When I was first married, my husband insisted that I read Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life. Since then, I've read other books and articles on evangelism. I've also attended classes and conferences to help "equip" me to share the gospel.
I've decided that all these evangelistic "tricks of the trade" fall into two categories: 1) making relationships with people and 2) following certain "steps" to present the gospel.
A third often discussed topic is apologetics, being able to defend the Christian faith.
Recently I was at conference, and in the midst of listening to ideas about community and creation science, I suddenly wrote this question:
Biggest part of Evangelism - with our own hearts? Yes.
Just maybe, our idea of evangelism is wrong. Just maybe, focusing on relationships and learning techniques is off base. Just maybe, we should rethink this.
I regularly try to read my Bible, and I'm always working to establish good prayer habits. Most importantly, and especially since becoming a parent, I do my best to attend weekly worship services.
Over the years, God has worked on my heart. He's given me an inkling of the depth of my own sin, and He continually turns me to Jesus and to the cross.
And these days, when Christianity comes up in a conversation, I'm able to talk about the love of Jesus. And I'm surprised at how often this happens.
When I consider my own faith journey, I remember the apostles and the early church. The apostles spent time with Jesus, hearing Him teach, witnessing His miracles, and seeing His love for people.
Then, along with receiving the Holy Spirit, the apostles were equipped to share the gospel with the world.
And what about the early church?
...they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Acts 2:42
What happened...
...the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47
I think there's value in books and classes on evangelism. They give us ideas, an approach, and a renewed attitude.
But the biggest heart changer, the biggest equipper for evangelism is: God's Word, prayer, preaching, and fellowship with other Christians.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16–17
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24–25
...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6
God's Word says:
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:1-3
Recently, Franklin Graham asked Christians to make June 2nd "a special day of prayer" for the president. That Sunday, during the worship service, many churches prayed for President Trump.
And I'm shocked at the conversations and reactions that praying for the president have generated. Whether they're for President Trump or against him, people have strong opinions about praying for him.
I don't get it, because praying for the president has nothing to do with politics or supporting a certain political agenda.
God puts leaders on the "throne" to "wield the sword," to keep law and order so that people can live in peace. So we pray for our leaders.
But, over the years, I've noted that most conservative Christians want our country's leaders to be Christians, and want laws to be passed that reflect a Christian culture.
And there's nothing wrong with having Christian leaders or with being a Christian politician, and there's nothing wrong with supporting good and moral laws, with praying for the United States of America.
But...
The evangelical thinking behind this is all wrong.
The Kingdom of God doesn't come through politics. Having good rules and even good leaders won't guarantee that a country and its people will be godly.
As a matter of fact, people can be good and live decent lives, in the eyes of man, and still not be Christians.
Politicians and laws can't change a man's heart.
Only God can convict a man of his sin, and comfort him with the gospel message. Our only hope is in Jesus.
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 11:19
It's in Jesus, in His coming, that we see and know the Kingdom of God.
We can pray for our president and our country. But we're ultimately called to share God's Word with people, to tell people about Jesus. Let's make evangelism what it's meant to be.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?...So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:14 and 17
And that means telling people about the forgiveness of sins that comes through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
...Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:27-28
How about a Day of Prayer, prayer that our hearts, and the hearts of all people will be repentant and be turned to God?
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18
As a picture of how Gentiles are brought into the Christian faith, the Bible uses an olive tree. The Jewish people represent the original olive tree, and the Gentiles are the branches that are grafted into that tree.
...and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree. Romans 11:17
We have a tree on our church's property; in early spring, it has small white flowers. One day I happened to see a cluster of pink flowers stuck between the two main branches of the tree. It was right after Easter, and I wondered, "Why did someone put flowers there?"
On closer inspection, I saw that a "branch" was growing between the trunks, and it was blooming pink flowers. How'd that happen?!!!
People are brought into the church in many different ways, although ultimately it's through God's Word and Spirit that faith and new life are given.
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
But it's from the olive tree analogy that we picture people being "grafted into the root, along with the original branches."
I look at that tree and think, "That's how it looks when new people are added to the church."
It looks different, it looks unique, and it adds beauty, color, and depth to the tree.
I often greet visitors at our Sunday worship service. There's no "cookie cutter" version of a visitor. Each visitor or visiting family is unique, with their own histories, make-ups, and talents.
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. 1 Corinthians 12:18–20
God adds people to His church, and we become this beautiful tree; we have the same faith, but have different gifts, different appearances, just different, but all together we make up His church.
Once
you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not
received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:10
He joins us together as His church, and He builds us into His temple, a site to behold.
So
then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow
citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being
the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together,
grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built
together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19–22
Several friends have told me that their daily devotional time consists of or includes reading Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.
The book is
a year of devotionals, and it's written as if it's from Jesus, and as if He's speaking to the reader.
According to the author, the devotionals represent God's words
given to her during her time of "listening" to God.
I don't understand why someone would read a book "supposedly" from Jesus when that person could instead be reading God's Word, the Bible.
But when a friend told me the book was about God's forgiveness, I was intrigued and also convicted enough to borrow a copy.
My thought was - "The readings probably, mostly contain God's truth, just reworded. It's likely not as bad as I'm thinking."
I was wrong.
I read a few devotionals and my impression is, "This is a false version of God's Word."
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged
sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of
marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
My pastor likes to say, "God's Word always nourishes. God's Word is never without effect."
Jesus Calling doesn't convict; it doesn't nourish. It just seems fake to me, a cheap imitation, and I wasn't expecting that.
As I read more of the book, I was overwhelmed by the ways I was told to be and to think.
March 13th - Learn to live above your circumstances.
April 26th - Welcome problems as perspective-lifters.
June 21st - Wait patiently with me while I bless you.
October 7th - In order to hear my voice, you must release all your worries into my care.
Many of these devotions are self-help type teachings, mixed with some Bible verses and some truth. I read one page to a Christian friend, and his response was, "Sounds like gobbledygook, psycho babble."
The Christian's life, the Christian's struggle, it's one of daily sinning and daily receiving forgiveness because of Jesus. I'm disappointed that Jesus Calling doesn't direct me to the conviction of my own sin, my need for forgiveness, or the comfort of the cross.
Perhaps,
the devotions represents Sarah Young's prayers, prayers that she's
reworded into messages from Jesus. This book would be best written
as a collection of prayers instead of messages from Jesus.
As someone who's read the Bible for over 45 years, I don't hear the voice of my God in Jesus Calling.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
I stand by my original thought - "Why read a book supposedly from Jesus when you could be engaging with God's genuine Word?"
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4
