Featured What is not evangelism?

Are you really that clueless?

 

If I may interject... Just have a few minutes.

The Greek word euaggelizomai means, "I proclaim (or declare) good news." It is usually the original of the translation, "preach the Gospel." It is the word from which we get "evangelize," though we do not determine meaning through etymology. The point I am making is that in my theology of evangelism, which I think is Biblical, evangelism does not take place until the good news of the Gospel is proclaimed (verbally, in literature, in sign language, on a sign, etc.).

There are various means or possible ways to get to this step, which means are called bridges for the Gospel. What is commonly called "lifestyle evangelism" (based on a book of that name by Joe Aldrich, first published in 1981) or relational evangelism or friendship evangelism, occurs when the believer builds a relationship for the purpose of winning someone to Christ. Actual Gospel-sharing may take place at any time in the relationship, or many times, but the relationship is not evangelism until that occurs. It is, rather, a bridge to evangelism.

A verbal statement that makes the prospect think (and begins the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart) is the most common bridge for direct evangelism, but if you'll think about it, in most cases a relationship must be established for that to occur (paying a bill, visiting a home, doing something together). That relationship may have only started a minute ago, but it is still a relationship and a bridge to the Gospel.

Another possible bridge is what I call event evangelism. An event may occur or be caused (a miracle in the NT, feeding a huge crowd, the veteran's banquet our church will have next week, etc.) that will then serve as a bridge to proclaim the Gospel.

Make sense to everyone?

 

It is you who are confused about what evangelism is and what it is not. Further, you have misrepresented those "social actions" as being the whole of evangelism in the minds of some people. No one thinks that those social actions are the whole of evangelism.

Evangelism is in fact laid out in scripture in the great commission. Rather than misrepresent and attack others based on your personal preference let's take a look at what scripture says about reaching the lost. We must first look at what scripture says evangelism is before we can address what it is not. Therefore scripture says evangelism is:

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)

1. We must "go" (v.19)
2. We must go under the authority and in the power of Jesus Christ who is the one sending us. We must go as one sent by Jesus. (v.18)
3. We must go the with intention to make disciples. (v.19a)
4. We must go converting them to believe rightly in the one true and living God. (v.19b)
5. We must convert them and then teach them to not only be a disciple but to also be a disciple maker as we are to be. (v.20)

Scripture also gives us the means by which we are to accomplish our assigned task of evangelism. Let's begin with the heat attitude behind our evangelism:

To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. I Corinthians 9:20-23 (ESV)

1. We must have a heart of accommodation. This does not mean accommodate on ungodly things but it does mean that we engage in activities that will win the trust of those with whom we are trying to win. Paul would have had no problem mowing someone's lawn to win the trust of someone he was wanting to share God's word with. Paul would have gladly taken out the trash of a lost person. These things are in fact part of the task of evangelism.

2. We must have a broken heart for the lost. Paul said "or I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh." Paul had such a concern for Israel that he would be willing to sacrifice himself in order for them to be saved. Psalm 126:6 says "He who goes out weeping," We need to have much concern for the lost. Failure to have concern for the lost is sinful. Having only a concern that the gospel be preached and hiding that in the idea that our only concern be that God is glorified is unscriptural, sinful, and ungodly. The reason why is that there is a clear command from God that we have a broken heart for the lost, and God is not glorified when we just preach at people. The message being preached needs to be done with the right heart not simply done in a mechanical way. If your heart is not right then the message of the gospel is hidden.

3. We must go out with the intention of bringing them back. It cannot reasonably be ignored that the great commission includes the discipleship of the converts. If you simply preach the gospel but leave them to themselves afterward then you have not engaged in proper evangelism. God's word says to "teach them all that I have said". That means to disciple them to live a life of repentance, godly character, and to also share the gospel with others. This is done by bring them back to the church and seeing to their spiritual care. Psalm 126:6 also says that we are to return home bringing our sheaves with us. This part of the great commission is also a primary part of evangelism.

4. We must go preaching the word of God. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. There is no doubt that the HG uses the word of God to convict hearts. It is the source of all clear truth and it is the power of God to salvation. Psalm 126:6 says we must go out bearing precious seed. The seed is precious because in it is the understanding of how we have been freed from the power and penalty of sin when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.


Now, if any one of these elements of evangelism are missing then it is not biblical evangelism. So here are some of examples of what evangelism is not:

1. Standing on the street corner preaching at people with no real concern if they are converted or become disciples and disciple makers.

2. Having no heart or concern for those who may be converted.

3. Failing to disciple the converts in the way scripture has laid out the great commission.

4. Acting as if the great commission is only about preaching.

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Now I have laid out a complete and exhaustive picture of what evangelism is and is not. You can continue to post these inane threads for the purpose of making yourself feel better about your failed attempts at evangelism. The truth is based on what you have posted when it comes to evangelism you are disobedient to the word of God. You have been shown God's word here. What you decide to do with it God will hold you accountable for. I suggest you head these words very carefully.

 

Disagreement is not "attack". Further, it is completely false that I have criticized everything you write. What you have done here is used a lousy excuse to ignore the clear teaching of scripture. I will warn you again. God will hold you accountable to the truth of scripture. I suggest you take heed of what I have shown you. Do not fail to follow scripture on this issue as I have laid it out.

 

Actually my post is nothing but the Bible. The foundation for my entire post was displayed using the supporting scripture. Unlike the op which has nothing to do with scripture as well as the foundation for which you espouse your false teaching on evangelism. However, I will tell you what, you go ahead and disect my post point by point and show how I am wrong. I don't think you have it in you.

 

Once again, I challenge you to address my post point by point and show from scripture (not from some other book) where my points are wrong.

 

Should we obey Mark 16:15 but not obey Matt. 28:18-20? How does fleeing to Mark's GC get you anywhere?

A word to the wise: I did street evangelism in Japan, but not street preaching. We would pass out tracts and start conversations. This led to some wonderful personal evangelism opportunities and even salvation decisions because folk could take our measure by the personal contact.

Try it: pass out tracts and try to start conversations with gentleness and tact. Then hit 'em with the law and Gospel. God will use you.

 

Then as I told you on the other thread, you need to get on your knees and ask for God's power. And this has nothing to do with the elect. God saves, He does it with His power, and through believers. Period. And we are commanded to make disciples. And we are told if we are connected to the vine we will bear fruit.

Denver an excuse? Not on your life. It's America, not a Muslim or Buddhist country, where I've seen souls saved by the power of God. "The harvest is plenteous and the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest...." Prayer brings power.

Have to go.