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Personal Evangelism of the Church
03.31.2004 by Chad McIntosh
Many Christians in American churches today (and probably for the past 50 years) do not know how to share Christ. That is a serious problem. Christians are unwilling (or possibly unable) to tell people what Christ has done for them. I firmly believe that the generations that have come before us as well as many local congregations have caused much of this problem. Among the brotherhood of Christian Churches especially, we rely heavily on the church as a whole, the preacher, or even a worship experience to “bring people to Christ.” Not because we don’t want to see people saved, and not because we don’t love those people; but because we have not been trained, shown, or discipled in personal evangelism. Thus many people have never had an evangelistic experience.
We are inexperienced and ignorant in the area of personal evangelism in part because (for those whom have grown up in the church) our parents did not teach us or show us and we did not have a mentor in the church that let us take part in bringing somebody to Christ. I know how to ride a bike because my father explained it to me and helped me until I was able to ride on my own. Most employers have “on the job” training. With something as important as salvation, we should be much more concerned with training up people in Christ than McDonald’s is with having the best employees possible.
I praise God for those who are saved because of a preacher, or a worship service, or as a result of the work of a whole congregation. I also praise God for those among us who are discipling the newborn Christians so that they too may make an impact for the Kingdom of God. But it remains that many Christians don’t share Christ because they were not discipled. Those who have not been discipled, usually don’t know how to disciple, and thus the cycle is perpetuated. The Church in China has exploded in growth not because of how they “do church” but because people are telling other people about Christ. They are sharing their testimonies, and they are showing others that Christ can make a difference in their lives too. Most of our people have never shared their personal testimony with another person. They don’t know where to begin. And the cycle is perpetuated. Unfortunately, the response to this problem that has developed over the years is a self-pitying “I just can’t do it.” Not even sheep need a shepherd to raise their young. Why do we? Be a disciple. Then be a mentor.
April 1st, 2004 at 7:44 am
I completely agree with you on this issue. For whatever reason Americans tend to adopt their minister as a surrogate evangelist. Although I do think that is beginning to change with the adoption of house church models and an emphasis being put on small groups as method of discipleship.
April 1st, 2004 at 12:10 pm
Yes but that changing frontier still leaves the majority of our brothers and sisters without a clue and without any education, training, and experience in evangelism or discipleship.
April 1st, 2004 at 5:07 pm
Oh I disagree. When someone begins leading a small group they quickly learn how to react to people asking questions etc. Leadership obligations will result in either someone developing the requisite skills or failing completely.
April 5th, 2004 at 11:59 am
I fully agree and would have to say that I feel I fit into this catagory though, I try and break out of it. Can we get someone out here to teach some culturally relavent evangalism which focuses on personal evangalism rather than using the church and its programs as a mechanism for evangalism or handing out cokes or some movie? This is a growing problem. I am going to think more on this. thank you.
April 5th, 2004 at 12:13 pm
I think that’s part of the problem. Instead of viewing evangelism as somthing that can be formulated and seeing is only as a matter of finding a successful methodology we should be viewing it as a relational process. There really isn’t a way to “do evangelism”. There’s a way to be a Christian. That means being out among non-Christians, living a sanctified life, and being able to express Christian beliefs and defend the Christian worldview. When Bob Russell was asked what model of evangelism they use, he replied, “We invite people to church”. Instead of viewing people as a project in which the goal is to baptize people and then move on, view people as people. Love them, talk to them, befriend them. ALthough I suppose that’s a methodology in and of itself the only way to “be relevant” is to get out there and experience it.
April 5th, 2004 at 12:19 pm
hmm perhaps I wasnt as clear as I wanted or you misunderstood. What I was refering to was not the
“Instead of viewing people as a project in which the goal is to baptize people and then move on, view people as people. Love them, talk to them, befriend them”
It was the “defend the Christian worldview” or direct sharing of the gospel and defending of it. This is what I lack not totally but, could definatly use some improvment upon. I definatly agree with the dont see people as projects but, people thing though. I have been burnt by that myself.
April 5th, 2004 at 10:12 pm
Hmm….find a church based on what church is equipping you in the proper way. Or you could self-educate yourself. try http://leaderu.com or http://Christian-thinktank.com either one of those r0×0r.
But ultimately the responsiblity for finding a place that will fulfill their proper responsiblities comes down to you, although there will be quite a few ministers who have a lot to answer for.