"If someone says, 'I don’t need to change or convince anyone, but just be the best Christ Follower I can be' is that lifestyle evangelism or a cop-out? How much intentionality is inherent to being the best Christ Follower you can be?"
Here are a few of the responses:
David J. Fowlie wrote, "The statement "I don't need to" in general, is a prideful one which limits one's growth in any area. We need to live our lives and let our light shine (first we need to make sure we have a light) and make the most of every opportunity to make an impact on others. Bottom Line: We need to be open to anything, so "I don't need to" limits that approach."
Jennifer Dobson says, "We are called to be the best follower we can be. Not all people are talented in evangelism. If you can change or convince anyone, great, but if you can't, it's ok. Don't get too hard on yourself."Mark Ashcroft commented, "If you're a follower then you'll be following won't you? You will find that Jesus will lead you into change and lead you to reach out to others. You'll find yourself being led out of your comfort zone. This is the great adventure! If you're saying "I won't do this and I won't do that" you're dictating to the Lord where He can and can't take you, in which case you're not really following are you?"
What do you think? Evangelism or cop-out?
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Comments (13)
The gospel is, first of all, a message. Good news. You can't share a message without using words.
Of course we should live good lives. Of course we should care for others. But these things are not evangelism.
I am of course still learning what that looks like in a practical sense. But it is, in part, apathetic, lackadaisical, attitudes such as "I don't need to" that leads non-believers to think Christians just don't care. And if that's the attitude we project, well then, they are right in saying so.
It is true that we don't have to change anyone in the sense that I think is implied by that statement - tell them a truth, and have them change their actions to reflect that truth. But we are called to live in the proper way, and that will naturally lead some people to change.
So, we can make ourselves the sharpest tool in the barn, the cleanest vessel fit for the master’s use and always be ready to give an answer for the hope that lies within us. With luck, God may even allow us to be the mid-wife at the birthing. And of course, we can’t change anyone, as many wives and husbands have found out. Without a doubt that is the Holy Spirit’s job as well.
Giving a reason for the hope that lies within us, going into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, going out to the highways and by ways and compelling them to come in is everyone’s job. There are just some that appear to be more gifted than others at evangelism. The alleged words of St. Francis, “Preach the gospel at all times; when necessary, use words?” is a the cop out. Paul says in Romans, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
if we're not truly in love with God, being transformed by his Spirit, practicing obedience to his commands, and serving others, disciples will not be made... regardless of whether or not we try to convince others of God's supremacy, love, or forgiveness. good trees and vines produce good fruits, period. it's a natural outcome.
i'm not saying these words aren't being used as a cop-out. i'm merely suggesting this individual not "being intentional" by asking people to study with him is not the reason he's failing to make disciples.
I think there can be something attractive in this day and age about a lifestyle that truly follows Christ - casting off and resisting the poisonous and anti-Christ ideologies of consumerism, greed, perpetual war, redemptive violence and selfishness, and working to serve and liberate the hungry, the naked, the sick, the oppressed, and all others cast aside by these sinful and selfish ideologies. I think that if Christians in America gave people a true alternative to the empty ways of the world, many would embrace it, and a better world would result - particularly in this day and age as we see the systems built on these ideologies collapsing all around us, resulting in greater poverty, greater hopelessness, greater oppression, and unprecedented environmental destruction. Preaching probably wouldn't be necessary; people would see Christians making a difference in the world for good and flock to us.
However, the "lifestyle evangelism" to which I think the initial comment is referring doesn't seem to indicate that. I think the "lifestyle evangelism" of the contemporary American evangelical - a "lifestyle evangelism" that continues to buy into fundamentally sinful ways of thinking and being - in fact undermines the message of Christ rather than reinforcing it.
In the form of evangelism to which I think the initial comment refers, words probably ARE necessary, in order to reconcile the message of Jesus Christ with the lifestyle. The words are needed to rationalize the difference between Jesus Christ, who loved and served the poor and oppressed while telling the self-righteous religious leaders and the faces of empire exactly where to stick it, with a lifestyle that keeps the poor and oppressed down (through non-resistance if not through overt acts of consumption and support) while siding with self-righteous religious leaders (like Falwell, Parsley, Hagee, et al.) and the ideologies of imperial domination.
But why is it the nations of the world are not embracing those visionary utopias? In fact, people are desperately trying to escape them. I don’t believe we are ever going to legislate or govern our way to utopia, these worker’s paradises fail to acknowledge man’s fallen state and inevitably dissolve into violence and control issues.
What is it that attracted 3000 to the gospel in Peter’s first sermon? What was it that attracted 5000 to the gospel in his second sermon? What was it that drew such crowds to Phillip’s preaching? At the beginning of the 20th century Africa had an estimated 10 million Christians on the continent. What is it that caused the explosive growth to 330 million in 100 years? I am struggling with these issues as well. I think I have some answers but I don’t think they are the popular ones in 21st century western evangelicalism.
Utopias aside, the western world, as well as mankind in general fails to acknowledge man's fallen state and estate, and all dissolve into self-centered economics, whether capitalistic or socialistic, let alone the darker issues of control and violence. I think the "lifestyle evangelism" resembles cop-out in that it is perhaps reactionary against the general evangelical mutual embrace with conservatism. I think that there is a need to establish an alternative identity, if you will, that allows such a group to be Christian, but not immediately tagged as wealthy white conservative Republican; such individuals are from a larger Christian community that aren't necessarily operating under evangelistic tents, but via social gospel means. How do they give voice to their faith if not by how they live?
A great example on Chicago's south side: there's a group currently discussing a reversal of the '70's white flight to the suburbs---how can we better work with the current mission within the inner city, if not alongside of the neighborhood residents? Without gentrification, without artificiality or fortress mentality, can a missional group of white and black Christians committed to transformation, live in unity as a presence of God's peace in a neighborhood? Frankly, to me that would take more courage than to preach on the street corner.
Scripture shows that we are called to share the Good News. John 14:21 says "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me". Mark 16:15 says "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation". If we love Jesus, we'll obey him. If we obey him, we'll preach the good news. We can pray about when, where and how to share the good news, and get direction from the Spirit.
I think the main problem is that many want to "follow" Jesus and receive his blessings, but are not willing to make him Lord of their life. If He is Lord, we don't have the choice to say no to his commands.