Podcast Episode #183
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We discuss a recent post by Chuck Lawless on why we don’t evangelize as well as ways to encourage evangelism in your church.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- We have an evangelism tragedy that is taking place in our churches.
- Continue to do ministry and missions, but let it be explicitly about the gospel—not just meeting physical needs.
- Many mission trips have become tourist trips for many church members.
- We unfortunately have a lot of church members in America who are practical universalists, syncretists, and inclusivists.
- If it comes down to losing our job or being an obedient Christian, we should always choose the latter.
- Fear cannot be our reason for not evangelizing.
- Find me an evangelistic church and you will find an evangelistic pastor.
- I will never buy the argument that we have enough churches in a community.
The nine reasons Christians don’t evangelize are:
- Many don’t know what “evangelism” is.
- We have few evangelistic role models.
- Some church members aren’t convinced about lostness.
- Some churches have provided no evangelism training.
- Fear of the unknown halts our efforts.
- We’ve “gotten over” our salvation.
- Pastors aren’t taking the lead in evangelism.
- We don’t really know many lost people anyway.
- We don’t care about non-believers.
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Feedback
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#1 Evangelism is not modeled biblically from the pulpit
#2 We have been taught not to use words like “Born Again” and “Propitiation” so now Christians don’t know what they mean.
#3 If you suggested to a church staff to hold a soul winning revival it would knock the soul patch right off the worship leader.
Thanks, Fletcher.
Great article, but one dispute. In many urban areas we don’t have a lack of churches. As Dr. Tony Evans has said and I agree, we have churches on every corner. The need for evangelism is still great as is the need for evangelical bible teaching. Outreach is not evangelism in most cases.
Thanks, Darryl.
In the 80′ Dr. Win Arn gave some the same reasons. The first one is that too many Christians do not really bleave the Bible to the word of God. Second was that too many Christians do not believe that people outside of Christ are lost.
Because He is coming again!
Hugh
True!
Too many Christians are already miserable because of legalism. Why make more people feel that way? Why would someone want to come over to Christianity and be miserable? Many non-Christians who are faithful to their own religion are happier and are sometimes envied by Christians.
Also, too many Christians saw Christianity as forbidding anything fun in life and all you could do was show up to church on Sunday morning (and Sunday night and Wednesday night) for yet another sermon by an upset preacher who did not care about anyone but the old people. (This was my experience as a kid in 1970s-1990s evangelical, non-denominational Christianity.) Kids did not learn much as there was little they could relate to. No one seemed to preach on the “doing” aspect of Christianity. The tenets of the faith were overlooked and ignored for attendance and knowledge of Paul and his missionary journeys and denominational polity.
Mark –
Thank you for your comments.
I feel compelled to tell others about Christ because He clearly says He is the only way of salvation John 14:6). Like Peter and John, I can’t help but speak about that which I have seen and heard (Acts 4:20)
Thank you for your words. I’m totally understand what you’re saying in your comment.
I think a huge sliver of this problem a staffing issue. Ephesians 4 teaches that some are called to be evangelists. Those are people who are gifted to win souls and train others. When the church fails to identify and recruit them then they will not see a ton of conversion growth.
I have a friend who loves to pray for the sick and sees several people converted each month. He has trained others to do the same. It’s contagious when someone like that is in your environment, and naturally attacks others with the gift of evangelism. If a church that wants more evangelism would invest the $30k-$50k to bring someone like that on staff, they too would see an increase in evangelism. Most churches don’t typically have someone like that in their pews, and it will have to be an outside hire. I believe every believer should share, but some are hardwired for it and I think the number one thing that can be done is to over invest in finding people like that.
I believe when scripture states that “Some were called to be evangelists” it means that some were called to be preachers or missionaries. Some folks use this as their excuse not to share the gospel stating that it is not their gift. I think the great commission was not limited to the preachers and missionaries but was a command to all believers. It’s strange how the one that claims that sharing the gospel with a friend is not their gift, but have no problem screaming the glory of their favorite football team at the top of their lungs or discussing their golf score or sharing their favorite recipe with friends. Sharing the Gospel can be just as simple and natural as any of these things.
It’s sad that the one most important missions of the church, which is winning the lost is one that is least trained for and talked about in the church.
There are so many great books in print on the subject of sharing your faith that with a little study and training even the most timid of us can do it.
Legalism and condemnation are taught in my church. We’re taught to doubt our salvation. We’re preached to as if most of us aren’t ‘biblically saved’ with emphasis on lack of works proving (disproving) it. Leaving Sun. a.m. service is a relief. No wonder we don’t evangelize.
Dear Thom, your posts are absolutely right. I have the following road-blocks here.
1) Its tough when Pastors are telling the congregation and the congregation simply doesn’t do whatever is said, it makes the Pastor do them instead of the congregation joining hands and learning through him.
2) The internal disputes among the church leaders and in church has stopped the congregation from fanning their interest to evangelize the lost people.
3) The flip-flop of what was taught and what is taught now on the same topic, has made the congregation confused
4) The focus of the congregation is church, than Christ.. so when they leave the church, they forget the whole teaching and experience about Christ in their lives.
5) Some Christians haven’t been role models for Christ to others, thus they dont picture Jesus and cant share His grace to the world in need.
6) In the movie “Fly Wheel” Jay, a dishonest car sales man, decided to make a turning point. When Jay and Kevin are talking about getting more money for the cars, Jay says, “Kevin, we’re not gonna go that route… You treat people right, it’ll come back to you”
let the leaders learn this.. treat people right.. the way God wants.. and be honest.. simple.. then they will come to support whatever the leader’s vision is.
The last item , not caring for the lost, is the most painful. Eternity is forever, and this world is not my home. Claiming Christ as our savior from the pit of hell should impell me to share Christ , instead of listening to talk radio and having an opinion about everything , but what keeps you out of hell. I need to love my neighbors more and be faithful to my God most.
I agree with most of the 9 points listed as there all true just as they are stated.
The 5th point “Fear of the unknown halts our efforts.” fear is what keeps people in church groups, the fear of the unfamiliar and a host of effective irrational social fears. While true it can interfere with evangelizing it also interferes with taking most any action.
The question “Reasons Christians Don’t Evangelize” is not very useful as they really are not doing much of this anyways, a better question would be why are people bringing in new people, the real actual “why”. Then ask how did it it happen then what are the added new ones doing.
Of coarse shaming and blaming can work if different goals are in mind.
This was a great podcast. I would also add that Christians today confuse evangelism with inviting people to church. They are absolutely not the same thing. The premise of that being that if the person comes to church then the pastor or staff can evangelize them. After all “that’s their job”.
Very good points.
FYI – EE is still assisting churches all over the world in equipping the saints to communicate a clear, concise gospel message and train others to do the same. We are working with 700+ churches across the US (and 40,000+ worldwide) – the highest percentage of US-users are SBC churches. See our annual report at http://evangelismexplosion.org/about-us/annual-results/. As you rightly say, intentionality is the key – to sharing and to training. And most folks are open and interested when engaged in a winsome way. Two weeks ago, we went out in 4 teams from a church in Burnsville, NC, and connected with 11 people in less than an hour – sharing the gospel 6 times; seeings 2 people rededicate their lives to Christ, and 1 prayer for assurance of their salvation. I love your point of always taking someone with you into the harvest. That is effective training!