EVANGELISM!
The very word seems to send a shudder down the Christian's spine.
I've run into this very interesting message by Pastor Mark Dever of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, given at the Desiring God Conference. It is about evangelism and the work of the church, and a pastor's role in leadership of evangelism in the church. Here is video.
One particular part of the message that I find fascinating is Pastor Dever's description of "5 Things that Aren't Evangelism." Those are:
1. Imposition
We cannot coerce or force someone to believe in Christ. There is no such thing as "making" someone into a Christian by forcing recitation of beliefs or adherance to ritual. To go about things in this way is not evangelism
2. Testimony
While testimony can be a good vehicle for evangelism, if it does not contain the message of Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross, it is not evangelism.
3. Social Action/Public Involvement
These things show the love and mercy of God through His people. But the works in of itself is not evangelism.
4. Apologetics
You can try to defend the faith through rational arguments and objective evidence. However, this does not ultimately go to the core of what the Gospel is all about.
5. The Results of Evangelism
Just because we do not have "results" does not mean we have not evangelized.
"Don't let the gospel that you preach be molded by what it is that gets an immediate response. Preach the gospel, trying to persuade--pleading for your hearers to believe--but knowing that you cannot convert a person. And then let God do with it what he will. He alone can call the dead to life. The gospel is powerful, and God is committed to using us to spread this good news. "
Thoughts:
One thing to make clear is that SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE GOOD. They are things that we should do and be conscious of (EXCEPT FOR IMPOSITION). It is good to testify to God's work in our lives, to Christians and non-Christians alike. It is good to be involved in social action, to see God's will done in this earth and to obey His call to "seek justice" and "love mercy." But the point is, where is the Gospel in all of this?
It's a good reminder of two truths in evangelism. First is the necessity of the centrality of the Gospel in Evangelism. Sounds simple right? If evangelism is defined as the "sharing of the Gospel," then the Gospel should be shared. However, do we tend to have VERY GOOD, but peripheral things muddle the Gospel message? Are we so busy trying to be "relateable" that we forget what is the heart? We must constantly take a step back in ministry and self-evaluation and ask ourselves, "Is the Gospel at the heart of everything we do?"
What makes Christian charity different than a secular one? What transforms apologetics from an intellectual, academic debate, into something lifechanging? The Gospel. It is the power of God for salvation.
The second truth is the sovereignty of God in evangelism. 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (reprinted below) talks about the ultimate power of God in the act of evangelism. Especially in response to more "results based" evaluation and the basis of success on "number of hands raised" or "prayers prayed" this is an important reminder. Ultimately God is the one who reaps the harvest and causes the fruit to come forth. All we can do is to STAY TRUE to the Gospel. To share, to be consistent in the sharing and to be complete in the preaching of the Gospel. Not to be swayed by the expediency of what would "make someone believe," but to have the faith that the God who called us, will also call those who we have shared with.
Ultimately, bearing fruit is God's work and responsbility. For in Him causing fruit to bear, He is most glorified and honored. It is not by the work or wisdom of men, but the awesome power of our God.
Verses of the Day:
And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Showing posts with label commentary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commentary. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
I Confess...NOTHING!
One thing that is a bit of a pet peeve of mine is the shallowness of "Christian accountability."
"Wow...what a statement?" "How can you say that?" "You like doing your own thing?"
Now...this is what I mean.
I am not a fan of the common idea of Christian accountability. What I think of most often is when people get together, sit around in a circle, and subsequently confessing how they skipped one day of reading the Bible. Or...going into painstaking detail on how they have "only" prayed an hour total this week. I'd qualify these critiques by saying that I do believe that we can have a REAL, TANGIBLE role in helping each other in our "spiritual disciplines." However, what I CANNOT accept is the fact that so often times, we leave our "spiritual accountability" at only that surface level. As if giving account of the aggregate prayer and Bible reading times should suffice in answering the question, "so how are you doing spiritually?"
I read this article from Christianity Today about the lack of "confession" in today's modern church context. It is can be applied to relationships we share with other people. Maybe its because we do not feel "comfortable" with one another. Maybe its because we do not see the need to do so. Who knows? I do agree with the thesis of this article that confession, before God and others, is not a big enough part of our spiritual lives. To confess, and to be able to share in the praises of fellow brothers and sisters in the forgiveness they found and the grace that we have from our God.
To share with one another our struggles in the ACTUAL LIVING of day to day life (in other words, not just limited to devotions or prayer life or church life) is something that not only lifts up the one who is sharing, but the hearer as well. It helps us appreciate the Gospel and fuels our spiritual growth. In neglecting to seek this kind of fellowship, modern Christians - from the most conservative to most liberal, from the youngest to the old - are stunted in a real way in their growth. I really love this line,
"We simply do not know the gospel unless we come to terms with our sin; even though we are "in Christ" and no longer under condemnation, real spiritual growth demands that we learn what it means to be healed."
As much as we find reading the Bible and Prayer to be important, the act of sharing with fellow brothers and sisters is likewise essential. Our Christian life is meant to be lived in COMMUNITY, and open, honest, communication is the lifeblood of growing a true spiritual relationship that is the foundation for such community. We not only share our STRUGGLES but our PRAISES as well. Not only focusing on how WE have FAILED, but how GOD has had success. But even in our failures, we can grow to appreciate and to behold the VICTORY of GOD over sin, and the sovereignty of God over our lives.
Verses of the Day:
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
- Galatians 6:1-6
"Wow...what a statement?" "How can you say that?" "You like doing your own thing?"
Now...this is what I mean.
I am not a fan of the common idea of Christian accountability. What I think of most often is when people get together, sit around in a circle, and subsequently confessing how they skipped one day of reading the Bible. Or...going into painstaking detail on how they have "only" prayed an hour total this week. I'd qualify these critiques by saying that I do believe that we can have a REAL, TANGIBLE role in helping each other in our "spiritual disciplines." However, what I CANNOT accept is the fact that so often times, we leave our "spiritual accountability" at only that surface level. As if giving account of the aggregate prayer and Bible reading times should suffice in answering the question, "so how are you doing spiritually?"
I read this article from Christianity Today about the lack of "confession" in today's modern church context. It is can be applied to relationships we share with other people. Maybe its because we do not feel "comfortable" with one another. Maybe its because we do not see the need to do so. Who knows? I do agree with the thesis of this article that confession, before God and others, is not a big enough part of our spiritual lives. To confess, and to be able to share in the praises of fellow brothers and sisters in the forgiveness they found and the grace that we have from our God.
To share with one another our struggles in the ACTUAL LIVING of day to day life (in other words, not just limited to devotions or prayer life or church life) is something that not only lifts up the one who is sharing, but the hearer as well. It helps us appreciate the Gospel and fuels our spiritual growth. In neglecting to seek this kind of fellowship, modern Christians - from the most conservative to most liberal, from the youngest to the old - are stunted in a real way in their growth. I really love this line,
"We simply do not know the gospel unless we come to terms with our sin; even though we are "in Christ" and no longer under condemnation, real spiritual growth demands that we learn what it means to be healed."
As much as we find reading the Bible and Prayer to be important, the act of sharing with fellow brothers and sisters is likewise essential. Our Christian life is meant to be lived in COMMUNITY, and open, honest, communication is the lifeblood of growing a true spiritual relationship that is the foundation for such community. We not only share our STRUGGLES but our PRAISES as well. Not only focusing on how WE have FAILED, but how GOD has had success. But even in our failures, we can grow to appreciate and to behold the VICTORY of GOD over sin, and the sovereignty of God over our lives.
Verses of the Day:
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
- Galatians 6:1-6
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Rock On?
I read this story from the Washington Post.
Now, I'm not trying to make any judgment in regards to culture, or the justice of corporate punishment. One thing I don't get: If adultery is so serious, that you would stone someone to death over it, why would you give someone the opportunity to escape?
Now, I'm not trying to make any judgment in regards to culture, or the justice of corporate punishment. One thing I don't get: If adultery is so serious, that you would stone someone to death over it, why would you give someone the opportunity to escape?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
