I have been thinking about the realities of evangelism over the past couple of weeks and have realized several problems inside the church on this issue. These issues show very clearly that what is seen on the surface as a committment to evangelism really isn’t. What is viewed as a concern for souls is nothing more than a concern to appear concerned for souls. Here are the concerns I have.
1- I am concerned that people inside churches are more committed to a method of evangelism rather than to evangelism itself.
The method that a particular church ascribes to is really of no importance, but I will use as an example the method of which most people are probably familiar. For years door-to-door visitation was a staple in almost every church. This was the method of evangelism that was promoted because, in the 70′s and 80′s, it was very effective. However, as times have changed this ‘method’ of evangelism has become ineffective. Unfortunately, for many churches, their sole method of evangelism is still door-to-door visitation. Again, there is nothing at all wrong with this method, but there are problems with the line of thinking that is espoused by many.
Anytime loyalty is to a method of evangelism there is no real focus on the message of evangelism. Whenever there is a loyalty to a method of evangelism that over time becomes ineffective true evangelism becomes non-existent. Let me encourage you to not confuse methods of evangelism with evangelism itself.
2- I am concerned that people are outsourcing evangelism and thinking doing so alleviates their responsibility.
I have talked with a lot of people who think that because they give money to the missions program of their church they are fulfilling their evangelistic responsibilities. While I am all for giving to missions, evangelism is not something that we can outsource or pay someone else to do. It is a personal responsibility in which each believer in Christ must be commited. The cause for this way of thinking may be found in the next concern.
3- I am concerned that people think that as long as they are involved in corporate evangelism there is no need for involvement in personal evangelism.
I am afraid that people don’t understand that there are really two types of evangelism. There is both corporate evangelism and personal evangelism. Corporate evangelism is what the church does as a whole. Special services, evangelistic meetings, ministries, programs would all fall under this category. Personal evangelism is each individual intentionally being a witness to those they come in contact with on a daily basis such as co-workers, family, friends, and neighbors for the purpose of evangelism.
What we must understand is that involvement in a ministry of the church that can be considered as evangelistic does not make someone evangelistically minded. Helping out in corporate evangelism is needed, but does not negate our responsibility to be involved in personal evangelism.
What our churches need is a proper view of evangelism that keeps as its focus the Gospel message.
April 19, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Jeremy,
Good to see you posting again! As always, I enjoy engaging your concerns. I like this one, especially.
It seems to me, however, that the argument is a bit fuzzy. On the one hand, you are critiquing the commitment to a “kind” of evangelism, i.e. door to door. I get that. I also see you have boiled “evangelism” down to two forms, corporate and personal. On the other hand, I’m not sure you’re clear on what you mean by “personal evangelism.” I get it overall, I just think you may have left some of your readers in the dark. What is personal evangelism? Are you not alluding also to an underlying commitment to a “kind” of evangelism, namely some sort of Romans Road, sharing gospel tracts, Evangelism Explosion, etc. In other words, some kind of formal way that people systematically share the gospel with others. Is this what you are alluding to? If so, I wonder what the real difference is, other than walking up to someone’s door, or an organized group going out in the name of a particular church?
Now to what I am alluding! ;-)
I think of the words of St. Francis of Assisi who said, “Preach the gospel … when necessary, use words.” In what ways can people share, or rather, “live” the gospel faithfully in front of their family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. that is effective in “communicating” the gospel and thus draws questions and conversation? So when you say, “evangelism that keeps as its focus the Gospel message,” does this include methods other than verbal parroting of a systematic script, or chain of pre-selected passages?
April 22, 2010 at 10:49 am
Hey Mark,
Good to hear from you. Sorry, it has taken me so long to reply, I have been spending a lot of time getting ready for my Greek final next week. I agree with you completely. I’m not trying to promote merely a verbal evangelism at all. The point I was attempting to make was that giving money to a missions program or tithing so that the church can offer evangelistic services or programs does not negate our responsibility to be personally involved in evangelism.
The problem is that too many people view evangelism as something that they can outsource to someone else or to the church as a whole. In my opinion, the person who has this mentality is not an evangelistically minded person.
I am a big proponent of relational evangelism…intentionally building relationship with people for the purpose of being a witness and a testimony to them. Evangelism affects our heart before it affects our actions, and trying to find ways around being personally involved in evangelism is a sign that there is a problem.