Evangelism

A new Lifeway Study

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

For those who never attend church, the study revealed this group is least likely to pursue purpose and meaning in life or to think about the afterlife:– 19 percent strongly disagree that there is more to life than the physical world and society;– 33 percent strongly disagree that there is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person’s life;– 63 percent strongly disagree that they think often about what I must do to experience peace in the afterlife;– 50 percent never wonder how they can find more meaning and purpose in their life;– 68 percent never wonder if they were to die today, do they know that they would go to heaven.

via Ed Stetzer – New Research Just Released: How Americans Perceive and Pursue Spiritual Realities.

I came across this article on Ed Stetzer’s blog via the EFCA Facebook page.  On one hand it provides some, “Well, of course,” kind of information.  On the other hand, it provides some that might cause us to rethink evangelism.

For example, according to the study (you can download a .pdf or .ppt here) 49% of those with a college degree never wonder about going to heaven when they die.  That seems unsurprising for two reasons.  First, a certain percentage of those Americans are converted Christians, so they shouldn’t wonder.  Second, American education is so thoroughly humanist and anti-supernatural, you’re not going to find many Universities that seriously engage with such an issue.  Back in the ’90s Purdue required us to take a course called Great Questions or something like that.  It was billed as a look at how different groups had struggled with the great questions of life throughout history.  While creation, judgment, heaven & hell were discussed, it wasn’t serious.  It was more from a, ‘Look at what those unenlightened people used to think.’

The study does, however, provide some food for thought in terms of evangelism.  Fully 68% of the unchurched respondents never wonder if they will go to heaven when they die!  So, two-thirds of our mission field aren’t even concerned with the afterlife. At the same time, the article mentions Ed Stetzer’s Lost and Found.  In that book, he reported that 89% of unchurched young adults would be willing to listen to some explain their view of Christianity.

That would seem to indicate folks are willing to listen, but we can’t assume they believe in a heaven. Also, we can’t assume they believe they aren’t going there.  Perhaps 68% believe in Heaven and assume they are going.  As we share the gospel, then, we should make sure to communicate the reality of heaven and judgment.  If they don’t believe in Heaven, or don’t know about judgment, it shouldn’t surprise us that they don’t accept the gospel.

Thoughts?

The Barna Group – Six Megathemes Emerge from Barna Group Research in 2010

~ brandon ~ 2 Comments

The Barna Group – Six Megathemes Emerge from Barna Group Research in 2010.

Makes me wonder why this is true.  All of the studies findings seem to come back to Barna’s first point:

1. The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate.

A theologically illiterate Church might lose mission (pt 2), not care for spiritual principles (pt 3), prioritize community action over gospel proclamation (pt 4), become more pc (pt 5) and experience little/no impact on the world around.  Whether or not my thinking is true, one still wonders, “Why?”

I believe it starts with our evangelism.  We often try to downplay various aspects of the gospel, in order to win an audience or secure a conversion.  Some down play God’s justness and Hell.  Others downplay the radical commitment that Christ demands.  When we win people to a gospel that only requires a prayer and attending church once in a while, we should not be surprised by these results.

“So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”  (Luke 14:33 ESV)

Contrary to our invitations, Jesus made a radical call upon those who would experience God’s grace–they must give up everything.  The response Christ demands is a willingness to lay down anything–and everything–in order to gain Christ.  When we have this attitude toward Christ Barna’s six findings will no longer true.

 

Answering Muslims: Nabeel Qureshi and Paul Rezkalla Arrested at Dearborn Arab Festival (Video Footage)

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

You’ve seen many Muslims take delight in the fact that we were arrested at the Dearborn Arab Festival. Now take a good look at what we were arrested for. Then ask yourself, “Why would Muslims be so happy that Christians were arrested for peacefully sharing the Gospel?”

via Answering Muslims: Nabeel Qureshi and Paul Rezkalla Arrested at Dearborn Arab Festival (Video Footage).

Admittedly, I don’t know both sides of the story.  But, if the video presented is accurate, it seems arresting these folks violated their rights, and qualifies as persecution.

What is the best way to witness to someone who doesn’t believe the Bible?

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Your question is becoming more and more relevant.  As our society moves beyond our Christian heritage, you will find fewer Biblically literate folks.  However, that doesn’t mean Scripture has no place in witnessing.  Scripture tells us that the Word of God is living and active—and its power doesn’t rely upon the faith of the hearer.  So please use Scripture to witness, but consider using it in the context of your faith story.

In John 9 Jesus heals a blind man.  The Pharisees, trying to trap Jesus, ask this man to testify that Jesus is a sinner.  His response is a model of personal witness.  He responds, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see,” (John 9:27, ESV).  The main thrust of his witness was simple:  Christ changed me.

Of course people need to hear what God has said, but they also need to know it makes a difference.  In sharing with others, share why and how you came to believe in Christ and the difference He makes.  Help them see that your faith is more than pie-in-the-sky, don’t-go-to-Hell kind of stuff.  Let them see that your faith changes how you live, and leads to a more abundant, peace filled life.

Ask The Pastor runs weekly in the Beecher Herald.

Love and Confrontation

~ brandon ~ 1 Comment

You see two sides of Jesus in the gospels.  You see the side of compassion and mercy.  He heals the sick, gives sight to the blind and so forth.  This is the side of Jesus we see preached and taught most often.  Church outreach focuses on this Jesus and meeting our neighbors needs.  We train people to become involved in other’s lives so that you can see their needs and meet them–thus winning the opportunity to share Christ.  Now, that seems like a winning strategy.  But what of the other side of Jesus?

When a rich man came looking for salvation, Jesus told him to sell everything, give it to the poor and then come follow.  Or, as Jesus puts it elsewhere, “whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” (Matthew 10:38, ESV).  So, Christ recognized a time to confront.

America is overflowing with abundance.  Even our poorest are wealthier than much of the world.  Especially in suburban America, the lifestyle among an average American could easily be described as ‘rich.’  Cable?  Check.  Internet?  Check.  House?  Check.  Cars?  Check.  Multiple TVs?  Check.  Air Conditioning?  Check.  On and on it goes, even in the midst of financial need most around here have enough stuff to liquidate they could survive for sometime.

So, where is the line of transition?  At what point is ‘loving’ people to Christ simply enabling a love for material possessions?  At what point odes love become confrontation?  When is it more Christlike to say, “Knock it off and follow Christ,” instead of, “How can we help you?

Evangelism & Affluenza

~ brandon ~ Leave a comment

Living in a solidly middle class suburb of a major American city, I see folks everyday who live better than probably 90% of the world. There are no shortages of toys around here. Boats, RVs, ATVs, Motorcycles and extra cars abound throughout our village. Yet, we still hear regular stories of people who can’t make ends meet, who can’t pay the bills, etc. And this didn’t just start last year when the economy fell. It’s been happening for my seven years here. Let me give you an example.
A mother comes in looking for help, and she does have an acute need. Thanks to losing a job, she isn’t presently able to make ends meet. But, as you continue talking a few interesting points come out. First, she is a smoker. Second, she (and her teenage kids) have cell phones. Third, they have cable. Fourth, they have broadband internet. And the list goes on.
Now, none of those things mean the person doesn’t need help. But, I begin to wonder when real help is holding people accountable for getting rid of unnecessary extras. At what point is the church failing to love people because we are simply enabling their overspending/unaffordable lifestyle? When does evangelism go from meeting ‘felt needs’ to prophetically calling people to stop living that way?
The problem, I think, is that we’ve come to expect a lifestyle that we cannot truly afford. We’ve convinced ourselves we need cable, we need internet, we need cell phones. While those may be nice to have, and even helpful and convenient, when the money runs short shouldn’t some of those luxuries be sacrificed before going and asking for benevolence?