes, you are to be a continual part of his work, even on Tuesday afternoon at 2:00. Let me give you 4 other avenues to evangelism (spreading God’s goodness) that you are more than equipped to do:
(1) PROVIDENTIAL MOMENTS: If the Bible is right, then we can believe God the Holy Spirit is in the business of convicting and convincing people of his greatness and their sin, He is the best evangelist of all.: “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” (John 16:8-12)
So if God is always at work around you, you must be ready to act when you see him working. Most Christians simply don’t have eyes to see what he is doing. We are terrible listeners. When someone is broken and bruised from the difficulties in life, that is a chance for you to extend mercy. When someone is angry and bitter, that is a chance to extend grace. And no matter the conversation, there is always the opportunity to give your Christian worldview on the subject – – and people are desperate to hear well thought out answers for the problems of the world. We have an obligation to have answers for this broken world. We need to give reasons to people (1 Peter 3:15 – “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”) If you have solid, grace-filled answers, you will “never” lack for an audience.
(2) NATURAL MOMENTS: Just live like a Christian, that’s it, and people will notice. Be the coach who doesn’t swear and really cares about his players’ lives. Be the co-worker that doesn’t see how much he can get away with, but works hard to make a profit for the boss. Be the teacher who teaches well. Be the dentist who doesn’t judge. If you are a Christian and live like a Christian, people will want you around. Have you ever worn the cloak of humility? It is the greatest quality that few Christians wear.
(3) INTENTIONAL MOMENTS: Listen to this verse, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.” (Isaiah 50:4) Allow God to break your heart for the weary. Who is weary around you? Do something about relieving their pain. Be intentional about meeting needs. If there is someone you know that has a specific need, meet it. If there is a person who is grieving, sit with them. Is there someone who needs help to fix their house, get some people together to help them. Is someone on the roadside needing help? Stop. Look. Help.
Be salt, be light. Don’t hide in your house so you can watch another Netflix series and ignore the rotten world that makes you mad. Enter into people’s lives. That is evangelism!
(4) BEAUTIFUL METHODS: Create something that draws the eye, makes people notice. Beautify the world with your talent, make Eden come to earth. Work on your garden, be a blacksmith, draw, paint. I will admit that I am a very poor writer, but I want to at least try. I was at a conference that said, “What if Paul decided not to write letters to the churches because he thought he had no talent?” We would be bereft of tremendous blessings forever.
Some of you can create, I know it takes a lot of time and effort, but never forget, you are going to die soon. Leave something beautiful behind. that points to the greatness of God! Why? Because God left so much beauty for you!
I only offer these four ideas to change what evangelism means. I have seen God change our church through the Providential Method more than any other. When one broken person finds hope they will tell the world. And never forget this: God will bring people your way if he can trust you. If the answers you give are saturated in scripture and they pour forth beauty and life-giving encouragement, paths will be beaten down to your door instead of you beating down other’s doors just to try to get people to listen to you. Your wisdom will become a cherished commodity!
Listen to this verse, it always amazes me – – and I have seen it come true!!!!
Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“If you repent, I will restore you
that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you,
but you must not turn to them!
(Jeremiah 15:19)
