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03. Book Cover Photoshop Template 8 182x300 - Evangelism: Issues for Lost People have Changed

The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture

This is a reaction to two of Will McRaney’s statements. First, McRaney states, “The questions and issues for lost people have changed. I am not sure that we are listening to the questions any longer. Is it possible that in our efforts to communicate we are simply shouting our answers at a higher pitch?”[1] I agree that many of the questions lost people are asking have changed. For example, the issues of modernity that pertain to science, evolution, Darwinism, and theodicy have waned.[2] Alternatively, many issues for lost people have remained intact since before Christ. McRaney explains that postmodernity focuses on issues relating to purpose, meaning, and care.[3] It is difficult to imagine any time in history where these issues were not concerns of humanity. However, I completely align with McRaney’s concern that believers are no longer listening, and instead, shouting louder. One of the most significant results of the Protestant Reformation was the rise of the importance of preaching. Martin Luther, states, “Let us then consider it certain and conclusively established that the soul can do without all things except the Word of God.”[4] Although Luther rightly stressed the importance of preaching the Word of God, many Christians have actually defined church as preaching to the exclusion of other vital ingredients of church life. The unfortunate result is an imbalanced perspective of church that leaves many believers assuming that preaching at people, possibly at higher decibel levels, is the only real form of Christian activity. The unintended consequence of this type of reductionist ecclesiology is a form of church whereby active preachers talk to passive consumers. Accordingly, David Wheeler correctly insists, “We are probably not going to change the world by just raising up more preachers…because the concept is really not a biblical concept.”[5]

The consumerist culture of the Western church has decimated the impact of Christianity during the last century.[6] However, a lifestyle of service, which opposes the very nature of consumerism, has the opportunity to reverse the declining trend of Christianity in the West. David Wheeler correctly suggests that believers have it backwards when asking individuals to come to church, when the Great Commission commands believers to go.[7] A Christ follower’s life must live incarnationally out of a new nature in Christ by proclaiming the Gospel, being agents of social justice and spiritual transformation, as well as loving everyone.[8] Examples of incarnational living may include the intentional integration into sports as well as keeping eyes open in order to join God’s work throughout the day.[9] A more dramatic representation of incarnational living may be necessary when ministering to those incarcerated or who have experienced tragedies or disasters.[10] Wheeler further explains that the obvious and necessary presupposition of incarnational living is detaching from organizational programming and connecting one heart to another.[11] The natural result of a compassionate heart is an impressive God empowered reversal of the “sin of isolation and condemnation,” which is so abhorrent to a postmodern society and so powerful that it could radically change the trajectory of Christendom.[12]

McRaney poses the second statement in the form of a question: “Could it also be true that if we do not love one another, people will struggle to know that we are His disciples? And even worse, whether Jesus is the one real God?” Without question, I agree with this statement, and the Bible clearly supports McRaney’s assertion. First, Dave Earley and David Wheeler expound on the story of the woman at well in John 4. The authors explain that Jesus loved the woman by stepping out of His comfort zone, crossing barriers, turning the conversation toward spirituality, listening to her, pointing out her sin, and introducing Himself to her.[13] In other words, the reason the woman came to know Jesus as God is due to the love that Christ extended. Alternatively, the disciples overlooked the woman, ignored Christ’s work, missed the spiritual opportunity, failed to see the potential harvest, and underestimated the power of one.[14] In sum, the disciples did not extend love, and one can only assume that the woman would not have recognized the disciples as followers of the Man who showed such deep love for her. David Wheeler provides a second biblical example from John 13 where Jesus washed the disciple’s feet.[15] Wheeler explains that Christ’s “actions were motivated by love,” and showed “love in action.”[16] In other words, Christ humbly models the path for believers to follow in order to love well and point others to Jesus as the one real God.

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[1]. Will McRaney Jr., The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2003), 128.

[2]. Ibid.

[3]. Ibid., 128.

[4]. Martin Luther, “A Treatise on Christian Liberty,” in Three Treatises (Philadelphia, PA: Muhlenberg, 1947), 23.

[5]. Liberty University, “Presentation: Servant Evangelism – Part 1”, Liberty University Web site, Microsoft Silverlight file, 6:50-7:02, http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_1981517_1 (accessed May 13, 2013).

[6]. Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2010), 28-29.

[7]. Ibid., 213.

[8]. Ibid., 213-18.

[9]. Ibid., 205-9.

[10]. Ibid., 221-24.

[11]. Liberty University, “Presentation: Servant Evangelism – Part 2”, Liberty University Web site, Microsoft Silverlight file, 1:24-1:45, http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_1981517_1 (accessed May 13, 2013).

[12]. Liberty University, “Presentation: Servant Evangelism – Part 5”, Liberty University Web site, Microsoft Silverlight file, 2:50-2:56, http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_1981517_1 (accessed May 13, 2013).

[13]. Earley and Wheeler, Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence, 121-26.

[14]. Ibid., 129-34.

[15]. Ibid., 148-50.

[16]. Ibid., 149.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Earley, Dave, and David Wheeler. Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2010.
  • Liberty University. “Presentation: Servant Evangelism – Part 1.” Liberty University Web site. Microsoft Silverlight file. http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_1981517_1 (accessed May 13, 2013).
  • Liberty University. “Presentation: Servant Evangelism – Part 2.” Liberty University Web site. Microsoft Silverlight file. http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_1981517_1 (accessed May 13, 2013).
  • Liberty University. “Presentation: Servant Evangelism – Part 5.” Liberty University Web site. Microsoft Silverlight file. http://bb7.liberty.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/courseMain?course_id=_1981517_1 (accessed May 13, 2013).
  • Luther, Martin. “A Treatise on Christian Liberty.” In Three Treatises. Philadelphia, PA: Muhlenberg, 1947.
  • McRaney, Will Jr. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2003.
Wilder - Evangelism: Issues for Lost People have Changed
Derek Wilder Executive Director
DEREK WILDER, PhD, is the Executive Director of Lives Transforming Group, Inc., a Christian counseling ministry focused on personal transformation, and the author of FREEDOM and Minds on Fire. Wilder has a Master of Theological Studies, an MDiv in Pastoral Counseling, and a PhD in Biblical Exposition. Wilder's scholarly focus lies in Pauline studies, with his doctoral dissertation specifically examining the ontological implications present in the eighth chapter of Paul's Epistle to the Romans. Wilder, an adjunct professor, founded Convergence Therapy, integrating cognitive therapy and grace-based theology into the accredited college course: “Thought Life & Spirit Growth.”