Wow! I just love these stories that you wrote in the comments! In one of recent leaders meetings we talked about what they thought was the most effect way to evangelize people. Some of them said, "Crusades". (I personally do not use that term because of how that muslims view it.) Anyway, there was mention of Bible courses through the mail. And a few other "One size fits all" methods.They each answered Questions about their conversion to Christ and not one of them had actually come through a crusade. Non of them actually made their decision because of a tract, course or booklet sent in the mail.
The cookie cutter approach to evangelism where one method is used for all people in all settings has not had good results or produces any of our leaders.
Several years ago the church of Christ received "the green weenie" award for the worst evengelism method in the U.S.
We were given that award because some of our well intentioned brothers
sent a Christian comic book to each home in America.
We put so much energy into our methods.
Maybe I am way out here in left field because I don't approach the New Testament to find or invent laws. Some attack scriptures like a lawyer looking for a loophole or a precedent. We have perfected our skill to point that we infer and bind laws where non were given or intended by the original writers. Then we have a way to judge and condemn others. They have broken the law!
The "lawyers approach" to scripture is what the Pharisees were rebuked by Jesus for doing.
If our religion boils down to a written code or an unwritten creed then by all means that is what we need to print and get into everyones hands. We could even include a spiritual score card to see how we are doing!
Then we could try and get everyone to wear a "Hello my name is... badge" With the score of how many laws they have kept written next to their name. We could even have a chart to determine "who is my brother" based on how many points they have.
Then we could divide up even smaller based on our numbers.
That would be silly wouldn't it?
I hope you can tell that I completely joking as I write this!
What the men discovered was that each of them came to Christ through the example and encouragement of a friend or family member.
It was not the big programs or the flashy industry of ministry.
It was not the building, the carpet or how the church worshipped.
Their conversion to Christ had nothing to do with instruments or accapella, kitchens or praise teams, overheads or powerpoint it had to do with relationship.
Each person is different there is not one method that works for all.
It is not that we need them to say some magic words like "Open sesame"
Or just convince them to get into the water.
They need us to show them Christ. ...Then we need to live as Christ.
They need us to be the body of Christ. We need to act like Christ.
They need to see the good work that He began in you.
2 Comments:
AMEN! I can not tell how coming to watch you work has turned me on to walkin this path. It has been changed my life and given me a much better perspective on what Jesus means to me and others. Thanks Jeff. And yes it was funny. :-)
You are right Jeff, the Lord expects us to use whatever method will reach the world. I have known people who came to the Lord by correspondence courses, WEI & WBS, campaigns, Joy Bus, radio/TV, Gospel meetings, growing up in a Christian family, and even preaching, but mostly one by one personal contact in today's society. (Let's not forget the 3000 when Peter and the others received the H. S. and preached in everybodies language.) Remember your great-grandfather who baptized over 3000 in his life time. I think his method was strong (hell-fire and damnation) preaching. I grew up in a Christian family and attended a good congregation. My brothr and I were baptized the same day about a month before my l2th birthday, because we were talking about it and decided that we shouldn't wait any longer. We are both elders now.
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