SEEK 45 – Evangelism – How?
Question: How do you evangelise?
Bible Reading: 1 Peter 3:13-16
Text: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15)
The last chapter dealt with why we should evangelise – in this one we look at the second part of your question – how do we evangelise?
It’s such a difficult question – and one which I think about every day – because it is my job. Every time I go to a school, I think about how I can share the Good News with teenagers who in this hopeless world, desperately need to hear it. When I go to work, near the University of Sydney, sometimes I sit in a café outside and watch all the students walking past and reflect on how I could tell these students the Good News? And what about my neighbours – Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, nominal Christians, atheists and agnostics? Or those of my relatives and friends who are not Christians?
I want to share the Good News, but I don’t want to force religion upon them, or offend them, or put them off! Sometimes it feels that it is so difficult that we are tempted to say “Lord, can’t I just leave it to you to let them know?”. It’s easy for some of us as Christians to hide behind the sovereignty of God. We believe that God is in charge of everything, and that he will do his own will, so we leave him to it. But that doesn’t really work because his will is to use us to share the Good News. Of course, we cannot convert anyone. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit uses means. He uses us.
How do we evangelise? First of all we need to remember what evangelism is not. It’s not a sales programme. In fact, it’s not a programme at all. Evangelism is about people not projects. It is pointing people to Jesus. People are not projects – and they are not data to be manipulated or signed up to make us feel good that we have had so many converts.
In a short book I wrote called Engaging with Atheists I suggested the following principles for engaging personally which I hope you will find helpful.
1) Listen and Learn – the first rule of communication is to listen – really listen. This will avoid you making wrong assumptions about the people you are talking to.
2) Question and Think – ask good questions of those you are talking to.
3) Read and Watch – It’s important to understand the culture we are all swimming in – through books, magazines, the Internet, films, podcasts etc.
4) Communicate – In a saying, falsely attributed to Francis of Assisi but endlessly repeated as profound wisdom, we are told “preach the Gospel at all times, use words if necessary”. This is nonsense. Imagine you want to tell your girlfriend you love her and want to marry her – do you not think words are necessary? Of course, words without actions are often meaningless, but then so are actions without words.
5) Begin where people are – what is your starting point? Once you find out where people are in terms of their beliefs, then you can help them to see where the end point is. Show them that there really is the possibility of a much better (eternal) future for them.
6) Love – love means that you treat people the way you want to be treated. Love means that you are patient, looking for the best of the person you are speaking to, that you are for real, that you don’t lie, manipulate, or deceive. Love means most of all that you point them to the God who is love.
7) Pray – It’s good to talk to people about Jesus. It’s even better to talk to Jesus about people.
8) Use the Bible – it is the word of God that is living and effective. It is through the living and enduring word of God that we are born again (1 Peter 1:23). It’s not the Gospel unless it’s the Gospel.
9) Leave it – in other words don’t be too pushy. You don’t have to say everything in one go.
10) Together – the lone evangelist is not good. Jesus sent his disciples out in twos. And it was to the Church that he gave his great commission.
Whilst it is good to memorise Scripture, I’m not so sure it is good to memorise a formula – because I don’t think the Gospel can be reduced to a formula or a set of rules. Think of it like a diamond. A diamond can have a thousand different reflections depending on the light that shines on it, and the perception of the viewer. Likewise with Christ – his beauty is dazzling from any angle – our job is to proclaim him as he is taught in his word and as we know him in our own lives. In fact, the best way to evangelise is surely this – get to know other people better – and most of all get to know Jesus better. You cannot communicate what you do not know.
Consider: Paul tells us that “to some we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:16). This tells us of the different reactions we may have – and our weakness. We need the Holy Spirit. Have a look at the parable of the sower as well to see how this all works out (Matthew 13:1-23).
Further Reading:
Engaging with Atheists – David Robertson
Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God – J I Packer
Making Faith Magnetic – Daniel Strange
Prayer: O Lord give us wisdom, grace, love and the communication skills we need as we seek to share the Good News with our friends, family, schoolmates, work colleagues, neighbours and strangers. Command what you will and give what you command, in your name, Amen.