David Earley describes living on mission as following the direction of Jesus as a missionary “not something the church does for God,” but “it is the church getting in sync with what God is already doing on planet earth.”[1] Later, Earley asks the listener to list four or five lost people and pray, love, serve, and share the Gospel with people who do not know Christ.[2] I would rate my current level of living on mission as it relates specifically to personal evangelism as a one. Although I have joined God in leading a number of people to Christ, I am not intentional about personal evangelism. In fact, it has only been within the last six months that I have begun to seriously address the issue of personal evangelism in my life.
Share Jesus Without Fear
The Lord is definitely pressing me to be a person living on mission. The type and style of personal evangelism taught during my formative years seemed controlling and argumentative, and at times, felt unbiblical. Even today, when I hear suggestions to extend kindness or provide service in order to lead someone to Christ, I cringe at the potential for manipulation, which has plagued Christianity since at least the time of Constantine. In other words, a fine line exists between actually caring for another human being and selfishly thinking, “If I provide a kind act then maybe I can get him to believe what I believe.” However, during a recent vacation I finished reading William Fay’s book, “Sharing Jesus without Fear,” which opened my mind to an entirely different approach to evangelism. Fay teaches to extend inquiry and empathy rather than arguments and condescension.[3] Furthermore, Fay suggests creating an environment of discovery that allows the unbeliever to hear the Holy Spirit’s promptings, rather than human suggestions.[4] Although a very simple book, I found myself becoming excited about actually caring for my non-Christian friends by asking non-threatening, spiritual questions, which may significantly benefit their life now and into eternity. Once I finished Fay’s book, I read Will McRaney’s book, The Art of Personal Evangelism.” I was almost fearful to open the book wondering if the flood of bad memories regarding evangelism would be overwhelming. However, once again, I was pleasantly surprised. Specifically, McRaney supports Fay’s assertions by suggesting that in a postmodern society questions, stories, dialogue, and listening are much more powerful tools for evangelism than argumentative approaches.[5] It is a little embarrassing that at my age, my progress is just beginning, but I am at least finding myself thinking about people in elevators, on airplanes, and at work much differently and beginning to ask initial questions to open dialogue about spiritual matters.
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[1]. Liberty University, “Presentation: Living on Mission,” Liberty University Web site, Microsoft Silverlight file, 4:17, http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1942950_ (accessed April 5, 2013).
[2]. Ibid, 15:19.
[3]. William Fay and Linda Evans Shepherd, Share Jesus without Fear (Nashville, TN: B&H, 1999), 32-33.
[4]. Ibid., 45.
[5]. Will McRaney Jr., The Art of Personal Evangelism (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2003), 166.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Fay, William, and Linda Evans Shepherd. Share Jesus Without Fear. Nashville, TN: B&H, 1999.
- Liberty University. “Presentation: Living on Mission.” Liberty University Web site. Microsoft Silverlight file. http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_1942950_ (accessed April 5, 2013).
- McRaney, Will Jr. The Art of Personal Evangelism. Nashville, TN: B&H, 2003.
