Why Our Evangelism Efforts are Failing

[Shempster]

You make some really good point about the lack of love towards others. That really IS the issue.
You would be hard pressed to find someone who has truly never heard about Jesus. Even in China, Russia, New Zealand, Jamaica, etc. so spreading the message is not the problem.

The problem is the "Christian way". People who reject Christianity see religious people who huddle together in buildings and act all lovey-dovey towards one other, but are rather condemning towards outsiders. The system trains us in tribalism. That is, the us vs. them paradigm. It is the notion that WE are God's chosen people and they are not. That even though we are obnoxious and self-righteous, God lets our sins slide. Christians send the message they get a free pass on their sins, but God will eternally torture anyone outside of the tribe. So what I see is people rejecting THAT, not Jesus himself.

You can read it for yourself on social media. Any time there is a story about something moral, nine times out of ten, the Christians will come across as pushy, self-righteous and condemning. You'll tend to see a lot of name calling, especially if politics is involved in any way. The powerful, rich and famous are almost always associated with Satan which makes others guilty by association..
Try and look at what Christians say from an outsiders prospective. Do you want to project that image?

So IMO, the greatest reason we are failing at evangelism is that we are pushing Churchianity and not Jesus. Go back and re-read Matthew 5 and 6. Now ask yourself.....is THIS what I am sharing or is it something completely different?

 

[FireDragon76]

The most glaring issue I see with Christians is a lack of love. They have words and platitudes and more judgment than anyone seated on a bench. But the omission of love is glaring and is shallow in many places. I'm not ignoring those who are sincerely trying to live out their faith. But I think we're a long way from the family we're called to be.

It's worse than that... Christians sometimes twist love into something that isn't recognizable. They may feel they are being loving, but to everybody else outside their self-referential ideology, it looks very different.

Religion can attract alot of damaged people with promises of power, authority, and control, and these sorts of people are the least capable of love.

 

[bèlla]

It's worse than that... Christians sometimes twist love into something that isn't recognizable. They may feel they are being loving, but to everybody else outside their self-referential ideology, it looks very different.

Religion can attract alot of damaged people with promises of power, authority, and control, and these sorts of people are the least capable of love.

That's true. I don't believe many hear themselves. I used to tell an acquaintance years ago that she could not have ministered to me. I'd take offense at her approach. She wasn't bothered! And she took an evangelism course at a bible college and through the church. The ends justified the means in her mind. I disagreed.

I suspect that's why I'm not religious and have no affinity for dogma. I never thought I'd agree with Gandhi's words but I understand them. That may be the saddest truth of all. I can't immerse myself in unloving company for the sake of a brotherhood that's nonexistent. I don't have the capacity to playact.

 

[bèlla]

The problem is the "Christian way". People who reject Christianity see religious people who huddle together in buildings and act all lovey-dovey towards one other, but are rather condemning towards outsiders. The system trains us in tribalism. That is, the us vs. them paradigm.

This. I mentioned that I'd never been ill treated for my faith. Your comment is largely why. I have never forgotten the wretch who nearly became an atheist. Nor the grace that brought me from that place or the love I received. That's the difference. Not forgetting helps me when I'm engaging with others who don't know the Lord. I'm compassionate.

It is the notion that WE are God's chosen people and they are not. That even though we are obnoxious and self-righteous, God lets our sins slide. Christians send the message they get a free pass on their sins, but God will eternally torture anyone outside of the tribe. So what I see is people rejecting THAT, not Jesus himself.

Some of the comments that I've read about Jews on this site are deplorable. Not to mention the president and others whose behavior we condemn. Between the obvious hate and self-righteousness I'm aware why my friendships are largely secular. To fill my head with that gibberish would drive me mad.

You can read it for yourself on social media. Any time there is a story about something moral, nine times out of ten, the Christians will come across as pushy, self-righteous and condemning. You'll tend to see a lot of name calling, especially if politics is involved in any way. The powerful, rich and famous are almost always associated with Satan which makes others guilty by association..
Try and look at what Christians say from an outsiders prospective. Do you want to project that image?

Social media has revealed the sleeping giant. They covet their wealth and won't repent. Envy is the result. Condemnation is common but I've rarely encountered a desire to pray for celebrities or well-known people. I recall one person who built her ministry around that subject. It isn't popular.

So IMO, the greatest reason we are failing at evangelism is that we are pushing Churchianity and not Jesus. Go back and re-read Matthew 5 and 6. Now ask yourself.....is THIS what I am sharing or is it something completely different?

We're the problem. I think Gibran said it best, "Physician, heal thyself."

 

[Gideons300]

Let me first ask each of you a question. We all suffer temptation in one or more areas of our lives, right? Temptation is not sin. It is the doorway to it. So….. how do we keep the door closed? Is it possible? Every time? Jesus promised us that we would not be tempted above our ability to resist. He even went further and promised us that He would never fail to make a way of escape, so that we may be able to bear it and not succumb to it, right? So what gives? There is a reason, and that is the crux of what we have all been missing.

We need to all understand. This is no small thing. In fact it is HUGE! Sure, we can be forgiven if we confess it to the Lord and truly repent, turning away from it, but here is what happens if we continue over and over again to find ourselves falling back into the sin we long to be free from.

Sin hardens our hearts. Our faith shrinks. Slowly but ever so surely, sins we long to be freed from become willful ones, as we begin to accept them as unavoidable. Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. We overcome the word, the flesh and the devil by faith. We are exhorted to grow in faith, to become established in faith. And none of this can happen if sin is still ruling us, even if those sins seem small. Listen, I beg you. There is no small sin.

God has told us His will for us is that we be sanctified fully, body, soul and Spirit. Let’s remember that He is NOT the God who reaps where He does not first sow. If He desires we walking in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives, and it is not thorough our diligent self-effort, then there must be a way to see that accomplished in our lives, amen?

So, again, when you are tempted, what do you do to not give into it? And….. does it work? All the time? We both know the answer to that if we are brutally honest with ourselves.

You see, something is badly amiss. We serve a God who cannot lie. His promises are sure. Yet we have gutted them with our reasoning that we are only human. Was God not aware of that fact when He made the promise? LOL? Of course He was! And yet, He STILL promised to make us free indeed! Glory!

Somewhere there is a disconnect, amen? Let us nail this down. The gospel works, every single promise. And if we discover it is not doing so, we need to examine why this is so. The problem is not with God. We have missed something…. a key element that activates all the promises of God so that we can finally walk pleasing to Him, victorious over the world, the flesh and the devil. Our birthright as children of God is to walk as true overcomers, taking the promised land He has bought for us. No more unending wandering in circles in the wilderness. God is even now awakening us to what we have all been blinded to and trust me, it is flat out glorious and within reach of even the weakest among us. In truth, these are the ones who will see it first!

What God revealed to me in my miraculous visitation is the missing element I am referring to. It will sound simple…. to our heads. But understand, the solution must be grasped with our hearts. And to do that, we must finally admit that we are not walking in all he fullness God has promised us, and be found desperate to find the hinderance. Hunger for walking closer to Him, pleasing Him is absolutely indispensable. So, if you are one who longs for more and is tired of Satan stealing your lunch money, read on, for you are about to have your minds blown.

Ok, if you truly love the Lord in sincerity, here is a true statement. Well, TWO true statements.

1) The old you, the carnal you, the you we call self, is dead. Not dying. Not almost dead. It died when Jesus died. Like in D-E-A-D.

2) When Christ rose from the dead, so DID you. He made you a new creature. A ‘Christ IN you creature. You have been born again….. as in literally dead.

But here is the problem, and there is no other way to say it than to be blunt. We have accepted this theologically with our heads, but our hearts have not believed it for us, right here, right now, this very minute. And therein is the issue in a nutshell.

Why? Why when we are clearly told it to be true, do we not accept it as truth? Easy. We do not feel new. We do not see any outer changes. We look the same as we always have. But you see, deep in our core is the seed of our new nature. It is pure. It is perfect. But it has been hidden through unbelief deep in the soul of our hearts. Satan’s last stand. He knows it is a perfect seed, and contains the very life of God. But it has not germinated because unbelief has kept it but a seed. Thank God that time of deception is ending.

Regardless of what we have believed, or what we feel, or how we see ourselves, it matters not a whit. The truth is it who we now are…..new creatures?

So how do we get it to germinate? How do we go from being overcome to walking as overcomers? That is coming next!

Blessings,

Gids

 

[Gideons300]

As I feel this post has drifted into the crux of the matter, and it is not just about why our evangelistic endeavors are failing, I am going to copy the last two responses I have made and start them in a new thread, and will call it “The Missing Key to Our Christianity”. If you are being fed by what God is giving me to share with you, please feel free to copy anything I say and share it with any who you think may be blessed by it. I am simply a messenger God has chosen to use, for whatever reason. It sure does escape me. But it is not about me. It is totally onlay about each one of us walking in the Free Indeed Jesus died to give us.

Blessings,

Gids

 

[Gideons300]

This. I mentioned that I'd never been ill treated for my faith. Your comment is largely why. I have never forgotten the wretch who nearly became an atheist. Nor the grace that brought me from that place or the love I received. That's the difference. Not forgetting helps me when I'm engaging with others who don't know the Lord. I'm compassionate.



Some of the comments that I've read about Jews on this site are deplorable. Not to mention the president and others whose behavior we condemn. Between the obvious hate and self-righteousness I'm aware why my friendships are largely secular. To fill my head with that gibberish would drive me mad.



Social media has revealed the sleeping giant. They covet their wealth and won't repent. Envy is the result. Condemnation is common but I've rarely encountered a desire to pray for celebrities or well-known people. I recall one person who built her ministry around that subject. It isn't popular.



We're the problem. I think Gibran said it best, "Physician, heal thyself."

Well said. But until we see we cannot heal ourselves, we will remain wandering in the wilderness, without victory that we so desperately need.

Like the Israelites that were bitten by poisonous snakes in the wilderness, we may be saved, and delivered from the fleshpots of Egypt, but we are certainly are not safe.

The solution is not going to come from us. Bemoaning our lack will not do it. Trying harder to be well will not do it. God must do it for us, and we are asked to believe that He will indeed, IF we look away from ourselves and look to Him to deliver us from ourselves.

Are we finally ready to look away from ourselves, our strength, our lack of strength and look to Jesus to ‘do it for us” For as we look unto Jesus to pave us from US, Hecwill roll up His sleeves and show Himself strong FOR us.... IN us! Glory!

Blessings,

Gids

 

[Shempster]

Gideons300...

Agree with all of what you said. But it seems like it is the minority of Christians who do it right, while the majority project a pretty nasty image. But that IS the problem.
I feel like if I share Jesus, what the listener "hears" or "sees" is that majority approach. So in effect when we share Jesus we are also sharing the radical, tribal mindset. And if those things are brought up as a rebuttal to your sharing, then you find yourself having to either defend those folks or defy them. Either way it seems to taint the message quite a bit. Don't you think? I mean that is why people have such a bad view of Islam. They only focus on the bad stuff. They condemn the whole group because of a few bad apples.

So the way I see it is that rather than repeating the gospel story, I make sure that I act and speak just like Jesus. That way I am sharing the love of God. And in doing so, I have yet to be rejected by anyone.

Bless.

 

[bèlla]

Well said. But until we see we cannot heal ourselves, we will remain wandering in the wilderness, without victory that we so desperately need.

I should have been clearer when I quoted him. We must recognize our sickness first. That is the crux of the matter. We see everyone else's but our own.

Remembering my lack makes me swell with compassion when I see others in a similar place. The fountain of love keeps flowing.

 

[Gideons300]

Gideons300...

Agree with all of what you said. But it seems like it is the minority of Christians who do it right, while the majority project a pretty nasty image. But that IS the problem.
I feel like if I share Jesus, what the listener "hears" or "sees" is that majority approach. So in effect when we share Jesus we are also sharing the radical, tribal mindset. And if those things are brought up as a rebuttal, then you find yourself where you either have to defend those folks or defy them. Either way it seems to taint the message quite a bit. Don't you think? I mean that is why people have such a bad view of Islam. They only focus on the bad stuff. They condemn the whole group because of a few bad apples.

So the way I see it is that rather than repeating the gospel story, I make sure that I act and speak just like Jesus. That way I am sharing the love of God. And in doing so, I have yet to be rejected by anyone.

Bless.

Shemp, thank you so much for your insight and wisdom. I pray I may encourage you that we will not remain a slumbering giant. We have a wedding to be prepared for. The entire church is asleep, and the heathen laugh at our hypocrisy. And can we truly blame them? It almost seems only those with a religious bent come to Jesus at the present. But of course, if they do not, we will gladly give them one, lol. I think Jesus referred to it as the blind leading the blind.

Read the last half of Ezekiel36 and the 37. It is us, today that the prophet is referring to. We are the sleeping saints who are destined to awake and light our lamps. How? By faith! By finally coming into agreement with our God.

We are about to discover, every single nlgle one of us who truly love the Lord, that when we combine the blood of the Lamb with the word of our testimony, all Heaven breaks loose!

Blessings,

Gideon

 

[Gideons300]

I should have been clearer when I quoted him. We must recognize our sickness first. That is the crux of the matter. We see everyone else's but our own.

Remembering my lack makes me swell with compassion when I see others in a similar place. The fountain of love keeps flowing.

Amen! Can we finally admit, that despite our best efforts, we are not fulfilling either of the two great commandments? That is the hard part, realizing that we truly are reserving at least a small part of our love for US... OUR opinions, OUR choices, OUR wants and desires. And because of that, we find it literally impossible to love Him with all of our hearts. Why? The old us, our fallen nature has been allowed to hang around through our unbelief.

As to loving one another as we love ourselves, do we really need to dispute the fact we are not even close and like it that way? There IS a solution, but until we hate that one who cannot love as he or she has been commanded, we are dead in the water, ready for another religious lap around the wilderness of unbelief. But praise God, when we finally break before God and cry out to Him to save us from us, like Paul did in Romans 7, to our joy and amazement we will discover exactly what “the glorious liberty of the children of God” truly means.

Blessings and thank you so much for sharing.

Gideon

 

[Blade]

I hope and pray its ok to just disagree and not rise up with indignation "experience"? Yes yes I understand we all have this or that "personal experience" in some way or another we then try to take that ..we just have to.. SHARE IT.. preach it to the world.. its the truth.. its not a SOLO truth. Yet... we don't run with this. Its faith.. His word..its prayer its praying in the Spirit ALWAYS! Its putting on HIS armor.. its keeping our mind on HIM.. He then keeps us in perfect peace. Its thinking based on Phil. We walk in 1st Cor 13...we walk by FAITH! We call those things that be not as though they were like our Father does. Its on earth AS it is in heaven. He speaks word of LIFE....ALWAYS FAITH!

Go back a few years.. 2015.. over a million come to Christ in one day.. saw it. Wheres your faith? What are you looking at? The world..through the eyes of flesh? Lets take China.. they don't crack down on Churches hidden Churches because they are dying...NO..praise GOD GLORY TO JESUS they are GROWING like never before! Facts.. God does NOT need us to get this done. He freely picked us.. Choose us..to use us.

God has not changed.. as it was then.. it is now. The fields are white ready... few go. Yet what started with 12.. praise GOD look at it today? Christ in you.. What HE started He will finish. Hello the same with this world. Christ started this.. and He will finish it! The out pouring started as our brother said.. PETER! And can ONLY get greater! If one is NOT looking not ready praying believing.. you can miss it...God that can only do good.. where ALL GOOD THINGS All come from Him. He is doing more good right now then ALL the evil in the world.

We are children of light.. you know that SAME light that was in Christ? That people REALLY SAW? ITS IN YOU! Don't be moved by what you see hear feel.. you walk by FAITH.. HIS WORD. Not what I say or ANY OTHER person... Keep your eyes on HIM His word.. PRAY talk to Him ALL the time. If its GOD..He will use PEACE..and will ALWAYS back up what He says by HIS word. And always TEST the spirits no matter who they say they are

 

[jmldn2]

Don't we quench the Spirit whenever we do not yield to it?

 

[com7fy8]

As you your quote about denying oneself, very true. But if we are brutally honest, we simply do not know how to accomplish that without becoming miserable and without drifting into self effort.

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (in Luke 18:27)

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

 

[Gideons300]

in

"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." (in Luke 18:27)

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)it mans
Total trust
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

Bless you for sharing these scriptures. God has given us exceeding great and precious promises that work.... guaranteed..... but only as we grasp them by faith.

May our eyes be fully opened to what God has offered us as our birthright. May we see that unbelief is not a weakness. It is the most grievous of sins. And why is this? Because no matter what sin we may commit, God is fully aware of our fallen nature and nothing we do surprises Him. Grieves Him? You bet. But does not surprise Him.

Unbelief is different. It calls HIS character into question, and it accuses Him as the God who overpromises and underdelivers, or the God who flat our lies. How many of the stories found in the Old Testament were there for OUR benefit, so we would learn the deep lessons they offer us concerning faith and it’s importance if we truly long to please God.

But we have blindly made them nice little stories to tell the children, and never realized they were object lessons for us, this very day.

But praise God, unbelief can be confessed and turned from, and even if our words are wavering as we declare “Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief”, our God longs to spring into action on our behalf.

Blessings,

Gids

 

[jmldn2]

"Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief" is one of my favorite verses

 

[Carl Emerson]

Gideon,

I have just read this discussion, you are a born salesman!!!

Keeping us on tender hooks waiting for the revelation from a face to face encounter with Jesus...

I have a similar understanding, and a face to face encounter so don't feel alone...

I am interested to see how your revelation relates to mine.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.

 

[CleanSoul]

I have just read this discussion, you are a born salesman!!!

This is one thing that concerns me with the denominations. When evangelization turns to shaping a church to offer things that will attract people. It is done in order to increase numbers. It reminds me of people who hire teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, then fall into believing myths and fables. 2 Timothy 4:3,4

I'm surprised there aren't pictures of people in the lobby who are the top salesmen because they have led x number of people to God this month.

The denominations ultimately do not feed people or give them a way to know their sins have been forgiven.

 

[CleanSoul]

See my response above. Still trying to figure out how to answer in pieces. Any help would be much appreciated. Being old has its technological disadvantages!!

Click and drag the area you want to address, this highlights that area in blue. Then a bubble in black will say, reply or quote. Click on that and then below you will be able to reply.

If you want to do it again in the same post, just make sure the cursor is at the end of your last reply, then highlight the new paragraph you want to address. I know it is confusing. My dad used to call computers, "confusers".

 

[Gideons300]

Gideon,

I have just read this discussion, you are a born salesman!!!

Keeping us on tender hooks waiting for the revelation from a face to face encounter with Jesus...

I have a similar understanding, and a face to face encounter so don't feel alone...

I am interested to see how your revelation relates to mine.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.

Carl, bless you. I once sold encyclopedias door to door and spent a night in jail for it as they had laws against Sunday selling. I think I just dated myself. LOL. It was 1969.

And yes, I make no apology for my appeals to the hearts of His people. My payment is simply to see others get set free. What an amazing commission plan!

I would love to talk with you. Feel free to PM me. I will pm the story to my visitation to you so you will have the story.

God bless you dear brother in the Lord.

Gids