Evangelism 101
July 11th, 2006 | by Scott |I want all people to come to know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. I long to see disciples made in all reaches of the globe.
Really, I do. Wouldn’t it be great if people were able to truly find the love of Christ in their lives?
I believe that if all people would learn to truly live like Christ, then the world would change: wars would cease, poverty would end, and hunger would abate.
I believe that if I could just learn to truly live like Christ, then people would clamor to know more about why I love so much, give so freely and appear so joyful.
I would make a greater difference than I do. People would see a life not marked by borders, not encumbered with accumulation, and committed to being an image of Him.
What could happen I really committed to live like Jesus?
But it’s too hard. All that peace-y, love your neighbor, turn your cheek stuff is more than what I signed on for.
So, I have a great evangelistic plan. I will reduce Kingdom living to a list of moral regulations and then force people to live their lives according to those regulations. Rather than being a model of Christ as an example of how people should live their lives, I’ll just force them to live like me.
And anything that is viewed as a threat to the compulsory living of those regulations I will fight to stop by all means necessary: through protests, legislation and guilt.
I can make disciples through coercion and legislation rather than investing wasting too much time in compassion and love.
I can monitor all forms of entertainment to make sure that they live up to my standards of decency, no matter how subjective that might be, rather than dialoguing with people about the allure of entertainment or providing viable alternatives.
I can seek to block vaccines that could save a young girl’s life from sexually transmitted diseases because the underlying behavior goes against my standards rather than adopt the idea that a life saved today is a potential soul won tomorrow.
I can focus on “standing up for my rights as a Christian” rather than worrying about the rights of the poor, disadvantaged and forgotten.
I can seek to preserve the traditions and history of this “Christian nation” rather than seeking to introduce people to the grace and redemption that comes by being a part of the Kingdom.
I can show how loving I am by pointing my finger at the far fringes of Christianity, those who would spew their hatred without any compunction, rather than seeking to root out any remnants of hatred that lingers in my own heart.
Yes, that’s it. I will do everything in my power to coax, wheedle, intimidate, and force people into living the life I deem appropriate. God needs me to stand up for the right way of living. And by so doing, people will line up to become Christians.
Right? Who’s with me?
9 Responses to “Evangelism 101”
By Pat on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
It’s so hard to lead by example…it’s so slow. That’s what really bugs me, I think. I am the type who sees the solution and thinks that all I need to do is tell somebody what they need to do differently, have them do it, and then everything will be fixed. Except, it just doesn’t work well. True, the behavior might be altered for a while, but the behavior was coerced. Not from their insides. So, it never sticks. It’s like going on a crash diet because you know you need to lose weight, and you do. But, sooner or later, if you haven’t altered your habits from within, you’re back where you started.
When we try to force people into our idea of what good Christians look like, we can do it. And then, we feel good because we can see what we’ve accomplished. But, it never lasts.
Leading by example is so infuriatingly slow. But when changes are made slowly and permanently, the results are far so satisfying. It’s just that we sometimes don’t have the pleasure of seeing those changes.
Good post. Hard lessons.
By scott on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
Pat, thanks for your comments. I know what I wrote was somewhat provocative and given to hyperbole, so I’m glad you were able to get at the heart of what I was trying to say.
In Lee Camp’s Mere Discipleship he talks about how the post-Constantinian world adopted an “end justifies the means” mentality. I’m afraid I’ve done that far too often myself. Just make people agree with me and the battle is over.
But true transformation involves relationship and community. That is where change takes place. Christianity was organic and grass-roots. We must recapture that.
By John on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
This is great and so much of it fits in with the ground you covered in your whole how I got here series. Not only are many of these ills seen in the church but have been adopted as matters of public policy.
By dave turner on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
On his live CD “The House Show”, Derek Webb (I noticed you are a fan of Mockingbird) makes the point that love is never effecient. Give the cd a listen some time if you haven’t. Its easily worth the $15 for either his songs or his speaking, and you get both.
When I listened to it, it got me thinking about how in some of my own church experiences we’ve at times tried to use “worship” as a replacement for love. All we really need to do is get people in the door and let the music do the rest, instead of getting into that sloppy, ineffecient mess called love.
Of course, that’s been my experience only since joining, let’s say, a “less traditional” COC. Prior to that, we didn’t need love, discipleship, transformation, etc., because we had baptism. Just get ‘em in the tank, right? You see that mentality across the board, though, whether its baptism, the 4 spiritual laws, or a sinners’ prayer. Just get the right atmosphere (be it “worshipful” or guilt) and get them to make that decision, then leave them with the list of rules.
Good post, thanks.
By Scott on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
Thanks guys. I keep expecting someone to disagree with me here. I wondered if I made sense when I wrote it.
It seems that we are proceeding to operate under a litany of false assumptions. If we can root those out we’ll be on our way to effecting true change in our world.
By Donna on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
ahhh sarcasm….a language I can understand.
By Hero on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
Donna beat me to it, I was going to mention that you forgot to add “sarcasm” to the technorati listing.
That whole bullying aspect certainly keeps people away or scares them off completely.
I know, I’m living it.
By John on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
I think the only chance for disagreement would come from someone who just found their way here and had not read you before. That’s one of the problems/beauty with sarcasm it is so developed that it is easy for the casual observer to miss the point.
By R-Liz on Jul 11, 2006 | Reply
Dave Turner–
Thanks for the thoughts on worship (or baptism) as a replacement for love. That really said it well.