Evangelism: Don’t Reduce It To Polemics!

One of many images that come to mind when we use the word "Evangelism"

Last week I had a fascinating discussion concerning “evangelism” with a group of pastors.

A few undigested thoughts:

First of all, (and this may be the most controversial) it seems that we need to take care in using the term “evangelism”. I prefer something else; like maybe “being a witness”.

Why? “Evangelism,” at least in my experience with many, many churches, automatically connotes some sort of argument… some sort of verbal jousting where I try to convince someone that they are wrong and I am right. However important it is to be able to explain oneself, polemics are only a part of being a “witness”.

When Jesus spoke of “salt and light” in Matthew 5, was he really only referring to techniques in winning one-on-one religous debates? I hope not.

Preaching (2 Tim 4:2) and giving an answer (1 Pet. 3:15) are essential (don’t misunderstand me). But please, let’s not limit “salt and light” to these two elements.

Another image that automatically pops in our head when we think of the word "evangelism"

Also, I’ve always been reticent with the idea of throwing “felt-needs” into the evangelism discussion. It can so easily turn into a sort of manipulation… almost a bait and switch game. “You’ve got marriage problems? Come on over and we’ll discuss it. Then.. BAM! I hit them over the head with Jesus… which is not at all what they expected. (Of course I am exaggerating to make my point.)

As I read through James, Hebrews 13, 1 John, etc., meeting “felt needs” is part of loving my neighbor. It is certainly part of being a witness, but it can be an end in itself. It doesn’t have to be a means to another, more important end. It is certainly not mentioned as merely a “means” in any of these passages. It is a way of life.

As a disciple of Christ, everything I do will center on Jesus at some point. No bait and switch. Being his disciple is who I am. Loving and serving those around me, through my words and actions, is what I do. I serve because of His love for me, I don’t serve simply to bait people into a debate where I can destroy them.

Simply for discussions sake, what if we attempted to put “being a witness”? into a few categories?

Verbal Witness: Giving a response to those who ask/preaching the word in and out of season. A few examples:

• 

  Rather than living out Hebrews 13 or James, why not just buy a billboard? (So much easier)

  E E

• Large church programs (Christmas, Easter, etc.)
• Creation/Evolution debates
• Abortion debates
• Billboards
• etc.

Relational Witness: Loving those around me through relationship (of

A dozen people watching hockey in Quebec

course this involves service as well).

• Building community in my neighborhood.
• Inviting people over to my place
• Being present in my extended family
• Being intentionally sociable and loving toward others.

Servant Witness: Serving those around me (this may or may not be in the

Helping a guy move last summer in downtown St Jérôme

context of a relationship)

• Serving our city
• Visiting prisoners
• Helping the poor and helpless.
• Involvement in non-christian community organizations

In other words, I’m a witness by 1) preaching and answering to others, 2) loving others, 3) serving others. Of course, these three always work together. They are impossible to isolate without getting out of whack.

Being an intentional witness involves much more than a polemic-based approach to evangelism.

Just some quick undigested thoughts.

Other thoughts rumbling around: the difference between ideological presentations and truly loving my city.

More soon…