I had to write this paper for my Discipleship and Evangelism class recently. Enjoy.
Evangelism is a facet of Christianity that is not often treated with the respect and caution that it warrants. Through relationships with fellow believers, I have learned that many view Evangelism as blindly sharing their faith to whoever is receptive. In this paper, I will attempt to provide a more complex definition that shows a call to action, but also a word of warning. First, I will consult a few Theological dictionaries and encyclopedias for an academic definition. Next, I will consult different resources that address the complexities that come along with these definitions. Lastly, I will take the research and create my multi-faceted definition.
John Wesley said, “I look upon all the world as my parish.” In each dictionary I consulted, this was emphasized. They all included the words proclaim and good news. One defined evangelism as, “Good News. The sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ through a variety of means.” Another added, “…with the intention of winning disciples for Him and the Church.” One definition put an emphasis on, “… the reconciliation of the sinner to God the Father through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.” I found a distinction that evangelism began with Mary Magdalene, and a view that we should not limit evangelism to words, but should pair them with deeds, trusting the Holy Spirit for the saving part.
Through these definitions, we see a few essential parts of evangelism. One that I notice immediately is the word “gospel.” This word is defined as “The central message of the Christian church to the world, centered on God’s provision of salvation for the world in Jesus Christ.” The interesting thing for me is that the word evangelism never occurs in the Bible. The words “to bring/announce the good news” are used fifty five times. This is essential to our understanding. The words of the gospel must be on our lips, if we hope to announce the good news.
The next important part that can be pulled from the definitions turns into our purpose. We must remember that the goal is to introduce people to the Lord. This can be described in less tactful ways, but we should be aware of those. Brian McLaren warns us that Christianity has moved to a “win-lose” battle for souls. This creates friction and can deter a potential relationship that could lead to the Lord. I believe that it should be a given that if our language prevents our purpose in any way, it must be changed.
The last aspect that I draw from these definitions is the aspect of the Holy Spirit. We must be careful not to try and take all the responsibility. We live in a culture that commends independence, which becomes a large problem for evangelists today. Evangelism must not be an independent action. As one definition proclaimed, it must be “Spirit-led communication.” We must take the sidekick role in this. We still have responsibilities, but the salvation part is out of our hands. With this, and the other important aspects that we have discussed, in mind, I will move on to the next section, where I will consult contemporary writings about the complexities of evangelism.
Evangelism is built around cause and effect relationships. Our relationship with the Holy Spirit causes us to have the desire to go out and proclaim the good news. The way in which we do this has effects as well. This brings us to the people that we are evangelizing. We must be aware of the social world that we are apart of. We must inform ourselves of the tensions between a modern and post-modern perspective of the world. McLaren offers a nice perspective on this subject. He would argue that a modern view of God puts human limitations on him. We try to fit God into our categories, and seek absolute truth. A post-modern view gives us the opportunity to allow God to be a concept that is unfathomable. God becomes something that our knowledge can never fully grasp. Kallenberg shows us that this is important because not only does modernity seek absolute truth, but it also claims to be just that. He argues that there must be another side to the coin. If there is no rejectability in the gospel, it will simply be propaganda. In a post-modern mindset, we must take a non-coercive approach.
Another complexity that we must address is the bad name which evangelism has accrued. According to Rick Richardson, “It is sales, manipulation, TV preachers, big hair, pushing people to convert and going door to door.” He goes on to argue that we should avoid being spiritual salesmen, and focus on being spiritual guides. In doing this we gain the opportunity to offer wisdom, vulnerability and our version of the story. The key here is that we are developing a friendship as opposed to winning a soul. McLaren details this throughout More Ready than you Realize, as he reveals his relationship with April, a young woman that he has joined in friendship, and led spiritually. In all of this we see a delicate approach which deeply cares for those we are seeking out relationships with. Love of our neighbors is key here.
Next, we should discuss the tension between Conversion and process. Both McLaren and Richardson discuss this, and Richardson helpfully defines it as “journey versus event.” One of the ways that our selfishness as evangelists becomes illuminated is through our desperate need for our target to have a conversion experience. We want to “win” their soul for Christ. This is where we must remember that the Holy Spirit is in charge. Richardson uses the example of marriage to illustrate this tension. He explains how there is a distinct moment, but it is built around a relationship that is nurtured over time. One fascinating point that he makes deals with the initial “popping of the question.” We ask someone if they would like to follow Christ, and this begins the process. This, in Richardson’s view is not the big moment. Using these examples, we can begin to move away from stereotyping people as “in or out.”
Next, we must decide if evangelism is an individual or communal process. While evangelism can and should be done by each individual, the Body of Christ is a powerful tool that we should not leave dormant. Kallenbenberg challenges us to live the story. By communally embracing the ideals of the Gospel, we can provide a strong witness to others. Both Richardson and McLaren address this, and take it a step further. They call us to invite outsiders to be insiders. In order to get to a spiritual relationship, we must make sure that they belong. This takes a communal effort. Garry Poole details a method that we can use to help outsiders feel a sense of belonging. He gives us a manual on how to start and run Seeker Small Groups. This is a method in which evangelism and small groups are combined. This creates community between multiple people that you are sharing the good news with. This kind of group would fit well within a post-modern context. People who are seeking to find faith in concepts that they don’t accept as truth. They are able to find God in each other and the leader of the group.
The last tension that I will discuss deals with our manner of conversation. We must become better listeners. “Many young adults are not in the church because they claim that so little there relates directly to their world or experience.” If we take evangelism seriously, we must listen to and address the needs of those we are seeking to reach. The answer to every problem in the world is not as simple as a Sunday School “Jesus.” If the questions constantly change, and our answers remain the same, we will lose the next generation. McLaren would take this concept a step further. He would instruct us to be slow to offer advice. We should listen intently enough to form questions. Through questions, we allow the person we are in relationship with to engage in the learning process. We allow the to come to conclusions on their own. We embrace our “guide” role.
Now I will attempt to condense the various things we have discussed into a definition for evangelism. Evangelism is our obedience to the Holy Spirit. It is our proclamation of the gospel to those who are around us in an attempt to introduce them to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is a responsibility that we have been given to find common ground with the world and clear the name of God of the negative views that often are associated because of our stubbornness. Evangelism is relationship with those who do not know the Lord. It is individual relationship within the context of a community that is the Body of Christ. Evangelism is our attempt to be guides to a lost world as they participate in a journey toward Christ. Evangelism is our call to listen to a world that cries out with hurt and pain. Evangelism is our faith that the Holy Spirit will mend those wounds.
In conclusion, I think McLaren and Richardson have provided a powerful springboard for the conversation about evangelism. They would both agree that this description barely begins to scratch the surface of what evangelism truly means. The beauty of this world offers so much perspective on reaching people who do not recognize the same beauty that we are drawn to. As we take a holistic post-modern view, we are able to join in McLaren’s “dance.” As we dance in the world, we are able to see the beauty of the good news. Then we can begin the process of proclaiming it.
Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms. Louisville, Ky.: Westminster John Knox, 1996. 96
Donald T. Kaufman, The Dictionary of Religious Terms. Westwood, N.J.: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1967. 177
Walter A. Elwell, ed. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: Second Edition. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, 2001. 410
Orlando O. Espin, and James B. Nickoloff, eds. An Introductory Dictionary of Theology and Religious Studies. Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical, 2007. 431
Brad J. Kallenberg, Live to Tell: Evangelism for a Postmodern Age. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Brazos, 2002. 49
Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 2006. 15
Very good!