Selective Evangelism

Chosen_and_blessed said:

I entirely agree with you.

I think taking the Good News of the gospels to the homeless and the beggars is more important than preaching to people who already have a high chance of hearing the message.

Those at the bottom of society are exactly the ones Jesus wanted to reach? They especially need to be blessed with the beautiful hope of salvation through Lord Jesus Christ. I am not an evangelical Christian though so I don't really have advice.

Well done to you for your efforts, I admire you greatly.

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Monk Brendan said:

Okay, if you want to evangelize them, do so. I do. I'll talk to anyone at all about Jesus--as long as he/she is sober and clean. I cannot talk to someone drunk or stoned out of their mind. When they get sober, they're not going to remember anything I've said.

But don't worry about what your church says about your targets, just go out there and DO!

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~Anastasia~ said:

Hello Godwin Garrote, and welcome to CF.

You bring up an excellent point.

I wonder what "evangelization" looks like to them?

I won't comment on what it has often become, but I will say that a very appropriate form of "evangelizing" is loving people, meeting their needs. And the hungry, the homeless, the lonely, the sick, the hurting ... all of these have very real needs that could be met in love, and then the words behind the actions might be heard as more sincere.

It's not about filling pews. It's about bringing the good news, drawing people to Christ, sharing God's love with them.

I think you've got some good insights.

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Wayholka said:

I think you're definitely right. I think it's pure hypocrisy that we put more emphasis on the well off than the less fortunate.

"My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?" ~James 2:1-7

What really angered me about the Catholic school I went to from grades 7 to 12 was that the school only promoted students who could make the school look good like athletes, honors students, and kids with a knack for making money and donating it. Students with disabilities, loners, and untalented kids didn't even get acknowledged and were fair game when it came to bullying from both students and teachers. This is the kind of hypocrisy Jesus warned against. He said what we do for the least of us we also do for him.

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" ~Matthew 25:38-40

You are prioritizing the people society gave up on. That is exactly what Jesus taught and you are in the right. He didn't come to specifically save those regarded as perfect, he came to bring hope to those who have no hope. I'm proud of you for coming to this realization that so many Christians with theology degrees failed to understand.

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