Okay; so what does friendship evangelism have to do with that premise? Are you going to attempt to show that Jesus never engaged in friendship evangelism?
-
Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.
We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!
Contact evangelism vs. Friendship evangelism
- Thread starter evangelist6589
- Start date
- Status
Effective evangelism is when people are saved, baptized, and discipled. You are doing none of the above.
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Blasphemy.
More blasphemy.
Making disciples is part of the Great Commission. If you are not winning them, baptizing them, and discipling them, you are not fulfilling the Great Commission.
This is a lie straight from the pit of hell.
The issue of "contact evangelism" vs "friendship evangelism" itself is foreign to Scripture. The Bible presents us as being witnesses of Christ as we go throughout our lives. This means sharing the gospel to those who may happen our way (as some define "contact evangelism", telling others of the gospel without the benefit of building a relationship) and sharing the gospel through relationship with people God may put in our lives. Put these two "methods" at odds with each other and you end up with an unbiblical model.
What some pretend to be "friendship evangelism" is just trying to make friends. If it doesn't get to the evangelism part, then it's just making friends. On the other hand, what some others pretend to be "contact evangelism" is just an exercise in self-pride and glorification as they "obediently" proclaim the gospel oblivious of the people they are trying to reach.
What some pretend to be "friendship evangelism" is just trying to make friends. If it doesn't get to the evangelism part, then it's just making friends. On the other hand, what some others pretend to be "contact evangelism" is just an exercise in self-pride and glorification as they "obediently" proclaim the gospel oblivious of the people they are trying to reach.
This thread and its premise is sophomoric at best as it relies on ignorance of God and scripture as well as the Great Commission.
Given the definition given in this thread one can see Jesus use both "contact" and "friendship" evangelism. He had contact with the women at the well, but he also spent 3 years with the 12 training them. Note not all the 12 were saved as Judas is counted in the 12. Pitting one against the other is foreign to the New Testament. We are to be salt and light, while also making disciples. Salt and light can be contact but discipline can only happen in the form of a relationship. One look at the end of Paul's letters shows the relationships he developed with people on his missionary journey.
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Evangelization is fulfilling the Great Commission. It is a personal responsibility that every born again believer has toward those who are without Christ in his or her "world." Five key areas of contact are to be carefully and prayerfully pursued by every Christian:
Location (where we live); our neighbors.
Vocation (where we work); our coworkers.
Relation (with whom we live); our family members.
Recreation (where we play); our sports team, etc.
Education (with whom we learn). Our school mates.
Successful evangelization is both proclamation (an action through which the non Christian receives a clear statement of the essential message of the gospel) and affirmation (a process of modeling and demonstrating the Christian message through a Godly life).
If both of these requirements are met the Holy Spirit will use our efforts to bring souls to Christ wherein we can then teach them the importance of believers baptism, and, in turn, teach them to be effective keepers of the Great Commission.
Anything less is not keeping the Great Commission.
Location (where we live); our neighbors.
Vocation (where we work); our coworkers.
Relation (with whom we live); our family members.
Recreation (where we play); our sports team, etc.
Education (with whom we learn). Our school mates.
Successful evangelization is both proclamation (an action through which the non Christian receives a clear statement of the essential message of the gospel) and affirmation (a process of modeling and demonstrating the Christian message through a Godly life).
If both of these requirements are met the Holy Spirit will use our efforts to bring souls to Christ wherein we can then teach them the importance of believers baptism, and, in turn, teach them to be effective keepers of the Great Commission.
Anything less is not keeping the Great Commission.
You want some books to read about Evangelism?
Here are a few. The Soul Winner by Spurgeon and The Soul Winner's Fire by John R. Rice have already been mentioned. Both are by men who have stood the test of time and have seen thousands of souls come to Christ.
BIBLICAL EVANGELISM IN ACTION: Manual on Soul Winning
By Robert Sumner
Moody Monthly described this manual on soul winning as “convincing and conviction, compassionate and compelling.” Dr. Lee Roberson, pastor of the historic Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga for over 40 years and founder of Tennessee Temple University and Tennessee Temple Theological Seminary, who gave it his “full commendation,” enthused in the Introduction: “In a day of weak convictions, lukewarm compassion, and almost negative consecration, it is refreshing to read a book that says something!” This book will have its place in the pastor’s study, in the layman’s home, in the classroom.
EVANGELISM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
By Robert Sumner
"I was amazed at the many aspects of evangelism he covers ... right out of the Scriptures themselves that I have not seen covered in any other book -- and I have read many, as I taught Evangelism in several Christian colleges and seminaries ... You won't be the same person when you finish this book. Its teaching and truths are transforming." -- Dr. C. Sumner Wemp, former Chairman of Evangelism, Pastoral Theology and Director of Practical Christian Work, Moody Bible Institute; President, Southeastern Bible College; Vice-President, Spiritual Affairs, Liberty University.
EVANGELISM: THE CHURCH ON FIRE!
By Robert Sumner
Dr. Adrian Rogers, 3-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention, long pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in the Memphis area, international radio and television speaker, said: “In my estimation, it is one of the most valuable volumes for a minister with an evangelistic heart that I have every read. It has a wealth of good illustrations. It is practical and inspirational at the same time. I highly recommend it… .” Originally presented as “Lectures on Evangelism” at the Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary. An Illinois minister, Rev. Thomas H. Olney, testified: “… outside of the Bible, this is the most challenging book I have ever read. I mean that with all my heart.”
Here are a few. The Soul Winner by Spurgeon and The Soul Winner's Fire by John R. Rice have already been mentioned. Both are by men who have stood the test of time and have seen thousands of souls come to Christ.
BIBLICAL EVANGELISM IN ACTION: Manual on Soul Winning
By Robert Sumner
Moody Monthly described this manual on soul winning as “convincing and conviction, compassionate and compelling.” Dr. Lee Roberson, pastor of the historic Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga for over 40 years and founder of Tennessee Temple University and Tennessee Temple Theological Seminary, who gave it his “full commendation,” enthused in the Introduction: “In a day of weak convictions, lukewarm compassion, and almost negative consecration, it is refreshing to read a book that says something!” This book will have its place in the pastor’s study, in the layman’s home, in the classroom.
EVANGELISM AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
By Robert Sumner
"I was amazed at the many aspects of evangelism he covers ... right out of the Scriptures themselves that I have not seen covered in any other book -- and I have read many, as I taught Evangelism in several Christian colleges and seminaries ... You won't be the same person when you finish this book. Its teaching and truths are transforming." -- Dr. C. Sumner Wemp, former Chairman of Evangelism, Pastoral Theology and Director of Practical Christian Work, Moody Bible Institute; President, Southeastern Bible College; Vice-President, Spiritual Affairs, Liberty University.
EVANGELISM: THE CHURCH ON FIRE!
By Robert Sumner
Dr. Adrian Rogers, 3-time president of the Southern Baptist Convention, long pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in the Memphis area, international radio and television speaker, said: “In my estimation, it is one of the most valuable volumes for a minister with an evangelistic heart that I have every read. It has a wealth of good illustrations. It is practical and inspirational at the same time. I highly recommend it… .” Originally presented as “Lectures on Evangelism” at the Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary. An Illinois minister, Rev. Thomas H. Olney, testified: “… outside of the Bible, this is the most challenging book I have ever read. I mean that with all my heart.”
end of story
First you cannot know this as no one can however, there is no "but" there is no nothing after the first part. Game over
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
Luk 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.
Luk 10:2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
Luk 10:3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
Luk 10:4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.
Luk 10:5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’
Luk 10:6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.
Luk 10:7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.
Luk 10:8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.
Luk 10:9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Luk 10:10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,
Luk 10:11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’
Luk 10:12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
Luk 10:13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Luk 10:14 But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
Luk 10:15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
Luk 10:16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
The Return of the Seventy-Two
Luk 10:17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”
Luk 10:18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
No particular method commanded here.
Its not an either or prospect. The answer is both and other forms as well.
So once again, what's the actual premise and purpose of this thread? Because you used "vs" in your thread title; what did you mean by that?
I can answer this for you. He street preaches and cares not about seeing any fruit. He just wants to go and proclaim and then go home washing his hands of and possible fruit. He recently found yet another book in which he has interpreted supports his personal preference and now he feels justified. In spite of the very careful and biblical posts others have made to assist this young man he likes this book more. So now he brings it to this board to show how everyone else is wrong well.......because he found it in a book. That has to mean we are all wrong.
This young man knows not how to debate, he knows not how to properly use sources, and is completely ignorant of the many fallacies he uses. Of course pointing out all of this will mean I am attacking him. (at least in his mind)
In the end he thinks because of this book that he can show that confrontational evangelism is the primary method God condones and that all other methods are weak at best. This is what he does, he finds a book he thinks he can interpret to support his position and then comes here with it in sophomoric fashion to prove everyone wrong.
I am reminded of scripture by his attitude:
hp 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
Php 1:16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
Php 1:17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
Php 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
John 6:44. Only God can draw people to the savior. Our duty is simply to proclaim and let God draw.
Yes but the dominant format in scripture is contact evangelism.
I think you fail to read closely enough. Virtually the entire New Testament revolves around discipleship.
I think you fail to read closely enough. Discipleship is not what this thread is about. We must first plant the seeds of the gospel and let God draw to the savior.
This simply is not true.
I wonder if you are choosing a type of "evangelism" that misses the key components of biblical evangelism because biblical evangelism is costly on a personal basis (in involves loving others as Christ loved us, sacrifice, commitment, and involvement).
All biblical evangelism exceeds what you have described as contact "evangelism". I've read 9 Marks evaluation looking at Philip and the Ethiopian as "contact evangelism" because Philip simply went to the man without building a relationship first. The problem is that "friendship" or "relationship" evangelism is not building a relationship so that a person can be given the gospel message. It is sharing the gospel message through while loving others as Christ loved us. Even with this example Philip takes the time with the man, engages him in study, answers questions, and gives of himself.
There is no instance in the Bible of evangelism that does not have as its focus and often its result the adding of people to the church, to the community of believers, and to function within such a body. There is no such thing as "contact evangelism" and "friendship evangelism" because biblical evangelism does not begin with those "methods" in mind. You share the gospel of Christ, in season and out of season, and you do it genuinely by giving of yourself and loving people as Christ loved you. You disciple people. Looking back you might say "I spent more time developing a relationship this time" or "I just had enough time to share the gospel message, I hope God uses it". But you don't begin by saying "I like this method so I'll use it". You simply share Christ.
I've read all your posts. They all focus on contact evangelism. So please answer the question: why "vs"?
- Status