During our last 10 months with Armonía in Mexico, we have been wrestling with the meaning of evangelism and its place in the overall Christian mission. We have emphasized on this blog over and over again that we must proclaim and demonstrate the gospel, so evangelism in this sense as a central place in our Chrisitan mission. But how exactly is evangelism to be carried out? Is it best to strike up conversations with people? Preach from street corners? Teach classes and invite people to come? All of are possibilities, but what we have seen the most during our time with Armonía is evangelism that results from people asking questions regarding the community’s commitments and ways of living. Evangelism, therefore, is the entire process of demonstrating the gospel through our way of life, and giving verbal explanations (often in response to questions) to why we live the way we do by explaining the gospel.
In Walking with the Poor, Bryant Myers explains this form of evangelism by referring to the pattern of evangelism in the early church. Peter’s first sermon was a response to questions regarding the activity of the disciples. Peter’s next sermon is also a response to the people’s questions “provoked by evidence of the activity of God” (210, Acts 3:12-13). In these cases, “there is an action that demands an explanation, and the gospel was the explanation.”
Bryant Myers suggest two major reasons to commend this way of thinking about evangelism. “First, the question are asked by the people when they witness something they do not expect or understand. The initiative lies with them.” If we simply go and tell, people may or may not listen to what we are saying, but if they come to us with questions, they are already an interested audience, a participant in the conversation. “Second, the burden of response is on the Christians, not the people.” This should lead us to “get down on our knees and ask God why our life and our work are s unremarkable that they never result in a question relating to what we believe and whom we worship” (211). Our lives and action as Christians should be provoking questions, because we are called to a completely different way of living. Are we this sort of people? Is there an organic connection between what we believe and the lifestyle that we have adopted? If so, we will find ourselves engaged in evangelism on many different levels.
Posted by Suegro on June 17, 2009 at 11:42 am
We shouldn’t minimize the power of our asking questions as well, to explore with people what they believe, about anything. A good listener can usually find multiple points of entering into another’s world, and, in my experience, the possibilities for transitioning to the gospel are countless.
Posted by Wes on June 17, 2009 at 11:47 am
Absolutely. I think you could make a strong case for evangelism as asking question as well as provoking and responding to questions.
Posted by Daren Lindley on June 19, 2009 at 12:34 am
I absolutely agree that question prompted evangelism is the best. To often we are making statements when no one is asking any question let alone the ones we’re answering. As you are well aware the scripture says that we are to be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. What is our answer? Yes, Jesus, but how Jesus? When Jesus? What Jesus?
Of course our testimony offers the most relevant answer we can give to the questions people are raising. But too often our mind is blank and we are far from “ready.” We have been praying about this issue.
We feel that the testimonies in the local church and mission are the most under utilized evangelistic tool in our arsenal.
We have spent the last 15 years praying about evangelism and while we don’t have the only solution, we certainly have a solution. We believe the personal testimony of the local church is the most powerful evangelism tool in their possesion. Like the woman at the well who said, come and see the man who told me everything I ever did. And many believed because of her testimony. So we join with a local church and find their seven most compelling testimonies of life change. Then our team of proffesional Christian writers interview and we create a high quality custom book for that church to use in outreach, evangelism and assimilation. (visit our website http://www.goodcatchpublishing.com for a free sample book.) This remarkable Evangelistic cool goes a long way toward answering the questions you brought up. Allow me to elaborate.
While manys struggle to communicate anything, let alone the gospel they are not alone. The people of the New Testament where not hugely articulate either. They didn’t come to hear Jesus because they had experienced such a clear presentation of the gospel. They came because someone had told them a story of how Jesus had changed their life. Thats exactly what these books do.
While this may be true, the other factor is that when they do approach a friend, it is a well known social faux paux to venture into religious doctrine. However, a personal tale or the story of a friend who over came a great trial by the strengthening power of God in their life far from offensive. And when that person is given a book that would sell for $15 dollars at the local books store, they are genuinely thrilled. And they read the book!
An unattainable task is always demotivating. But when a lever is put in their hand the biggest bolders become doable. Ptting a realistic and powerful tool in your people’s hands will greatly impact their motivation.
Their is something very powerful about “Going Public” with your story. Like baptism, the public confession of your faith is a real motivator in walking the walk. You’ll find as people begin to share their stories their lives are much more inclined to be inline with what they just said. Coming into the light will do wonders for our integrity.