You Stink at Evangelism
So last night our ministry assistant was sitting in her car in the grocery store parking lot when a man approached the driver’s side window, and knocked. She cautiously opened it a crack and the man threw in a letter and ran away. BOOM! – she just got evangelized! If poorly.
I think it’s fair to say that this guy stinks at evangelism. I mean, he does get the content right: loving and holy God; sinful and accountable man; the redemption that can only be found through the shed blood of Jesus; the need to repent and believe. Good stuff. And decent penmanship (I give him points for that). But the method is weak. I think an Evangeletter™ could work well (after all, much of the Bible is made up of “letters”), but it would presume some kind of relationship. So here we have a good message, but a flawed method and messenger. And to be honest, that sounds like me. Sure this guy stinks at evangelism, but you probably do too.
What I like about this guy is that he’s trying – which is a lot more than most Christians do. He took the time to write a letter explaining the gospel and he gave it to someone. Sure, I want him to start real-life conversations, and build relationships with people, but at least he’s making an attempt. And here’s the thing – God can use this guy’s screwed-up evangelism. Just like he used Wesley’s screwed up evangelism. And Whitefield’s. And mine. There has only ever been one perfect Evangelist who never misspoke, never used a bad illustration or never unintentionally left people confused about the Kngdom of God. Compared to Jesus, we all stink at evangelism.
And this doesn’t freak me out because I believe that it is God who brings a man from spiritual death to life. It is the sovereign grace of our Lord that opens the heart so that people will respond to the gospel. He is the one who causes us to be born again through the word – the Good News. So, on the one hand I know that God does not convert anyone apart from the hearing of the gospel, and yet I do not believe another’s salvation rests upon my ability to persuade him. Simply put, we share the gospel (in imperfect ways), God does the saving. And this gives me great hope.
So, Mr. Secret Evangeletter Guy – I am happy that you are working to make the gospel known, and I hope you will work hard to do it in biblically governed, culturally appropriate ways. But more than that I hope the rest of us will be encouraged by your willingness to try.
So, you’re saying I should use three exclamation points after the ever-important “Repent” next time? And then I’m good? Sweet. Thanks for the advice
That is funny! I have heard of “Gospel Grenades” but this is the first I have heard of the Evangeletter! Your last paragraph sums it up nicely though. Thanks Joe!
I wouldn’t have the grace or tact to deal with this story as kindly as you have. Thanks for not being a jerk. It encourages me to get over and over myself.
And praise God for your father’s conversion.
Ah, hit-and-run evangelism…
Great post – and a good challenge. But did you have to put in the “I’m really reformed” addenda? Throw it out there and let it lie.
Jonathan – I’m not sure I follow. It’s my blog, so I tend to include things I think are important. In this case, the whole point of this short post is to say God can use all sorts of people and “presentations” of the gospel (so long as the gospel is there), because it all depends on his sovereign Grace. That’s my comfort, so I throw that out there and it lie.
like a christian unabomber
amen.
[haha @ danny!]
the format of this site is delightful and happiness-inducing. as well as the photos.
I stink at personal evangelism!
If it weren’t for the realities of God’s sovereignty expressed on this post, I don’t know that I could bear the burden of not being ISO clever, so attractive, so smart, so articulate, so funny, so …. I praise God He let’s me know that I’m preaching to corpses and unless Eph.2:4 happens, they will not hear it. I go in knowing it’s crazy and only a miracle will make it happen. That takes the burden of performance off my shoulders and I end up evangelizing out of my pursuit of joy in Him.
hahaha awesome! It sounds like one of my attempts at evangelism once which actually made an impact on the person…I was in a cab and felt the urge to witness to this person but I was too shy to say anything I had an empty foam cup in my hand and a pen in my pocket, I took out my pen and wrote a similar message on the sides of the cup as I walked out of the car I said: “could you do me the biggest favor ever!” he said “sure” I handed him the cup and said “read this!” and left…months later, I got that same cab again cause I usually call the same cab company…and he remembered me! and said he had joined a youth group and was trying to go to church and do good things…that gave me the opportunity to speak to him about salvation by grace alone, apart from works. I’ve never seen him since. Hope the Lord finally saved him.
Joe – I know it is your blog – I didn’t mean to disrespect you or anything.
That is amazing. Sure, he gets a high five for trying. The problem with trying in a completely wrong way, is that it quite possibly does a greater offense to the gospel.
I can imagine an unsaved person in their car, receiving the Evengeletter™ and thinking how creepy and out of touch with society Christians must be.
Not the way to evangelize in any way shape or form. Huge party foul.
Chad, put the word out it will not return empty
I agree Chad. And I don’t even think he get’s a high five for trying – it’s our duty and privilege to tell others about Jesus. Like Chris Rock would say, you don’t get credit for the stuff you’re supposed to do. But I like that he’s trying, and I hope that he’ll do better.
My main point, and thought in all of this, is simply 1. I’m glad God is sovereign and can use bad presentations (this doesn’t excuse the bad presentation, but gives me hope) and 2. Let’s all actually take the initiative to actually tell others the truth about Jesus.
Joe, you are dead on. It’s clear that the “evangelist” was cowardly, but it’s just as possible that this poor soul is haunted by all those verses which call on us to prove our faith by preaching and living the Word. I’m struck by the lack of compassion Christians often have for a guy like this because so often it’s people like this who are in the deepest bondage – who are transfixed on God’s wrath and are constantly tormented by slavish fears and uncontrollable anger. Luther, Wesley, Spurgeon, Edwards…pick your favorite Christian hero..all wrestled with these things before finding Jesus.
I ended up here via a link on the Phoenix Preacher. This article was interesting for me. I imagine there are some who would be quick to be all over the evangelist who is spoken of who don’t do much at all to reach the lost.
What you shared about Jesus being the perfect evangelist and the rest of us fall short of Him told me that an honest effort to share the Gospel is our part and the rest we leave to God.
I was thinking a bit about what kind of person would deliver such a message. Maybe it was a believer who is battling mental illness. Maybe schizophrenia. And the note in question was the best that person could do and their heart was in the right place.
Such a person would have overcome a lot to do that and I’d like to think God would have been well pleased with the bad evangelism. God bless!