Sounds like you have spent a lot of time seeing how paralyzed the church really is. I agree with you that the half truth of "Just live your life" has hurt the church. In fact I relate it to a poison that has infected the body causing it to be so sick it can not move.
As far as people not being paid for it...I have to disagree, but I won't get into the reasons or the scriptures now. The main point is that even though I believe people should have their physical needs cared for by those who are being taken care of spiritually, it doesn't mean it is done for money.
But lets get off of that subject for a moment. You mention that this lie has stopped people from reaching out. People believe lies often because it makes sense to them or because they are getting some kind of benefit from it.
What benefit would you say they are getting? And how would you suggest they be helped to become an evangelist?
You're probably thinking of "a workman is worthy of his hire." Daniel wrote, "And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." It's more on a basis of reward in heaven as well as position awaiting us that I view the payment.....anyway, to answer you question.
The person who sees the need to witness (or even preach as I did, eventually, after acquiring a city permit) and responds to it, whether someone goes out with him or not, provides for himself an opportunity to hear from God and for the Lord to pull from his studied resources -- not tracts -- verses that apply to his statements.
Not a whole lot of them did I use in a way that might tempt a person to think I was a walking encyclopedia of Bible verses; or, in other words, that my intent was to impress, but to place into the conversation a fitting verse, and sometimes it had little to do with the salvation message. It was just one that the Lord brought to mind after listening to the person's burden. For instance, if a guy was talking about how hard life was living in a home that was so chaotic, I might say, "I love how Solomon put it: It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house."
"You got that right, buddy," he might say, and we'd laugh a bit at all those hassles that weighed on him. What I intended was friendliness, not Bible thumping.
Most of all, getting out on the street (I didn't do much door-to-door presentation of the gospel) I learned to walk up to just about anyone, and to this day I'm still like that. It helped me in my work later in life as I majored in journalism, wrote for five newspapers, and had to be able to approach people with varied personalities to get interviews.
I came up with all sorts of approaches to reach individuals. A good example were the rock concerts I'd attend in large auditoriums in the city, carrying with me my Bible and a small flashlight that gave a readable glow. As I strolled through the standing audience, I'd tap different ones on the shoulder and ask them to please read a verse I had highlighted in my Bible. God would give me some very appropriate verses, such as delighting ourselves in the Lord and He would give us the desires of our hearts, and I'd ask them, "Did you know that? God loves you enough to meet your needs, your real needs," I'd say. If a conversation ensued, I'd go with it, then on to the next person. And this I did all alone, with not one Christian with me.
It is my belief that arguments pursue when we don't have answers, especially to the most common naysaying. I find apologetics to be full of useful information made to be used in discussions with unbelievers. For we have more than just the Scriptures to speak to the unknowing and unlearned. Metaphors, analogies, parables and the like are what Jesus used, and we can too, only if we are willing to study and apply them to those who question us. Oftentimes, when Jesus was bombarded with questions, He answered with a question, which can also be very appropriate at times.
I wonder, had I given up, just where would my friend George be today. For two years, I walked into his head shop located on the beach where I developed a friendship with him, a hippie who liked his dope and lived a laid back life.
His was one of the most exciting conversions of my Christian life.
Located near the boardwalk was his shop where tokers could purchase bongs, rolling papers, etc. On my frequent walks, I routinely dropped by the store to talk. In time, we became good friends. He always had a bar stool sitting near his checkout counter, where I would sit, and we'd talk about lots of things.
On some occasions, we strongly disagreed on various topics. Had I taken those incidences as a reason to quit sharing the Lord, who knows where George might be today?
One day out of the blue, he asked, "You know the stuff you've been sharing with me over the years?"
I replied, "No George, what are you talking about?"
"You know, about Jesus."
"Yea, what about it?"
"I wanna do it."
"You mean you want to repent and give your life to the Lord, George?" I asked.
"Yea."
"When?"
"Right now...." And so we got down on our knees while I led George in the sinner's prayer.
Within a couple of months, George sold his business, applied for entrance into a California seminary and was accepted. He later graduated and became a missionary in South America.
George's conversion took at least two years, but in that time we'd become close friends. I wasn't put off by any of his business dealings, and, in fact, I was a toker in my past life so I knew all about the paraphenalia he sold. There was no need to be put off by it.
Getting members out into the world and off the pews is something I wrestled with for at least eight years, when I chose to leave that area and move back north. In all that I did, even when I set my VW Bug up as a speaking system by installing an old police CB/PA given to me by a pastor who was about to throw it away, onto which I taped a very long cord so I could pace the sidewalk as I talked, it was by my own design. Whatever I found at hand to make things work better for me or help draw more folks, I didn't give it a second thought, but threw myself into the work.
In talking to strangers, I learned to listen to them, to get to their feelings, and to ask what they were doing to deal with those feelings. How I wish I'd kept up with those that God used me to win. They're living whatever lives they chose for themselves, and maybe still walking with the Lord.
Also, I learned to trust God to bring out from me His presence in my words, whether they were scriptures or just caring responses. It was a wonderful time. Sometimes, as I've written, I felt pretty alone and felt I was the sole believer with the vision that kept me. Those who thought their lives were enough witness to draw to the Lord the entire world, well, I had few words to say to them, but instead did as I felt led and kept at it for several years. Even when I hitchhiked to class at college, I'd try to find an opportunity to share the truth. It didn't have to be the salvation message if it was the truth because the Lord could breath on any of it.
David
