Are You Equipped?
Evangelism seems to be a big topic in “seeker sensitive” circles and the church role numbers game. I grew up in a Baptist church and have watched a Bible teaching church shift its focus to attracting non-believers. There have been numerous programs, events and such, all in the name of evangelism. Whether it’s Youth Pizza Night or a Comedian Valentines Dinner, the plan goes something like this: Get ‘em in and then blast ‘em with the Gospel — or something similar.
But when I look at the mission field around me, it seems that most people are relatively familiar with the gospel — knowing just enough to be dangerous — but have far more knowledge about science, philosophy, and world religion than most Christians do. It’s a scenario that gets played out often. An “on fire” Christian begins a dialogue with someone only to be quickly shut down by questions like, “What is truth?”
If the purpose of the church is to equip believers to take the Gospel to others then it seems to me that instead of trying to attract people by gimmicks and programs, the American church should be making sure that every member is well-versed in the following topics:
- The Holes in Darwinian Evolution
- Origins and Authenticity of the Bible
- The Evidence of the Resurrection
- Truth in a Post-Modern Age
- Christianity v/s Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism
(All this assumes that you are capable of communicating an accurate version of the Gospel as well.)
This is just my list, feel free to add more. I admit that I am not there yet, I’ve really just begun but the difference is quite noticeable. We’ll never be able to debate people into the Kingdom but we need to be prepared to address common issues. I highly recommend subscribing to the Podcasts from Stand To Reason.
May 13th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
might i suggest ya’ll read this to see a true evangelism story
http://stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/2006/05/jesus-welcoming-friend-of-sinners.html
you are right the gimmicks don’t work. if you look at Jesus’ ministry almost everytime he got really popular he handed down some really difficult teaching and the crowds left leaving just those who were there for the truth of the gospel and not the gimmicks.
equipping for evangelism is only one pupose of the church but the best way for us to equip for evangelism is to teach two stories.
the first story is the story of the bible. the story of the LORD’s salvation of his lost creation.
the second story is our stories. yours and mine. why are we believers. why am i a follower of Jesus Christ. how does my story fit into the story of salvation.
all those topics in your list are good but these two stories are fundemental to evangelism.
May 14th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Thx Josh, I agree. I read over the story and to my point, wondered how many “non-professional” Christans in the big fat Bible Belt would know what a “Gnostic” is, let alone what they believe. I would say this guy exercised his skills in the “Origins and Authenticity of the Bible” area in combination with “Christianity v/s World Religion” to get him to a place where he could share the core message.
Just like any national ambasador, it is imperative to be aware of the current issues of the day in the land that we are in.
May 14th, 2006 at 3:41 pm
i agree with that he did use all of those skills.
most nonprofessional christians may not know what gnostic means but they can share how the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ is alive and active in thier own lives.
i guess my worry is that we emphasize those over what the core message and how our lives connect to the core message. coming from a tradtion that is prome to legalism i have seen people who have all the right answers but live like they are pagans. i want the story to be alive in poeples lives and i want people to be able to communicate why they believe.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:20 am
Ha… I was so busy prepping for teaching Sunday that I didn’t see this post until just now. Pretty cool how we’re on the same page at the same time…
(For anyone who wasn’t there - my lesson Sunday addressed the idea of a God-exalting Christian intellect.)
It’s almost like God planned it or something.
May 15th, 2006 at 7:22 am
I love Frank Beckwith’s answer to that question…
“Do you want the true answer, or a false one?
May 15th, 2006 at 9:47 am
“…coming from a tradtion that is prome to legalism i have seen people who have all the right answers but live like they are pagans.”
Yet again, we agree. All this assumes that we are actually living out what we claim to believe. If someone is verbally sharing Christ with others then there is a good chance that they are.
Just an observation, it’s interesting that the legalism I think you are talking about makes justification based on one’s obedience, but yet you see a pattern of the walk and the talk still not lining up.
May 15th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
i see it as a heart vs. mind issue. people know the right answers but the answers don’t translate into actions. the mind is full of knowledge but the heart is unaffected by what is known. this type of legalism is alive and well in not just the churches of Christ but i think in all traditions.
they know all the right answers to the wrong questions.
the tradition church of Christ legalism centers around making sure you take communion on sunday morning and the church you go to has the right name (such and such church of Christ) and does the right things (noninstrumental worship, women don’t participate in leading worship)) and is normal (multcup communion, one song leader, etc.) if your church is right then you are ok.
the focus was on being a member of the right church and not so much on personal holiness. this is starting to change in many places.
although i see a legalism developing now centered around politcal affiliation. not just issolated to the churches of Christ but the evangelical world as a whole. this is scarier to me because political parties are organization of the world and therefore are out for worldly power. where a church (even the most concervative and traditional church of Christ is atleast trying to be the kingdom of God ) i think this is a different topic for a different time.
May 15th, 2006 at 3:42 pm
J.P. Moreland argues that we almost never act in a way that is inconsistent with our understanding of reality. If I believe I can fly, I’ll leap out the window; the fact that I’m not leaping out the window suggests that I need to consider whether I really believe I can fly. If I never leap out the window, it still doesn’t prove anything, but it’s a strong suggestion that I didn’t really believe it.
Jesus put it this way: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)… the whole “by their fruits you shall know them” thing.
Perhaps the person whose “mind is full of knowledge but [whose] heart is unaffected by what is known” doesn’t really have the knowledge that he thinks he has.
May 16th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
along the lines of my first comment here is a podcast ya’ll should listen to
http://postrestorationist.podomatic.com/entry/2006-05-11T21_53_01-07_00
May 19th, 2006 at 1:40 am
I tell someone about Jesus anytime the Spirit of the Lord leads me. Most often, I don’t know what to say, I just know that this is someone I need to talk to about Jesus. I often begin by saying “Jesus Loves You.” It seems a little silly and simple. However, you’d be surprised at the doors that open up with that little phrase. Sometimes, people laugh but the Holy Spirit always teaches me what to say. He gives me wisdom at the right time.