This quote from C. S. Lewis got me to thinking about evangelism and how we go about doing it, or at least how we go about encouraging each other to do it.
Your real, new self will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Does that sound strange? The same principle holds, you know, for more everyday matters. Even in social life you will never make a good impression on other people until you stop thinking about what sort of impression you are making. Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original; whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. The principle runs through all life from top to bottom. Give up yourself, and you will find your real self. Lose your life and you will save it.
Is it possible that the more we “try” to be evangelistic the less good our news will seem to those who hear us tell it? Is evangelism something we are to work at or should it be the bi-product of a Spirit-empowered life with God?
One of the big points Luke seems to be making in Acts is that evangelism is driven by the Holy Spirit. The early church was abiding in the presence of the risen Christ and that translated into mission. Luke doesn’t tell us that the apostles met in a room and came up with a detailed strategy to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Yet by the end of Luke’s story, that’s exactly what had happened, just as Jesus said it would (Acts 1:8). It was the power of the Holy Spirit that led to the gospel’s cross-cultural expansion.
In trying to convince our congregations that they need to be more evangelistic, (How many sermons on evangelism end up sounding like a pep talk delivered by a football coach? “Let’s get out there and share the gospel and save some souls!”) are we communicating a subtle message that evangelism is more of a Christian duty than a privileged response to what God is doing in us and in the world?
What kind of Christian has to be motivated to be evangelistic in the first place? Probably one who doesn’t sense that the gospel is making much of a difference in his life. What kind of congregation has to be cajoled into evangelistic activity? Probably one that talks about the resurrected Christ more than it actually experiences his presence.
Rather than focusing on evangelism, maybe we should focus more on the formation of disciples who have their hearts set on following Jesus. My hunch is that if we actually did this, authentic evangelism would flow naturally from our lives.
Aren’t attempts to motivate church members to share the good news of Jesus, even when they are not experiencing the news to be good themselves, doomed to fail? Doesn’t that make us like the travel agent selling vacations to a place he has never been?
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Hi Wade,
It’s been a while! I look forward to seeing you again at th workship (I’m planning to come).
Anyway, what you said about evangelism here has me wondering about the “glory” days of the CofC several decades ago when it was the fastest growing Christian movement. Is it possible that in spite of all the methodoligies that were invented, the real power behind these years of growth came from the passion of Spirit filled Christians who, having experienced the redeeming work of God, just couldn’t keep their mouths shut about it?
I think that while some of the outdated methodologies might be failing us today, our biggest failure is simply the fact that it’s difficult share “good news” when a person really feels that the news is only “mundane” at best.
When the news becomes “good” to us personally, we won’t be able to help but share it. It will bleed out of us!
Thanks Wade,
Lee
I recently had a friend tell me about a relative of his who sold vitamin juice of some type. He was very successfull and one day someone asked him what it tasted liked. Oops! he had never tried it. I plan to work that into a sermon one day. good thoughts
Good thoughts here! Jim Henderson says as much in his book aka Lost (soon to be rereleased as Evangelism without Additives from WaterBrook Press):
http://www.off-the-map.org/
Also, check out Share Your Faith for a refreshingly simple “method” of evangelism: syfonline.org
Enjoy your thoughts, Wade.
MS
Wade, I’m with you in wondering what makes someone evangelistic, but I’ll have to say that I think the thought that if we just better spiritually form people then they will be more evangelistic may be too generic and too simplistic.
Sure, more spiritual formation is a great thing, but who are generally the most evangelistic people? The ones who are generally the least “spiritually formed”, in other words, the newest Christians. Excitement is a wonderful thing; maybe we should be asking why people who have been Christians for a longer amount of time lose that. My own hunch is that they do not want Christianity to be a dangerous yet adventurous life vocation; a safe, comfortable social network is much more in tune with our unspoken expectations.
Again, if we look at Christ, did he just continue with the spiritual formation, or did he actually do a “pep talk” and send people out? From my reading, the disciples didn’t just head out on their own, but had to be sent (the 12 and the 72) with instructions and then highly encouraged after Christ’s death.
So maybe it is some of both and not just an easy either/or question. We need to remind, tell, ask, and share why we are excited about being Christians and what it has done for our lives, and we need to send people out with instructions with the certain knowledge that at times they will be rejected but it is worth it if you really love the ones around you. Overcoming rejection isn’t something anyone wants to face, and some encouragement is helpful and probably needed. Rejection, while hard to take, will only help firm your convictions.
I apologize for the long response, but only one more comment on what I believe is probably the most basic reason why we are not more evangelistic – how often are we with someone and watch how they do it, as in a real, live, discipling relationship? I am still convinced that the way to change is not to just vision cast, although I love to do that, but then also to do it yourself and invite others along. We just don’t normally make the time; we are too busy for real life transformation…