The “New” Evangelical
An article in USA Today’s “Faith and Reason” section caught my attention recently. The article is entitled “Believers Reluctant to Evangelize Family or Friends.” Writer Cathy Lynn Grossman makes two powerful observations:
- Churches are not creating new believers, they are just attracting more Christians.
- Becoming a parent does not change attitudes towards spirituality–which reverses the assumption that once couples become parents they are more likely to go to church.
Grossman concludes that the “bait and switch” evangelism technique is ineffective, and Christians need to find a new, or better, way to share their faith with friends and family (quick clarification: “bait and switch” tactics are things like inviting your neighbor to a social gathering–without telling him you’re going to pitch the Gospel). A “recovering evangelical” Jim Henderson, discusses an alternative. Are you ready for this?
“…get to know people, become their friends and let the spiritual chips fall where they may.”
Call me crazy, but I don’t think there’s anything new about this kind of evangelism. In fact, it would be more accurate to call it the Old Evangelism. As I look through the Gospels, I see Jesus getting to know people like Zaccheus, the Samaritan Woman, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, not to mention his disciples, and meeting their relational and spiritual needs. On the other side of the coin, Jesus, Peter and Paul preached evangelical messages to large crowds. So, I don’t think there’s one correct way to evangelize. I just don’t want to let friendship become an excuse for not telling someone about Jesus. Likewise, I don’t want any kind of “come-to Jesus” strategies to sabotage a relationship.
What do you think? Do we need a new or old evangelism? Do we just live our beliefs and hope people get it? Or do we lay out the Romans Road for our friends and family? What has experience taught you?
Christianity is about relationships. Relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Relationships with those around us (love one another). If those we’re in a relationship with can’t see Jesus in our lives, there is a problem. If those we’re in a relationship with don’t become hungry for what we have in our lives, we, again, have a problem. Sounds like old evangelism to me.
The Resurgence has some great thoughts on evangelism today: http://www.theresurgence.com/get_involved_in_church_planting
My conclusion after reading both blogs today is that relationships matter — and they cannot be microwaved — that is to say, they have to be intentionally pursued & deliberately maintained… Additionally, planting new churches is a great way to force ourselves out of our established relational circles…
Relationships are a key part to evangelism especially today, but they must be intentional. We cannot just hope they see Jesus in our lives and ask us questions. We must go to them and tell them specifically about the Jesus in our lives(that is after we have built the relationship).
I also think the whole “branding” of churches is involved somehow… we’re very committed to managing our church brand on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube. But a church “brand” really only attracts Christians, and IMO is part of the reason (particularly here in SoCalifornia) people frequently switch churches, depending on who they want to be identified with at the moment.
I think we may be too focused on having a unique brand *among other churches*. Not realizing our “target market” – non-believers – may differentiate as broadly as Christian or Catholic. Our strategy doesn’t seem to match our intended goal…
Maybe we can now put in the grave all those programs teaching people to memorize phrases like “If you were to die tonight and God asked you why he should let you in heaven?” to give way to a real gospel that means something.
I agree that meeting people and getting to know them isn’t new, but it seems like the dominate method for the past 50 years has been the bait and switch.