Monday, February 23, 2009

Evangelism: Technique or Expression of Way We Live in light of Jesus Christ?

Yesterday in the community where I worship (North Suburban Mennonite Church - www.northsuburban.org) I was engaged with someone on the subject of evangelism - about whether we need to be involved in it more.

That reminded me about some thoughts I had about evangelism earlier this month.

For me evangelism is not about techniques because when it becomes so it is to dehumanize persons. Sharing the news about Jesus ought to be about giving voice to the way we live as a new humanity in this world, rather than invoking some techniques to "win" people to Christ. Rather "goodnewsing" as someone has called it, is more a partnering with the activity of the Spirit of God in the lives of people God is touching.

Evangelism is also not about inviting people to church so that the church might grow. So then what is it and why engage in it?

I think we need to ask a different set of questions in order to understand why we engage in giving voice to what God is doing in our lives. These questions are not concerned with "what techniques do we need to utilize to grow?"

But rather -

"Whose lives is God touching? Who is God calling to be a part of his new humanity, new community? Whose life is God working in?

It is in discerning the answers to such questions that we begin to discover that God calls us to be partners with him in opening up the lives of others to God's overtures.

Evangelism then, is more about the work of God in the lives of others and also our own lives, rather than some technique or approach we use. It is about living life in such a way that we are open and sensitive to the people God connects us with - people God is active in bringing about transformation in their lives as God has done in our lives. When God brings people into connection with us we are changed because there is a connection the Spirit of God is developing that not only helps us mature, but is also focused upon drawing that person into a transformative relationship with the Living God.

God is at work in people's lives and when such people whom God is at work in either connect with us in our neighborhoods, at work, or come to see what is going on in our worshiping community, we need to be reminded that their coming into our lives may just be the work of the Spirit of God connecting them to us so that they might be recreated in relationship with Christ Jesus.

And so as we live our lives we may indeed invite people to worship with our community - not just to add numbers to our community, but to invite those people we are discovering God is at work in - the worshiping community provides a context for others who the Spirit of God is active in to intentionally connect with God and for us to connect with them and them to us.

So evangelism becomes more about discerning than exercising a technique. Are we aware of those God is calling to live their lives under God's reign? Are we praying for becoming aware of those with whom Jesus is connecting? Are we open to engage others who are searching, seeking because of the work God is doing in their lives? Are we conscious of our living out our faith, and at times giving voice to it, as providing open doors for others to find new life as human beings through and in Christ Jesus?

Some of the ways we can develop such awareness is through remembering our stories of how we were encountered and called by God to become persons within God's community. As we become aware of our own stories, we are more apt to take the time to hear the stories of others, helping them make connections in their own stories where God is connecting with them. It involves a daily praying asking the Spirit of God make us sensitive to the ones the Spirit is working in - just maybe God desires for us to walk with them, alongside them to guide them on their journey. Are we open to invite others into our lives, and open to being invited into the lives of others - in such relationships it is uncanny what the Spirit of God is able to develop.

Evangelism in such an understanding is not about bringing people into our church, but being a part of the lives of people whom God is working in to guide them to be able to respond to the calling of Christ within their lives, a calling in which Christ calls them to become a part of his kingdom, a new humanity, a new community - no matter what church they eventually choose to participate in.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Amazing Grace


Thought I'd share this ad with you that the Salvation Army is running -
Consider donating to the Salvation Army to help others in need.