I wrote this a few months ago, and it's posted on my myspace blog, but i'd like to let others see it that don't read my myspace blog...so check it out along with my other blogs on myspace at http://blog.myspace.com/tynamite thanks!!!
The other day I had a very heartbreaking and frustrating conversation with a dude at school. The topic was evangelism. We both agreed that it was sad how just empty people are and how much they need the love of God in their lives. He went on telling me how he takes it upon himself to go around the cafeteria telling people about Jesus, which according to him is spreading the Gospel message. Now, my question is this: Is telling people ABOUT Jesus really the gospel message? Is it our duty to go around trying to make people, who don’t have a clue who we are and what we’re about, believe what we believe? Are they really oblvivious to the fact that Jesus died for the sins? To what end are we doing this? Many religious leaders would tell us, yes, this is spreading the gospel message. What is our intent in doing this? To make us feel good about ourselves because we’re telling people about Jesus? And isn't that only a piece of what the gospel is about? He went on telling me how I should come with him and watch him talk to people about Jesus and how he makes certain arguments (taken from evangelism instructional videos, which just makes me chuckle, but that’s a whole other issue) because “it’s fun”.
It’s fun?
Is that really what it’s all about? Is it like a game? How much are you really caring for people by telling them about Jesus, making sure they know they are sinners and they need God, then moving on to the next table to start all over again. That’s an illusion of love. You don’t really care about them, you are about your agenda, it makes you feel good because you’re told to do this and you think it’s fun. Love is investing time and effort into the lives of others. It’s about taking the time to understand them and sympathize with them, getting their perspective, discovering and learning about their experiences. THAT’s love. Love is sacrifice, giving up yourself, giving up your agenda, and letting them see Christ’s love in you. It’s not so much about knowing about Jesus, it’s about knowing Jesus…experiencing Jesus...
It’s not enough to just know about Jesus…
So we have to ask ourselves, who is Jesus? I believe he was ultimate reality. He was the written word of God in flesh. Everything that we are destined to become is in Jesus. Any questions about how we should live life here and now is found in Jesus. There is so much more…He was life. He was love. And, He was a FRIEND of sinners. Sinners being all of us…NONE are exlcluded. According to Scripture, He chilled with them, ate with them, drank with them, shared his life with them. SHARED HIS LIFE WITH THEM.
So I guess another question is this: Is it really worth telling everyone ABOUT Jesus and having a few get it (and prolly get it wrong) and annoying the rest and ruining any chance of a future encounter with Christ. Is that what Jesus instructs us to do? Is that ALL the Gospel is? Or do we share our lives with the few around us who we daily interact with and allow them to KNOW Jesus through our lifestyles and love in us. There is no way we can change the world on our own. But, we can change the world around us. You can change the world around you. Think about that…
I think the church has had this wrong for a long time. I need a God who’s now. I need a faith for today. If my job is to just get people to know about Jesus for the sake of a hope and future for something that just happens AFTER this life and then just feel good that we’re all going to this better place after we die, which I believe is true, isn’t enough. There has to be more! What about here and now? What is so exciting about a faith that is for a future? I think Jesus teaches us that our faith is about today, about now. It’s about daily changing the lives and the world and reality around us by getting people to know Him through our lives and experiencing love and joy and everything else that comes in a relationship with Him and with others. To me, THAT is the Gospel message that Jesus teaches.
“Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary use words”
-Saint Francis of Assisi
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4 comments:
Sounds like a "borrowed faith" ... when people talk about Jesus and do things for Him, but have little or no relationship with Him.
I've been there.
jb
The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.
-dc Talk
The people I know do not say much about Jesus; not even in church. They feel uncomfortable talking about their faith. Many of them wonder if they should say more, especially to people living outside a faith community.
It does appear motives are critically important. Do we serve Jesus or does giving testimony serve our own egos and sense of superiority?
Hey, I came across blog this from a link in Jake's. For what it's worth, here's my thoughts:
I've seen and done both types of evangelism and coming from that perspective I agree and disagree with you.
While I do think that in OUR society especially we need to be extra careful about how we approach people we don't know with the gospel (in order not to offend people or annoy them), I find that a lot of people use this as an excuse to never do it because it's scary and hard.
What did Paul do? Did he stick to just relational evangelism? Of course not, he knew that he couldn't have a relationship with all the people he wanted to reach, so he went into the town squares and preached boldly.
I honestly think that relational evangelism will make the greatest strides here in America, but I have been to Panama City Beach with Campus Crusade the last two years and seen over 200 people accept Christ throughout those two weeks. Even if 180 of them forgot about Christ the next day, what are we to say about the other 20 whose lives were changed? Do they not count because they didn't have relationships with the people who witnessed to them?
You asked: "Is it really worth telling everyone ABOUT Jesus and having a few get it (and prolly get it wrong) and annoying the rest and ruining any chance of a future encounter with Christ."
I think that's a loaded question. I know people who have accepted Christ through televangelists, street evangelism, tracts, you name it. And as for their "ruining any chance of a future encounter with Christ" I guess a question to ask is: In the end, do we cause a person's decision for or against Christ, or is it ultimately their decision to embrace or recect Him? That's a tough decision. I understand that Paul told the Romans that "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you" because of their sinful lives(Romans 2:24), but does that mean we ruin any chance of a future encounter with Christ?
Another thing to remember is that Jesus himself said when we "scatter seeds" some of them are going to fall along the path. The Gospel is offensive and we shouldn't be quick to blame the style of the presentation for the rejection of the message.
My goal in all this is not to defend arrogant street evangelists, or Benny Hinn (who's an apostate if you ask me), or give anyone the right to be an annoying Bible-thumper. I'm 100% against all of those and I agree that its frustrating to see Christians who are like that.
The point is:
I think criticism (or maybe critique is a better word) is great. It helps keep things in balance, but I don't think we should dismiss something out of hand because we've had bad experiences with it.
One last note, Benny Hinn (Greedy, Faith Healing Televangelist) has led a number of people to a saving faith in Christ. That is a dilemma because if you read up on him or just watch any of his broadcasts you can tell that he is motivated by greed and power. But yet, people are coming to Christ as a result of his outreaches. How do we respond to somebody like that? It's tough because even Paul wrote that a false motive in preaching the Gospel does not take away the message's saving power (Phillipians 1:12-18).
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