Problems with Evangelism

[daveleau]

First, let me say where I am coming from before I post this quote... I am taking classes at a Baptist Seminary (Liberty Univ) and am taking a Systematic Theology class where one of our textbooks is The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology which says:

...evangleical Protestants are largely secularized by their politics, their obsessions with growth, and their interest in administration and parachurch activitites. The loss of the practice of prayer, the ignorance of rich traditions of spirituality, and the need to develop a cultural framework for the practice of devotion are challenges worthy of the most serious consideration at present. -J.M. Houston

What are your thoughts?

God bless,
Dave

 

[rural_preacher]

I think there is a lot of truth in that statement. However, I also think that there is the beginning of a significant attitude change within the "evangelical" community. I've noticed (over the past 4 or 5 years) what appears to be a shift in the way Christians are approaching things.

I see a growing desire for a more devotional life. Prayer is being talked about more and hopefully practiced more. Prayer is even becoming the central theme of political involvement (http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/).

Unfortunately, there is a long road to travel in all this because for so many years there was a move towards a more secularized and politically motivated church. There are a lot of people that know nothing of Christianity aside from political issues (pro-life, etc.).

As true, born-again believers, we need to once again embrace our first love. We need to get back to the personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the written Word by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to make the Gospel our central (and sole) message to the world because the Gospel is the power of salvation to all who believe.
I also agree that too many put too much emphasis on the size of their "salt shaker" (church growth...numbers for the sake of numbers) and not enough emphasis on sprinkling the "salt" on a lost and dying world. Do we just want more people in the pews or do we want to reach lost souls for Christ? Outreach will only be truly and lastingly effective if we place a proper emphasis on the central role of the local church (rather than parachurch organizations) and teach believers to be salt and light in a tasteless and dark world. We must focus on the Gospel, not growth. Growth will be the result but it should not be the emphasis.

Okay, I'll stop preaching now

 

[aReformedPatriot]

No preach on Brother - Good Stuff!

A vietnamese Brother and Pastor spoke at our chapel once. He spoke out in Vietnamese and allowed his translater to tell us what he said. He said, "too often today we like to go big, but when we go big we fall. One must develope depth before they stretch wide." - I probably butchered the quote, but you get the point

We must focus on the Gospel, not growth. Growth will be the result but it should not be the emphasis.

Amen.

 

[xenia]

I think the quote is exactly right.

 

[Unnamed Servant]

Yes, right on target, it's sad that some "believers" of Christ can get caught up and be missionaries OF the world and not TO the world

 

[TwinCrier]

It's a rather sweeping generalization.

 

[AJ]

I agree that there is a lot of truth in that statement in a generalized sense. The issues raised can and do vary from church to church... But overall we ALL need to think long and hard about our priorities and be sure that Christ is at the top of the list and not just in the top 5.

 

[ZiSunka]

I think some of those statements are very true. We have become obessessed with producing something, growing the church, publishing books, recording songs, making ourselves busy for the sake of proving that we are good Christians because we are busy.

It worries me because I keep thinking about what Jesus said about the people who did all kinds of things in His name, but they never cared much about knowing Him personally and deeply. We can and do get so caught up in producing that we might not even give a thought to relating with Christ being the highest goal and the most valuable thing.

In my grandmother's generation, Christians didn't strive so much to be someone, to do something grand, to impress others with how much was done. They were satisfied with simply having personal one-on-one faith with Christ. They didn't need to prove to the world that Christians are important, they simply spent a lot of time with God as they went through their day.

Maybe we've gotten lost on the road to worldly satisfaction and fame, thinking that we are on the highway to heaven.

 

[QustantinahQuaker]

I agree with those statements. I have never been interested personally in anything Evangelical mostly because I don't like their tactics. For example, they will often give you a bizillion reasons as to why your denomination/church is wrong or bad and not give you a reason why you should leave. It seems like a lot of bad engery...I went to one of those megachurches and saw Dr. Chareles Stanly once in Atlanta...wow. I came back wishing we had just found a Friends meeting. It was so empty feeling. Too big. They focus too much on growing their numbers and not enough on the individual experience. But I think that for a lot of people it provides a solid moral ground upon which to stand, regaurdless if I agree with it or not.

 

[daveleau]

I don't agree with knocking other's churches either. I wish they didn't do that. I mean, I agree that there are many theologies within and outside of evangelical circles that are unScriptural. But, negative ads are not the way to win people ot Christ. And, most importantly, it is not the way of Christ.

 

[AJ]

I don't agree with knocking other's churches either. I wish they didn't do that. I mean, I agree that there are many theologies within and outside of evangelical circles that are unScriptural. But, negative ads are not the way to win people ot Christ. And, most importantly, it is not the way of Christ.

I couldn't agree more!