Evangelism is inevitably linked with risk

Final part of the ongoing series

John Bowen (in Evangelism for “Normal” People) writes about rediscovering the stories of the first witnesses to Christ’s life, death and resurrection in the book of Acts, and realizing that evangelism is inevitably linked with risk:

The risk of leaving the nest
The risk of going to people who are different
The risk of being different
The risk of physical danger
The risk of breaking the rules

Deep down inside we know this, and it is perhaps one of the primary reasons why we steer clear of evangelism. It’s risky to share a story, it’s risky to reach out and help someone, it’s risky to admit that we don’t know all the answers. But still, Bowen says, “The fact seems to be quite simply that the kingdom of God does not progress unless Jesus’ people are prepared to take risks.”

When we pray earnestly for others and for openness to see those people in whom God is already at work, when we listen carefully to the deepest needs and longings of other people, when people see something different at work in us and ask what it is, we will find ourselves facing a risk: Do I open up and let the Spirit work in and through me, or do I simply ignore the opportunity?

God calls us to take the risk. And the best part is, God promises that the Spirit will be with us to give us the words that are needed.

Called and sent for the sake of the world

This series ends as it began: with the promise, the comfort, and the challenge that evangelism is God’s idea, not ours, that evangelism at its core is God coming after us, even at our worst, to seek reconciliation with those who have set themselves up as God’s enemies. We’ve seen that evangelism is not something that we choose to do or not do; rather it is at the center of our baptismal calling. We’ve heard that evangelism is not simply one individual saving another individual, but that it is rooted in, radiates from and is an invitation into a community where justice and love prevail over selfishness and individualism. We’ve explored the notion that evangelism is best understood as a process, based on trusting relationships, that takes time and involves the Spirit working through many people. These are insights that can profoundly change our understanding of evangelism and our reluctance to respond to this God-given call.

Yet two questions remain: What does this mean for individual Christians? How can I, as a follower of Jesus, become more like Jesus in the way that I show and tell God’s love to others? And second: What does this mean for our congregations? What can we do to create and nurture faith communities where love of God and love of neighbor shine like a beacon—a community that will be intriguing and attractive to those who are looking for God, and for a better life?

I’m interested in hearing from you about these two questions. I’ve got a few ideas of my own and I’ll probably share some of them, but I’m interested to know what you think. What do all of these notions about evangelism mean for you and others you know? And what do they mean for your congregation?

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New article about the Center for Renewal

The national magazine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran, ran a full-page story on the Center for Renewal and Grand View University in its November issue. To read the article online, click here.

The only helpful correction that could be made to the article is in the second paragraph, in regard to funding. While Grand View funds the majority of the Center’s work, this is a cooperative ministry with the Southeastern Iowa Synod, and as such, the synod also provides funding for the Center’s work.

We’re grateful to The Lutheran magazine for running this helpful article. Since our work is pretty unique among our church colleges and universities, it’s great that others now know about us!

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Evangelism is a matter of words and deeds

[Part ten in an ongoing series]

Telling others what God has done is as central to our calling as it was to Jesus’ mission. Certainly we cannot avoid the fact that evangelism means speaking words of faith. But Jesus not only told others about God, he also demonstrated God’s love.

In John 5 we find the story of Jesus being criticized for healing a paralytic on the sabbath. In response Jesus answers, “My father is still working, and I also am working… Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise.” “Jesus’ mission then,” Bowen says, “is not only a mission of words but also a mission of works…

New resource from the Center in trial mode

The most important thing congregational leaders can do at this point in time is to open ourselves and our congregations to ‘holy conversation’ about our context, call and gifts.

That’s the basis of a new resource that we are trying out at the Center for Renewal. Members and leaders of congregations know that ‘things’ have changed, but we’re largely unable to name what those ‘things’ are, much less discuss them, which limits our ability to do anything in response.

Our definition of renewal is that it is the ongoing conversion of the church through which we rediscover the ability to discern, proclaim and participate in God’s redemptive mission in the world. We propose that conversion can and will come through conversation. In order to support that conversation, we are testing a collection of seventeen conversation starters that congregational leaders can use in council/board meetings, with visioning teams, and/or in adult forums.

Evangelism is personal

[Part nine in an ongoing series]

In previous posts, an underlying assumption has been that evangelism is the work of the whole Christian community. I don’t want to sound like I’m completely contradicting that understanding, but evangelism also relies on each individual Christian doing her or his part. The problem is, viewing evangelism as the work of “the whole Christian community” can lead quickly to the conclusion that evangelism is somebody else’s job and not mine.

Evangelism is a matter of helping people move toward Christ

[Part eight in an ongoing series]

The doorbell rings; we open the door and a stranger demands of us, “If you die tonight, do you know if you will go to heaven or hell?” This kind of approach—while being a form of flasher evangelism and running contrary to everything we’re saying about good evangelism—is also based on the assumption that people are either “in” or they are “out.” Other forms of evangelism, such as asking people to “make a decision for Christ,” are also based on this kind of either/or thinking.

Is Christian faith a matter of either being “in” or being “out”? Or is there another way, a more helpful way to approach this? The answer to these questions will have a large impact on how we view evangelism and fulfill our call as witnesses.

Relational Missions: Participating in the Communion of Saints

It has always been my experience that, whenever I stand in El Mozote, I am standing among the children who were massacred there. I feel them calling me to speak out against violence; to ensure that—as the plaque there says—El Mozote, Nunca mas! (never again!). I feel accountable to those children, whose names and ages are listed from 3 days old to 18 years, numbering at least 300 victims. To me, those children are the saints with whom I am called to live accountably as a person of faith. The communion of saints—living as if victims matter.

Evangelism is based on prayer

[Part seven in an ongoing series]
Evangelism that is built on trusting relationships also requires that we be attentive to the discipline of prayer. We can begin by praying, “God make me aware of the people around me who are searching and want to hear about your love.” Bowen writes, “Whenever I get to know individual non-Christians…I am completely convinced that I find God already at work in their lives.” Since evangelism is based on God’s passion to “seek reconciliation with those who have set themselves up as his enemies,” our role can only be seen as God’s instrument for reaching and inviting people to come home. Prayer is the place we begin as we seek to discover who it is in our lives that God wants to invite home.

Prayer is also the place where we give up on our own desires and yield to God’s desires; prayer is the place were we open ourselves to hear—from God—what it is that the people in our lives are asking, and what it is they need to hear. A prayer such as, “Give me courage to engage in conversation and to answer questions, without preaching,” is a good place to start.

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