Is the Gospel Loud Enough?
When was the last time you heard an evangelical say we are for marriage because it is theological? Mess with the players in marriage and you confuse the picture of Jesus and His bride, the church.
How many times have you heard an evangelical talking head say, “Yes, abortion is murder, but the good news is that Jesus will forgive even that sin.”
Poll after poll tells us that society’s primary impression of Christianity is: anti-abortion and anti-homosexual. If you ask the average Joe or Jolene on the street, “What are evangelicals for?” the majority would say we are for life and marriage.
While that is a good thing, it seems to me the answer they should give is: Jesus. We should be known as the people who are for the Saviour. We should have the reputation primarily as the cross-people. Evangelicals should be the forgiveness folks.
We should be primarily known as the Good News proclaimers.
You and I should be loud about injustices and sins. We should be against anything and everything sinful, but we should be known MORE as the people who proclaim forgiveness for those sins.
Chances are pretty good that you and I are not going to be invited onto the View (phew), but we will have plenty of chances to talk to people in our own little circles. Let’s be known as the people who are against sin and for forgiveness.
Let’s continue to make noise about evil, but let’s make even more noise about the deliverer from evil: Jesus.
Todd Friel
John MacArthur on hearing God's voice, and the sufficiency of Scripture
I’m going to quote John MacArthur in a letter that we received a few days ago from Grace to You. Unless otherwise noted, all underlined emphases are MacArthur’s, though I added the section headings.
God told me…
There’s a phrase that has taken hold in Christian conversation — one you’re probably familiar with. Whether you heard it from a preacher on television, from your own pastor, a believing friend, or during a religious radio broadcast, I’m sure you’ve heard someone, somewhere say the words, “God told me ______.”
Hearing the voice of the Lord is not a new idea. I’m sure you could cite several biblical examples of God’s speaking to His chosen people to communicate to them His will. On a few extraordinary occasions in Scripture, whether through His Spirit or in an audible voice, God provided specific, practical instructions directly to individuals.
Many believers today want to have that same kind of experience. They want personal, spiritual direction from the Lord. Attempting to receive guidance from God, they listen longingly for His audible voice or wait for some intuitive, emotional prompting or impression that will unveil His will for their lives.
But that kind of communication, whether it’s audible or intuitive, is not trustworthy. In fact, it’s useless — and can even be dangerous.
Why isn’t it trustworthy? To begin with, there’s no valid way to discern divine truth in what a person hears or feels. Experience is unreliable because it’s always subjective. There are no means set forth in the Bible to test or prove or discern the meaning of some inner voice or prompting you may think you heard or felt. In fact, Scripture never gives believers even the slightest encouragement to listen for private revelations from God.
Danger within and without
To put it in practical terms, how could we objectively know the difference between the moving of God’s Spirit within us and a bad case of indigestion? If you’re earnestly looking for a personal, unique word from the Lord, what’s to keep you from misinterpreting your common, everyday aches and pains — or thrills and euphoria — as direct revelation? Using your own experiences to determine divine truth gives too much weight to your own perspective and interpretation. Scripture says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). The church does not receive new or private revelation, either corporately or individually. Scripture clearly warns against adding to the completed revelation given in the Bible (Revelation 22:18).
In our fallen state, we simply lack any mechanism to discern divine thought. We can sometimes look back on events and see how the Lord orchestrated circumstances to accomplish his will, but we cannot reliably discern His thoughts in the midst of a situation. We don’t have the capacity to comprehend how He’s moving in our lives until He’s already moved — and even then, we can’t appreciate the full magnitude of His supernatural work.
Furthermore, hearing a voice doesn’t necessarily mean what you heard is correct, or that it’s even from God. To hear a voice and assume it’s the Lord is a huge leap — especially when there is no definitive way to know whose voice it really is. Televangelists, in particular, are prone to jump to that conclusion. But just because you hear something doesn’t mean it was the Lord.
Is there a reliable way to distinguish between the sound of God’s voice and that of a demon? Even if what a person hears or feels seems to match up with Scripture, how can he be sure he’s not being manipulated by demonic forces? Listening for ambiguous, mystical messages provides Satan with all sorts of opportunities to tempt, confuse, pervert, and deceive. Earnestly hoping to hear from the Lord doesn’t mean you’ll only hear from Him.
Does God communicate with us?
So if we can’t clearly or objectively determine whether what we’re hearing and feeling is truly coming from the Lord, how do we legitimately receive communication from Him? What reliable source can you turn to for God’s instruction in your life?
The only trustworthy source of divine truth, guidance for your own spiritual growth, and instruction for the church is the written Word of God. No emotional urging or mystical experience can trump the concrete, fundamental truth God has given us in Scripture. Does God still speak? Yes, but not in an audible voice. He speaks through the pages of Scripture.
The Bible alone has survived the test of time, and countless attacks from doubters, liars, and heretics. Its objective truth is proved every day in the transforming work the Lord accomplishes through it. Even the apostle Peter, who witnessed Christ’s transfiguration firsthand, heard the voice of the Lord numerous times, and performed miracles himself, counted Scripture as “a more sure word” — the final word regarding God’s revelation (2 Peter 1:19).
What drives the quest for hearing God’s voice?
If all that’s true, why do some believers still look beyond the Bible for a special, personal word from the Lord? At the heart of their desire for fresh revelation is a fundamental lack of faith in the absolute sufficiency of God’s Word. They simply don’t believe the Bible gives enough answers for the problems and struggles in their lives; or they don’t grasp the degree to which Scripture is living and active — that it is God speaking to us clearly and distinctly.
This paragraph really stuck me! A lack of faith in the sufficiency of God’s Word - that’s not good. After all, God DOES tell us that Scripture is all that we need for every good work in life:
“All scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
I trust that you’re not entertaining that kind of thinking. If you reject the sufficiency of Scripture — or even if you simply look to supplement it with fresh, personal revelation from God — you cut yourself off from the only reliable source of God’s truth. The Bible isn’t a book of static, lifeless words. It’s alive and active in the hearts of God’s people. It’s the vessel through which the Lord performs His transforming work, sanctifying and shaping us into His likeness. It’s not simply the record of what God has said in the past — it’s what He’s saying to you and me every day. His Word remains perpetually applicable and relevant.
Because God does speak to His people through His Word, there’s no more serious undertaking than studying the Bible. Understanding biblical doctrine isn’t an academic pursuit for believers — it’s knowing His mind. By studying Scripture, we’re able to grasp His instructions for all matters of life and godliness.
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Why is it that so many people want to look everywhere for God, except the Bible? Dreams, Visions, “Fresh Revelations,” inner feelings, etc. God has, and is speaking to you right now, through 66 love letters in the Bible. He’s waiting for you to dig into it!
The Shack and how God speaks to us
The full article can be downloaded here. See tag on the sidebar for more on the Shack.
Problem Three: The Rejection of Sola Scriptura
The Shack rejects the sole authority of the Bible to determine matters of faith and practice. Rather than finding a Bible by the altar in a little old country church and getting comfort and counsel from the word of God, he is instructed to go to an empty shack in the wilderness with no Bible and get all he needs to cope with the tragedies of life from extra-biblical voices. The Shack’s author rejects what “In seminary he had been taught that God had completely stopped any overt communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen to and follow sacred Scripture.... God‟s voice had been reduced to paper.... It seemed that direct communication with God was something exclusively for the ancients.... Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book” (63).
However, the Bible clearly declares that “Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, emphasis added). Indeed, our comfort is not found in extra-biblical revelations but is realized in that “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). In short, the Bible is sufficient for faith and practice. No new truth beyond the Bible is needed for doctrine or living the Christian life. Of course, this does not mean that God cannot bring biblical principles to our minds when needed through various experiences, even tragic ones. He can and He does. Nor does it mean that God cannot guide in circumstances that help us in the application of biblical principles to our lives. He can and He does. But these experiences bring no new revelation. They are merely the occasion for God focusing our attention on the only infallible written source of His revelation, the Bible and the Bible alone.To forsake this fundamental principle is to leave Protestantism for Mysticism.
40 Days after the 40 Days - My 40 Day Fast
Right off the top, I will say it was a great experience! I saw answered prayer, experienced deeper self control (a fruit of the spirit), got far healthier (cleansed), dropped 34 lbs, and got a “brand new body” so to speak and completed a life goal.
In the last 10 years I’ve done 1, 3, 5 and 10 day fasts. I’ve always wanted to do a longer fast, as I read about the health and spiritual benefits, and read testimonials from others who had completed what seemed like an “impossible task” that only the “super spiritual” could do.
WHY NOW?
Every time I did a “longer fast,” and by that I mean at least 5 days, I realized such physical benefits, that I declared that “I should do this regularly!” Indeed, I know I should be (and want to) fast 3 days a month, as well as do a 7-10 day spring cleaning every year. But alas my discipline has been lacking. At any rate, over the last few years my body has been giving me the signs that it is time to fast, and “reset the system.” As I approach 40 (this November), my moderate exercise program, and physically demanding show, are not enough to hold back creeping weight gain when faced with months of cruise ship and resort food, food “on the road,” and meals by the excellent cook who is my wife.
As a Christian, it’s normal, and expected to fast. Jesus said in Matthew 9:15, And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. NLT
I will list some resources below for Christians who are interested in fasting. Anything I write will not do any more justice to what has already been written. For me, I wanted to grow deeper in my faith, experience a greater discipline, and see the blessings that the Lord may see fit to bestow through fasting, be it, answered prayer, a closer relationship to him, or simply a healthier body.
Once you start to research fasting you will start to read about all kinds of testimonials of people healed of ailments through fasting. Things like eczema, hemorrhoids, improved diabetes, arthritis, cancer and many others. It’s hard not to get excited about the physical & health benefits. Sometimes I felt bad that I was thinking about that and not focusing only on the spiritual. An article at a www.freedomyou.com really spoke to me about this.
There is an article on the helpful www.freedomyou.com site called “Motive is Everything.” Its found here: http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/Motive_Is_Everything.htm Below is an excerpt that I found really helpful.
In saying all this, I am not convinced fasting for purely health reasons is wrong. At least it is honest. Did Jesus heal for healing sake? Yes, of course He did. Healers love to heal.
Your body will call you on a fast. I know when it is time I need a fast. Diet has slipped; sneaky food addictions start showing up here and there, less mental clarity, spotty skin. One may say, well, that is not a spiritual fast! Wrong! I no longer separate spiritual fasting and fasting for health. They are intertwined. The very desire to be clear minded, vital, overflowing with energy and cleaned of any addiction is for the glory and work of God. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Keep it clean and free from addiction.
Let me tell you a secret but you must not breathe a word. Many people begin fasting with the honest desire to heal, only to find themselves face to face with their own spiritual need. And guess Who shows up? God can deal with truth, its all the phony cover-ups we put up that He hates so much. Your fast will only be as good as the motive.
In mid January, I looked at myself. I was in the worst shape of my life, hitting the highest weight I’ve ever been - 203 lbs. My whole life up until my mid thirties I was always in the mid 180s. I do work out and exercise regularly, and also have a physically demanding show. But nothing seemed to bring my weight down more than a few pounds. And so, I decided it was time to do a fast. I started, with a goal of 10 days, and a “dream” of making it 15 days, I told my wife. As I got going and began to do research, and particularly as I started to read about how you need a longer fast to really do some serious good cleansing wise, I starting to think about 40 days. www.fasting.com has some pretty compelling information about longer fasting. They suggest that a total body cleanse, properly done, needs to be “your age plus 17 days” not including entrance and exit days. That’s seemed quite long and due to a vacation schedule, I had only about 45 days available for it to work logistically. None the less, somewhere in that first 10 days, I decided to go for it - 40 days.
HOW
I’ve never done a water fast, and you can read all about that type of fasting on other sites. I’ve always done juice fasts, and for that you need a good juicer. When I did my first 10 day fast, 10 years ago, I was looking for a good juicer, and my research led me to The Champion Juicer. http://championjuicer.com/ It would appear that I made a good choice, as many sites still recommend this one as one of the better ones.
Basically if it’s a fruit or vegetable, this thing can juice it! Every day I would mix a concoction of several fruits and vegetables, enough to fill a pitcher that held 3 large glasses of juice. I would make it all in the morning, about a half an hour job from start to cleanup. And then have one 8 ounce glass of juice for each meal, and water in between. Carrots, apples, oranges, celery, cucumbers and peppers were staples, but I had many other things over the weeks. Cantaloupe juice turned out to be amazing. For the most part, I went with what I thought might taste good, and they had at the grocery store. About 50% of my creations tasted “good”, about 25% tasted, so-so, and about 25% were “chug only” or you wouldn’t get it down.
HUNGER
The first week is probably the hardest week, as far as hunger pangs go. I enjoyed the challenge from a discipline point of view. Basically saying to yourself “I’m not going to eat, for God’s glory, so just have a drink and get on with your day.” There’s no doubt about it that you will have hunger pangs over your fast, but you will be very surprised at how normal you can function on juices! The juicer is acting like your digestive system. It’s your body’s “juicer,” taking the nutrients and vitamins out of the food you eat. But when you juice, it’s all done for you ahead of time so that your body can rest, and work on healing, and cleansing.
SPIRITUAL FOCUS
Each day I would pick a different person or topic to focus on for prayer that day.
I prayed for several different people and things throughout the fast, including the country of Iran. During this time, I can say I've gotten closer to God, and more specifically, have matured in the fruit of the spirit, in self control.
As a matter of fact it's quite eye opening to be away from food for so long, in that you begin to see how we often use food for a) pure pleasure b) pure socializing.
Neither are sinful in themselves (not counting gluttony). But when I reflect on the verse
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
It's hard not to wonder if I'm glorifying God in my meals.
a) am I thankful?
b) am I gluttonous?
c) am I treating the temple of God well by eating healthy? This is a big one.
Early in the fast I believe a big answer to prayer was the selling of our home with astounding results: it sold the night before we closed on the new house, for a good price, with a hard to get early March 1 closing and even more amazing, an unconditional offer. If we had received a more common “conditional offer” we could have been waiting for months.
SOCIAL OUTCAST
The first few weeks were pretty hard for my wife who enjoys cooking for her family. I began to sit with her during her dinner while I drank my juice. With no one to cook for, she ended up reverting back to her “single days” mode, of not really cooking at all. She may have lost weight too because of that. But I would advise anyone planning on a fast to talk about what it will mean to your spouse to have to “eat alone” some times, enjoy food alone (Tim Hortons anyone?), and to just have a cut back on meal time socialization. My recommendation is to make sure you have your full support of your spouse before doing it. Or, better yet - do it together! That would be ideal.
There will be times when you can’t avoid social food gatherings, upon which you will have to reveal that you are fasting. In cases where we were invited to people’s home for dinner, or out to a restaurant, I simply informed them ahead of time that “I looked forward to the event, but just to let you know, I’m fasting right now, so if you could have some tomato juice for my first course and peppermint tea for dessert, I’ll be just fine. And don’t worry, I won’t feel weird...”
A FEW SURPRISES
Here are a few surprises that I encountered along the way.
-you won’t believe what still keeps coming out of you even weeks after not putting anything into you. Enough said
-I couldn’t believe it - I lost a whole watch size on my wrist! We carry weight on our wrists?
-at 30 days I stumbled and had half a bowl of popcorn - the tempter will remain nameless. Yet, it acted as a flush - yes, still more stuff to come out after 30 days!
-at about 33 days I tried a beloved Tim Hortons double double. It tasted horrible and uninteresting to me, after 5 weeks of pure veggie and and fruit juice
-I tried so called “pure” Tropicana orange juice - it was so sweet I could not drink it. I had become used to “true pure” orange juice right from the oranges
-I slept better, and had way more energy in the morning - waking up feeling rested
-it was surprising to see how much energy I had, while taking in just fluids. Some times I wondered why we eat solid foods at all
-it wasn’t until I was close to the end that people started to notice my weight loss. (because of my face) Classic quote from my pastor’s wife: “Are you ok? You don’t look so good.”
-do not have a Harvey Angus Burger 3 days after your fast. Yes, that is stupid, and painful. Trust me.
WEIGHT LOSS
Most people will lose 1+ lbs per day for the first 10 days, and that was pretty true in my case. I tell you it can be exciting to see yourself going down 1-1.5 lbs every day, day after day. When I started I was 203lbs. When I hit 188.8 lbs on day 10, I couldn’t believe it! I hadn’t seen the 180s in years... It took 13 more days to drop the next 10 lbs. I hadn’t seen the 170s since I was in high school, I think. It took 17 days (nearly the whole last half of the fast) to drop my last 10 lbs down to 169. For the speed at which you drop weight, everyone’s mileage will vary based on how fat you are (for lack of political correctness). Frankly I did not expect to go much below 180, so it was a complete surprise to make it to 169. However what was a surprise was that with even that much weight loss, my tummy was still not flat. I figure it would have taken another 2 weeks to finally lose the “pooch.” Although it was way smaller than when I started to be sure.
Each person carries around about 5-10lbs of fecal matter in them at all times, that just doesn’t come out (sorry about the image) so when you begin eating again you will gain back 5-10 lbs for sure, as you rebuild up that store. In my case, 40 days later, I’m back up to 183 lbs, meaning I gained back 14 lbs after beginning to eat again, but 20 lbs less than when I started. When I carry around our baby Hudson who is 19 lbs, I can’t believe I used to carry that much weight around on my body all the time! I feel great physically, and it feels like I’ve been given a new digestive system. I’ve been able to wear pants that I have not been able to get into for years, and have other pants that will simply fall off if I don’t wear a belt. A good problem to have. I was richly blessed from a spiritual perspective, as I met with God every day on faith, looking to glorify God even in that fast.
In the movie “Chariots of Fire” - about the life of Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner who refused to race on Sundays - the Bible is quoted: “For those who honour Me I will honour.” (1 Samuel 2:30) I wish to acknowledge and honor God in all that I do, and so it is with this fast. My hope is that this small account of my experience will encourage others to practice this spiritual discipline.
References:
www.freedomyou.com
http://www.freedomyou.com/level%202/Fasting%20Page%20Guide.htm
see here for the fasting section
www.championjuicer.com
www.fasting.com
You Might be a Dispensationalist if...
The 2010 Shepherd’s Conference sessions are now available as MP3 files to download.
From Michael Vlach’s session: You Might Be A Dispensationalist If ….
1. You believe the primary meaning of Old Testament passages is found in the Old Testament passages themselves.
2. You believe that national Israel is not a type that finds its significance ended with the Church.
3. You reject Replacement Theology.
4. You believe that Jews and Gentiles can be unified in salvation and there is a future for the nation Israel.
5. You believe that the nation Israel will be saved and restored with a role to the nations after the Second Coming.
6. You believe that believing Gentiles can be the seed of Abraham without becoming spiritual Jews or part of Israel.
and ….
Covenantalists believe in dispensations, and Dispensationalists believe in covenants.
I guess I’m a Dispensationalist...
Imagine being a Christian for 20 years and one day being convicted in a huge area of disobedience and pathetic growth in your life. For example, lets say you never gave any of your money or resources to the ministry of the church, or to God’s work in any way. Or perhaps you’ve never obeyed the Lord by being baptized. Or maybe you have not been exercising faith in a certain area of your life. Most Christians, when confronted with scripture that shows them an area of growth they are weak in, will want to, by God’s grace, seek to obey and grow in that area of their walk.
About two years ago my wife and I became quite aware of the sad state of our witnessing lives, as we began to regularly listen to a radio ministry that shared the gospel with people on the street day after day. In my case, I realized that my 8 months of missionary efforts in Lithuania were ill trained, ill-equipped and poorly executed. It’s hard not to think of my time there as a waste now, and that the sharing of the gospel I had done publicly for the last several years was poorly presented (more on that later). In my wife’s case, she summed it up by saying; “To my shame I’ve been a Christian in full time ministry on staff at a church for 10 years, and have never once gone out of my way to witness to a stranger.”
Most Christians reading this article won’t need much convincing that evangelism is something that they should be doing, and is expected of every Christian. But lets start by defining what evangelism is. Evangelism is to present Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to sinful people, in order that they may come to put their trust in God through Him, to receive Him as their Saviour, and serve Him as their King in the fellowship of His Church.1
To put it simply, it is communicating the gospel. So if you are sharing the gospel, you are evangelizing. This can include various methods such as the spoken word, text, prerecorded messages, sign language or many other ways. Evangelism is not just for missionaries! Pastor John Piper has made the distinction that missions is evangelism in another culture.
Why should a Christian witness? Jesus Christ commanded it.
Matthew 28:19-20 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Mark 16:15 15He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Luke 24:47 47and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
John 20:21 21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
Acts 1:8 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Some other verses of interest:
Proverbs 11:30 30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
2 Corinthians 5:11 11Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
2 Timothy 4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
1 Peter 2:9 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Why Don’t We Witness?
There are hundreds of reasons and excuses why Christians will not open their mouths and speak to non-believers about Christ. One of them is that a person will say “I don’t have the gift of evangelism.” Author Ray Comfort says “Saying I don’t have the gift of evangelism is like saying I don’t have the gift of feeding the poor.”
Some Christians believe that evangelism is a gift and the responsibility of only those with that gift. They appeal to Ephesians. 4:11 for support: “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” While it is true that God gifts some for ministry as evangelists, He calls all believers to be His witnesses and provides them with both the power to witness and a powerful message. Every evangelist is called to be a witness, but only a few witnesses are called to the vocational ministry of an evangelist. Just as each Christian, regardless of spiritual gift or ministry, is to love others, so each believer is to evangelize whether or not his or her gift is that of evangelist.2
Luis Palau said “I find that the people who most argue against evangelism as a priority haven't won a soul to Christ in decades. They are afraid of the nonbeliever. In almost every case, they stay within their closed circles. We scream at the world with our magazines and our microphones, but we don't mingle with the people in the world to bring them to Jesus Christ. Sometimes we hide behind theological statements that go beyond Scripture. Sometimes we hide by saying, "I'm just much too busy carrying on my gift." And we forget that witnessing is not an option. We are all supposed to be witnesses.”
When it comes down to the core of it, pride is the most common sin that stops us from witnessing in the end. We are afraid of what people will think of us. We are afraid that we will look stupid. But by fearing men and not God we are sinning. By not loving people enough to share with them that Jesus Christ can save them from their sin which will result in their eternal punishment in hell, we are showing that we either don’t really love them, or we don’t really believe the Bible. Even Penn Jillette, the God hating atheist from the magic duo “Penn & Teller” surprisingly admits:
"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?" Jillette asked. "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."
Methods of Evangelism
There are probably as many “methods” and mediums of evangelism as you can think of. By methods, I mean the context or situation. (as opposed to the message itself). Methods could include a whole spectrum such as sermons, kid’s club, soup kitchen ministries, outreach events involving music or comedy, men’s breakfasts, camps, or Christian sports leagues. The list is endless. There are many mediums as well, such as: speaking to a person one on one, through literature such as books or tracts, door to door, open air preaching, radio, internet, television, or sermons.
It’s important to realize that things like comedy, drama, juggling, music, or “living the Christian life” in and of themselves are not evangelism. However, if the gospel message is proclaimed through those mediums then you could call it evangelism. Personally, I think those who rely on “lifestyle evangelism” as their only form of evangelism are doing themselves, God, and the lost a big disservice, since it necessitates the lost “coming,” rather than you “going.” And seriously, how often does a non believer come up to you and say, “Why are you so loving?”
Career evangelist Luis Palau points out “You have not been a true witness to Jesus Christ until you have openly, clearly, lovingly presented the message of John 3:16. Witnessing for Jesus Christ is done through one's life, but the life has no meaning if the lips do not speak. Until you've done that, you have not been a full witness to Jesus Christ. People cannot guess why you're such a good neighbor unless you openly, clearly express your faith in Christ.”
OK, Where do I start?
I have found that even when I’m committed to making evangelism a part of life, it’s so very easy to slip back into my self focused life; keeping my lips closed, gospel tracts, books or dvds to myself and not going out of my way to share the greatest news in the world. One of the reasons for this I believe, is because it is a discipline. To become good at anything you have to practice it, and prepare for it. Having someone teach, train and encourage you (disciple you!) is of great importance. I can teach the worst klutz to juggle in far less time that I taught myself to juggle because I had no experience or knowledge about it. I would never be able to juggle six balls today if I never practiced juggling. I used to wonder how I could grow up in a church with such great Bible preaching and teaching, and never learn how to witness? It’s because I never saw anyone do it, and hence never learned how to do it. Therefore I never placed the proper importance on it. I think it’s safe to say that if there is no one in your church regularly involved in sharing the gospel with friends or strangers, you probably won’t be either. So, if you are interested in learning how to witness more effectively, and regularly, get prepared and get some people together! In my church situation I can’t tell you how blessed I am to know that there are people I can call (including my wife) that will take a few hours to go out to the mall, or the market, or the park and talk to people. It’s always the same for everyone - you go dragging your feet, quite nervous, and after having the honour of sharing the gospel with someone, your heart beats with joy, and you go home with a skip in your step!
So how does the believer plan and prepare? For starters, let me say that you will never “feel” ready. So don’t plan on doing a 1 year course before you decide to open your mouth. Begin to practice saying and sharing the gospel with a friend or family member. You will soon discover that even though you may have sat in church for years, if you’ve never done it, it can be hard to share the gospel clearly in just a few minutes. Don’t believe it? Try it!
There are a lot of good ice breakers and tracts with the gospel message on them available today. I used to think lowly of tracts, but not anymore. They can be so helpful to start a conversation, and they can go where you cannot - home with people. I even met a woman whose husband become a Christian from a tract he found in a port-a-potty. He then led her to Christ and now the two of them train thousands of other believers every year how to share their faith. All that from one tract not even handed directly to someone. There are plenty of resources that can help you get prepared. One of the ministries that changed our evangelistic lives was Way of the Master, which did two things for my wife and I.
First, it showed us that we didn’t need to have a Bible College degree or seminary education to have a strategy for our witnessing conversation. We heard people of all faiths (or lack of faiths) being witnessed to over and over again, and realized that with some practice, you can get to the point where you know how to get a conversation started, and where to take it. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), and whether the conversation goes “well” or you are completely rejected, it’s a win win situation! 1 Peter 4:14 says: If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Remember, you don’t do the converting, God does! Your job is to faithfully plant the seeds and let God work on the soil.
Secondly, it showed us that by not presenting God’s moral law to the sinner before the gospel of grace, we cripple and weaken the effectiveness of the gospel, and are in danger of creating a false convert, who never actually repented of his sin, because he never knew what sin was. (Romans 7:7) By helping a non-believer to see how they personally have broken God’s moral law (the Ten Commandments), and that a holy God must punish law breakers, then punishment (hell) is reasonable and the gospel makes sense. (Gal. 3:24). About one hundred years ago, the evangelical church at large began to abandon the use of the law in evangelism, to our great peril. The topic of using the law in evangelism is an important one and my space is short so for more information on this subject read, “The Way of the Master” by Ray Comfort, or for a crash course listen to the two sermons listed below in the resource section.
Please take the time this new year to think about your witness for Christ. If it hasn’t happened already, it won’t be long before, like me, you have a friend die that you did not share the gospel with, and then it will be too late. Take a lesson from this event that happened in New York. On December 19 2009, a pregnant woman in a coffee shop had a fatal seizure in front of two paramedics who refused to help her. According to media reports, 25-year-old Eutisha Rennix, of Brooklyn, was in Au Bon Pain when she began to complain of severe pain and shortness of breath. Rennix later fell to the ground with convulsions and foaming of the mouth. Two paramedics who were in the coffee shop told patrons to call 911 because they were on their break, according to witnesses. When an ambulance finally arrived, it was too late. Rennix died shortly after being transported to the hospital. Sadly, doctors were not able to save the life of her infant daughter, Jahniya Woodson who died about two hours after her mother. How do you feel about the paramedics who stood by and did nothing, when it was in their ability to help? As Christians, we know that there are people all around us who are terminal, with the sickness of sin. We have the medicine. Will you offer it to them or stand by and do nothing?
3 Questions For Application
Since evangelism is expected, will you obey the Lord and witness?
Since evangelism is empowered, will you believe that God can use your words in the salvation of others?
Since evangelism is a discipline, will you plan for it?
Helpful Resources
Books
Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, (Evangelism Chapter). Donald S. Whitney
One Thing You Can’t Do in Heaven, Mark Cahill
The Way of the Master, Ray Comfort (A must-read for every Christian interested in evangelism)
Sermons
Hells Best Kept Secret & True and False Conversion by Ray Comfort, www.wayofthemaster.com/audiolessons.shtml
Radio
Wretched Radio, On FamilyNet Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 161 3-5pm weekdays. Download or listen live at www.wretchedradio.com (“witness Wednesdays&rdquo
The Cross Current Radio, http://tccradio.com/
Web Sites
http://www.thecrosscurrent.com An excellent evangelism ministry lead by Rev. Cory McKenna, based in London Ontario. Get involved in street witnessing in different Ontario cities.
http://www.wayofthemaster.com
www.livingwaterscanada.com (also a great source for tracts - click on “Store&rdquo
Courses
School of Biblical Evangelism, www.biblicalevangelism.com
Evangelism Basic Training Course www.livingwaterscanada.com - Click “Store”
Resources to give Non-Believers
An excellent Canadian-themed website that shares the gospel, www.greatnewscanada.com
One Heartbeat Away, Mark Cahill - A great book to give to a non-believer
www.livingwaterscanada.com Click on “store” for some great tracts from a Canadian supplier
The Big Question, An evangelistic DVD “tract.” www.wretchedradio.com/store
1 J.I.Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), pages 37-57
2 Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, (Evangelism Chapter). Donald S. Whitney, Page 95
Come with me to a third grade classroom. There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of a sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.
The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, 'Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.' He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered.
As the teacher is walking toward him, a class mate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap...
The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord!'
Now all of a sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else - Susie.
She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz!'
Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't you?' Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.'
May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good.