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PART 1

This discussion board post is a reaction to David Wheeler’s article, “Incarnational Apologetics.” Wheeler defines Incarnational Apologetics as the “public and private lifestyle of a Christian that validates to the world the absolute truths of the Bible.”[1] Teaching evangelism has historically focused on training individuals on what to say. However, incarnational apologetics would affect the traditional teaching of evangelism by emphasizing living a Christian lifestyle with the intention of showing a non-Christian world the genuineness of Christianity. Theoretically, an incarnational apologetic approach to evangelism would cause Christians to be more aware of daily behaviors and align them with Scripture to reach the lost. However, theory and practice may be quite difficult to discern. In other words, authentically living a life beyond oneself by joining God’s activity and serving others as the Spirit leads will assuredly result in a powerful and supernatural apologetic when grace leads to obedience. Alternatively, if Christians attempt to modify outward behavior in order to evangelize the world through human effort, then the entire apologetic fails and becomes nothing more than a tool for Christians to manipulate others to join an agenda and feel proud that God is using them. The lack of integrity will undermine the apologetic.

03. Book Cover Photoshop Template 10 182x300 - Incarnational Apologetics

Center Church Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City

The idea of balance between incarnational and informational may do more harm than good. Of course, a relationship exists between the two, but considering that less than 10 percent of Christians share the information of the Gospel in a given year, and the significant majority of church attenders believe that church is a passive activity on Sunday morning, it is difficult to think in terms of balancing an overemphasis. Instead, it appears that a significant increase in both incarnational and informational evangelism is necessary. Accordingly, a more pertinent question is how to increase both informational and incarnational evangelism. Timothy Keller supplies a helpful construct that he coins an “every-member gospel.”[2] Specifically, Keller suggests a concurrent increase of informational and incarnational evangelism requires a framework that is organic, meaning outside church programming; relational, meaning performed within personal relationships; Word deploying, meaning connecting the Gospel to the lives of people; and active, meaning each believer becomes responsible for producing rather than consuming.[3]

PART 2

The evangelistic barriers identified by McRaney that I struggle with the most are false stereotypes, isolation, and the absence of a realistic system.[4] First, I must admit I fall into the category of individuals that have negative perception of religiously constipated evangelism that arrogantly pushes to build a personal empire rather than God’s kingdom. The second barrier I encounter is isolation. My introverted personality explains, but does not excuse my desire for isolation. Although close intimate relationships are more natural, engaging strangers with small talk is a significant weakness of mine. Finally, I spent most of my young life in churches influenced by Wesleyanism, which focused more on staying away from the evil of the world than engaging a lost world. In fact, I do not remember anyone in over twenty years of church involvement who ever taught me a system of personal evangelism. Sadly, William Fay’s book was my first encounter with a full-blown evangelistic system. In response to my three barriers, David Wheeler suggests volunteering in areas of personal interest, which I believe will help me overcome my challenge of engaging strangers.[5] Specifically, I have an interest in golf that could easily become an intentional way to relationally engage the lost in a non-threatening way. Furthermore, Wheeler provides a number of ideas for intentionally developing relationships in a casual, non-offensive way, which will assist me in overcoming negative stereotypes.[6]

Will McRaney states, “the highest level of motivation for evangelism is love for God.”[7] Since the significant majority of Christians do not share their faith, one may conclude that Christians simply do not love God enough. Thus, in order to extend effective evangelistic efforts, believers must work harder to love God more so they can be more effective. However, the logic is backwards. When Christianity is reduced to a hell avoidance, morality enhancement, try harder religion, the energy around evangelism wanes. Alternatively, when a believer understands the Gospel as reconciliation with Christ where a new identity supernaturally forms through a relationship with the Creator, a detachment of identity from the world occurs, and a natural outward concern for those who rely on the world for their identity results (Ephesians 4:20-29). In other words, God empowers the love necessary to love both others and Him.

The impact on my perspective of personal evangelism has dramatically changed, which will certainly influence my daily life. 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 few weeks I have begun to seriously address the issue of personal evangelism in my life. Historically, the type and style of personal evangelism exposed to me seemed controlling and argumentative, and at times, completely unbiblical. However, in my daily life I believe I can now follow McRaney’s lead by engaging a postmodern society with questions, stories, dialogue, and listening.[8] Furthermore, I believe I can patiently answer questions without the need to argue, which immediately relieves unnecessary pressure.[9] 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]. David Wheeler, “Incarnational Apologetics,” Liberty University Web site, 1, 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 18, 2013).

[2]. Timothy J. Keller, Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 280.

[3]. Ibid.

[4]. Will McRaney Jr., The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2003), 195-200.

[5]. Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2010), 297.

[6]. Ibid., 299-305.

[7]. McRaney, The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture, 198.

[8]. Will McRaney Jr., The Art of Personal Evangelism (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2003), 166.

[9]. Dave Earley and David Wheeler, Evangelism Is: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2010), 268-71.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

  • Earley, Dave, and David Wheeler. Evangelism Is…: How to Share Jesus with Passion and Confidence. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2010.
  • Keller, Timothy J. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012.
  • McRaney, Will Jr. The Art of Personal Evangelism: Sharing Jesus in a Changing Culture. Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2003.
  • Wheeler, David. “Incarnational Apologetics.” 1-7. 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 18, 2013).
Wilder - Incarnational Apologetics
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.”