Evangelism: Event or Lifestyle?
September 24th, 2008
(By Jesse Johnson)
* Jesse is serves as Associate Pastor of Local Outreach Ministries at Grace Church.
On Sunday afternoons I used to pass a well-dressed man standing on a milk crate at the corner of Roscoe and Van Nuys boulevards. He wore a placard around his neck that said “Jesus is Lord,” and bellowed phrases like “Jesus loves you” and “Read the Bible” into a bullhorn. Cars at the red light would roll up their windows, while the people huddled at the bus stop looked on, visibly annoyed.
This man’s evangelism caused me cognitive conflict. On one hand, he was trying to do something to proclaim the gospel. On the other hand, he was no doubt causing people to scoff at the gospel because of the frivolous way he was presenting it.
There are many misunderstandings about the nature of true evangelism. Many people don’t evangelize because when they think of evangelism, they think of the overzealous man on the street corner with the bullhorn. They think, “I’m not called to do that.” From there it’s a short leap to, “So I’m not called to evangelize.”
But the most effective kind of evangelism is often not done from street corners. Proclaiming the gospel does not involve a sign around your neck, or a bullhorn in your hand. Effective, winsome evangelism can take place with people you already know—your neighbors, your family, and your coworkers. Think of the names of nonbelievers you cross paths with; those people are your mission field.
For Jesus, evangelism was a way of life. When He crossed paths with people, He seized the opportunities to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins. In fact, much of Jesus’ evangelism took place in conversations with individuals. Consider the woman at the well (John 4), the rich young ruler (Luke 18), and Zacchaeus (Luke 19).
Evangelism in the book of Acts follows Jesus’ example. Peter, Stephen, and Paul did not stand on street corners and shout. Instead they seized whatever opportunities God gave them, and implored people to be reconciled to God. There are at least 15 examples in the book of Acts of Christians going about their daily activity, and then getting involved in evangelistic conversations with individuals with whom they came in contact.
That is our challenge in evangelism. We want to seize the opportunities that God gives us to proclaim the gospel to those whom He puts around us. When we see evangelism as a lifestyle, rather than as an event, then our evangelism will more closely model Jesus’s.
Tomorrow we will have some ideas that pastors can use to facilitate this kind of evangelism in the life of the church.
We must be cautious when critiquing a man’s evangelical efforts. God can (and does) use many methods to save one, even though a thousand others might scoff.
The gulf that exsists between a man who spends his free time on the street corner with a sign, motivated by his love for the lost, and to do so in spite of being ridiculed, cursed at, and thought of as strange and the Christian who does little to no evangelical outreach (because they are afraid to offend or are simply uncomfortable) is massive. John the Baptist comes to mind.
Although few are called to this type of heralding, it can be used in a powerful way by God. Reflecting back (on my unregenrate years) it was precisely these men who made me think, “If this man is willing to look like a fool and be ridiculed by the masses inorder to warn the people–he is either crazy or he cares so much about the lost that he feels compelled to suffer whatever he must to warn the people.” I distinctly recall thinking, “There is something very different about this man–perhaps there is something to this Christ.”
I don’t see it as “evangelicism” per se; but, I do see it as one way that God can (and does) use to open the eyes and hearts of those who do not see the reality of the power and grace of Christ in the lives of most professing Christians.
Let us be cautious when critizing another man’s calling.
But in Scriptures, Jesus and the Apostles also shouted in public. The sermon on the mount. Peter at Pentecost. Stephen before his stoning. Paul at Mars Hill. More could be cited, but are not necessary.
And then we have the godly examples of men of God like Whitfield, Edwards, et cetera, who all preached to the people of their time in the open air.
So while I don’t disagree that we should see our neighbors and coworkers as our mission field, we also need to take opportunity to raise our voice in the streets.
It’s not one or the other. In the Bible, the Apostles did BOTH.
Should we not follow in their bold example?
respectfully in Christ,
Mark Sohmer
I would agree with D. L. Jesus also preached to thousands in the open air. A well rounded evangelism plan will probably reap the greater harvest.
“But the most effective kind of evangelism is often not done from street corners. Proclaiming the gospel does not involve a sign around your neck, or a bullhorn in your hand. Effective, winsome evangelism can take place with people you already know—your neighbors, your family, and your coworkers. Think of the names of nonbelievers you cross paths with; those people are your mission field.”
Mark raised a good point by stating that the examples we do have in Scripture are the apostles and Jesus himself, loudly proclaiming the gospel message.
The biggest problem I have with the idea of our lifestyle evangelism, and using our relationships to evangelize, is that the people who typically proclaim it leave the actual gospel message out of it. Usually it gets reduced to us “evangelizing” by being “good” people or helping people out, etc. Instead, in whatever message evangelism is done, the crux of it should be the gospel message – Jesus Christ crucified for our sins!
Patrick
http://www.TheologyOfOmaha.com
I just love the way that The Way of the Master use simple clear Biblical personal conversation, like Jesus did to speak truth in love. To challege the conscience and to effectively preach Law and Grace with conviction, repentance and remission of sins and proptiation at the heart of the Gospel. It reminds me so very much of 1 Corinthians 1 & 2.
I am sad that more “evangelicals” do not wnat to start the mission field with those they have contact with either at home, work or even those who they do business with, in fear of recrimination and expulsion… Is that not what Jesus said would happen to those that follow Him obediently and lovingly?
At any rate, we are all guilty of neglecting those around about us. I am not sure I remember exactely which Preacher it was (I think it was DL Moody) who simply could not rest at night unless he shared the Gospel truth at least once a day… May we be so loving of the unredeemed that we would all be so burdened in love for them..
I love this approach at The Way of the Master:
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/goodperson.shtml
Sola Gratia!
I do not believe Jesse is deminishing Street Preaching by nay means but rather is suggesting that so called “Missionary minded” Evangelicals would love to serve “elsewhere” in Africa, India etc for the Gospel in a full time role, when they neglect their households, families, friends, collueges at work, business contacts and other because of fear.
Whilst other become so over zealous and impatient with the LORD that they desire to push the “offense of the Gospel” into the faces of the spiritually dead and make them hear what they cannot without the work of the Spirit.
To be sure the LORD can and does use various types of evangelism on the Public arena and this is commendable and good. But we must understand that the First and Greatest command is LOVE; love the LORD God and secondly like unto it, our fellow sinful mankind… If we do love them we must honor them as required so to do by Scripture, we must preach with compassion and truth balanced equally and measure the Law with Grace.
The Gospel is already by nature an offence to many and we must also understand that it is truly “a stumbling block and offence” to the unregenerate, but we MUST preach it compassionately, showing forth acer and love for the lost and FIRSTLY for the LORD Himself.
Therefore I see that Jesse is rightly concerned at some UNBiblical METHODS of preaching, and that he is not necesarily critical of Street or Public Evanglelism…
Well, I do not believe that would be the case at Grace Community Church…
To be honest, I think “street preaching” takes much less effort than utilizing personal individual encounter to evangelize. Heck, I could stand on a corner and yell, or pass out Bibles in the hopes that somebody will read them and God will change their hearts, or leave tracts on the seats of the bus and public library, and I never have to bear the heavy responsibility of engaging one person in the most important discussion of our lives.
I don’t see examples of this as evangelism in Scripture. I also don’t believe any of the times that Jesus or the Apostles spoke in the marketplace correlates to today’s average street preaching either.
They went to places where conversation and debate was the expected thing, not the bus stop. If there was “open debate on life” night at Starbucks, then I could see the comparison. If someone was expounding a passage and the facts behind it and this caused people to gather in interest, that could be compared. However, that seems to be the minority of street preaching in my experience. Whether New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago or Los Angeles, the majority seems to be a loudly proclaimed “repent or die!”
I think that type of street corner proclamation was reserved in Scripture for Israel.
Mark,
Absolutely! It is far easier to evangelize when you do not stand to lose anything, but only to gain.
Likewize personal Biblical and Truthfully Loving Evangelism is not the watered down, “let us get to feel comfortable first” and NOT offend my friends type of modern day ideaology; but REAL care involves truth and a true friend would look past the offence and continue to love you for your love for them regardless of their temporary offence…
This is hard and difficult, but it is what we are called and placed on earth for, to procliam Christ crusified for my sins and the sins of all who would repent and turn from sin to put on the gift of grace by the gift of faith.
Well said!
Condemnation andreentance ONLY evangelism lack the grace of the Gospel, we must never make th error of procliaming Law without Grace and likewise never procliam Grace without Law.
D. L, Mark, Bob, Patrick, (anyone I’m missing?),
There is a world of difference between the obnoxious guy on the street corner shouting at people, and John the Baptist, Jesus, Apostles, et. al. First, Jesus said that people went out to see John the Baptist (Luke 7:25), rather than John roaming the streets yelling at passers-by. Second, I am not talking about real street preaching—exegeting a passage, a sermon on a hill, or proclaiming the Gospel outdoors to huge crowds who listen. A sermon to 5,000 people is different than a bull horn and a trespassing ticket. The existence of a roof is not the issue, the existence of an audience is.
In that sense, even Ray Comfort and The Way of the Master People were not in mind with this post. Somehow they find a way to be winsome and to represent Christ well. People leave them rejecting the Gospel, not some vague notion of turn-or-burn barked from a pedestal.
B
ut the main point is this: too many people (rightly I think) will never do this kind of evangelism. I want to stop them from then saying “so I will not evangelize.” I want to show them what effective evangelism looks like, and that it does not involve the stereo-type.
Jesse
William,
Thanks. I think I should have read your last comment more carefully before I posted, as I think you said it very well (and w/less words than I used).
Jesse
Jesse,
Thank you for sharing your insights regarding street evangelism.
I am one of those guys on the street corner. And every month I am blessed with the honor, privilege, and responsibility to train up to 50 people from around the world to do the same, through Living Waters’ (The Way of the Master) Ambassadors’ Academy.
I do not hold signs because I believe signs with pithy and sometimes inflammatory content lack context. The Gospel should be preached in its entirety. And the Law should always be presented as a mirror so a person can see their true spiritual condition, not as a hammer with which to beat someone over the head.
While you make mention of the times in the Book of Acts where evangelism takes place in the setting of a one-to-one conversation, you overlooked the several times that evangelism took place through the vehicle of open-air preaching. As at least one other commentator has already mentioned, allow me to repeat:
Stephen was martyred while open-air preaching.
Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost: Unless there was an auditorium that could accommodate thousands of people, Peter preached this sermon in the open-air.
Peter’s second sermon on Solomon’s Portico was yet another open-air message.
Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill.
And let us not forget that virtually all of Jesus’ sermons were given in the open-air.
Respectfully, you make a few characterizations in your brief article about open-air preaching and preachers, such as suggesting there is something unloving or less than compassionate about preaching in the open-air, which infers, on the flipside, that there is something more loving about a one-to-one conversation with someone you already know. In doing so (and I am sure this was/is not your intent), you run the risk of what Arminians do to Calvinists–lumping all of us Calvinists in the hyper-Calvinist camp–by lumping all open-air preachers into the camp of those who merely shout slogans without genuine love and concern for the lost, and who never truly preach the Law and the Gospel.
Granted, standing on a street corner and shouting pithy phrases into a bullhorn, or carrying a large sign that, in effect, does the same may not be effective or appropriate. In fact, I hold that, in most circumstances, it is not. But the same cannot and should not be said about the loving, compassionate, and biblically-supported preaching of the Law and the Gospel in the open-air.
Jesse, I offer you an invitation, not a challenge.
Every Tuesday morning (schedule permitting), I stand across the street from the San Fernando Superior Courthouse and preach the Law and the Gospel, in the open-air. I invite you to join me. My youngest daughter and I (along with a couple other men who occasionally step onto the box) usually arrive between 7:30 and 7:45 AM, and we are finished by 9:00 AM. It’s so close to Grace Community that you should be able to spend an hour with us and still get to your office in a timely manner.
You may not like what you see or hear, but your concerns would be an issue of personal preference, not one of doctrine. Because what we do, what we say, and how we do it and say it is supported by the infallible text of Scripture.
Again, I would be blessed if you joined us, brother. Some of the best fellowship I experience is with brothers and sisters in Christ as we proclaim the Law and the Gospel from the top of a box, AND in one-to-one conversations (we should, of course, do both).
Yes, I raise my voice as Peter did (Acts 2:14) so that the 100-300 lost people standing in line each Tuesday morning can hear the proclamation of the only Gospel that can save their lives (Romans 1:16). And why do I do it? Because there is nothing more loving I can do for lost people than to show them their need for the Savior, through the proclamation of the Law; and then show them the only way of escape from God’s just and holy wrath, through the proclamation of the Gospel.
Submitted with all due respect and brotherly love, in Christ our Lord.
Good point Patrick. As I have told my wife, the quickest way to lose a friend or neighbor is to “share” the Gospel with them. If you’ve won their ear by friendship and have put the Gospel on hold until that relationship is established, the likelihood is that the belayed presentation will come as an insulting bait and switch. And, the liklihood is that you will shelter the friendship rather than sacrifice it to the Gospel.
Then too, the citing of Jesus or the Apostles as life style evangelists, is not just untrue, it denies the fundamental fact of Scripture that the task of evangelism is given to the elders of the church. It will do no good to quote the Acts of the Apostles as examples for the flock in general, nor even the ministry of Christ as such. And, it simply violates Paul’s admonition to Timothy to do the work of an evangelist.
The recent modern tradition of placing the onus on the congregation to do the work of the ministry, is bogus and allows the pastor as CEO myth to perpetuate. The duty of the congregation is to support the ministry, not to be it.
For the most part the call of the evangelist has been supplanted by the “everyone” is a minister mentality, but that is not what Ephesians teaches as D.M.L Jones rightly points out, the work of the ministry is given to the five gifts (men) listed, with each of the “for”’s directing the duties back to them. The blurring of particular calling is the vogue; the result is the undoing of structural hierarchy resulting in an anarchist mentality of individualism in the church and a bad definition of “the priesthood” of the believer. The roles of the church were given for the same purpose as later illuminated in Ephesians. To obscure the submitted hierarchy by making evangelism the duty of all, destroys the entire purpose of Paul’s revealing the mystery of the church.
The raising up of matured elders to do evangelism is Paul’s example with Timothy and Titus, a pattern he said was that which he had be cut after. The traditionalist modern model that every one is an evangelist is quite contrary to the model laid down by him. We do not expect children to beget children, and the “fathers” as Paul put it are few and is the proper model for making disciples. A similar question is to be asked: Of those assuming the role of elder, would you be comfortable turning over your family to them? Which translates “mananges their own family well,” and the other qualifications necessary for those who beget children. And like that, we do not expect the children (novices in the faith), or even the wife (not apt to teach) to be spiritual head and evangelist within our families. Nor should we in the church or on the street. Instead, we expect the fathers to be fathers who beget children and raise them up.
Which brings us to another out working of the current milieu. In the Great Commission Ressurgence being vetted, just who is it that makes disciples? Is it everyone? And if they do, do they baptize? Do they teach? You cannot have it both ways. Either the laity is properly authorized to baptize and teach along with making disiples, or they’re not the authority of evangelism.
While everyone should prepare to give an answer to everyone who asks, it is not true that Jesus was the exemplar for all as a model of evangelism. His program is best reflected in that he trained “some” and sent them to the high houses of the cities to call them to repentance. Unfortunately, that role has been abdicated by the modern clergy. They have assumed the role of peace-maker and civilian liason rather than the proclaimers of the curse to the world and the free offer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ who has become the curse for them. They have engaged in social engineering rather than leaving a curse when the Gospel is rejected. It makes sense though, one simply will put their church in harms way if Jesus crucified by the Jews at the hands of wicked men for the remission of sins by salvation through repentance from sin is proclaimed by the local church. After all, isn’t that the Great Commission and not social work or social realtionships?
No, Jesus was a exemplar for the ministry and not the laity in terms of “the” ministry of the word and evangelism and to confuse the two is to confuse the mystery of the church. What should not be overlooked is the weakness of clear doctrinal understanding that is the current condition of the church and to not dissassociate the method of evangelism from it. Church is not a friendship organization, a local civic club. Lifestyle as evangelism results not in the distictiveness of the church as the herald of the Gospel whose leaders are the sent ones, but as just another appendage of secular society. And, if you ask anyone what a church is, or what it should be, you will get just that. It has no prominence as either being the great light of Christ’s work, or the bane of society (except in the minds of fanatics). Ask anyone you have yet to introduce to your church officers if they know your pastor or elders as critical social figures. How different we are from the Whitefields and Edwards, or those of the past whose names were the currency on the lips of all people, or from the apostles who were upsetting whole towns. Personnally I don’t want my neighbors comfortable with my local congregation. I want them disturbed about its message. Unfortunately my neighbor, nor anyone else in town, is familiar with the messengers that God has called into the ministry as preaching so they know the message which causes the nations to rage. They only will know when they have met the clergy and heard them for themselves. Friendship evangelism is a fishing pole, but Christ taught his disciples to use a net.
One of the things that I deeply appreciate about Dr. MacArthur is his unflinching, uncompromising stand publically for the Gospel. However, if I go to most people on the street and ask if they have heard of him, the answer will be no. No one knows him outside the tight circles within which he moves, nor the Gospel he preaches. That is to be expected though, the same can be said about many others. The waves being caused by such orthodox men as Dr MacArthur are ripples that hardly reach the shore line of society no matter how big their churches are or their influence within Christendom. Until the elders train up elders like themselves and hit the streets, we can hardly claim any likeness to the church of Paul’s vision that he entrusted to Timothy.
Jesse,
I just read your comment. And I didn’t think you were aligning the negative with the more possitive outreaches.
Still, I think the emphasis upon personal evangelism is wrong. And don’t take me wrongly. As I said, all should be doing witnessing as God give opportunity. The mistake is to blur the responsibility, which I think clearly belongs to the officers and programs to force that resposibility upon the laity effectively undermines the message itself and the authority duely assigned in the body of Christ.
Thomas,
I could not disagree more with your comment. A point-by-point response is outside of the scope of today’s post though, except to say this: I think your comments illustrate perfectly the “I’m not called to do THAT kind of evangelism, so I am not called to do any at all” mindset. I would say that evangelism is the task/goal/responsibility/privilege for every believer, and that it looks like being faithful witnesses to those you are around. I would also take issue with your comments about Pastor John. Hardly a month goes by where he does not have some visitors in the church, who he invited, who he witnessed to, and who came to church because of his evangelism. He is certainly one of the most faithful evangelists that I know of. LA is a big place though, so the random person stopped on the street corner may very well not know of him. Which is actually an argument in my favor, as it illustrates the importance of having every church member be faithful in evangelism.
Jesse
To paraphrase a famous quotation, every single Christian life, from the teaching Elder on down to the newest member of the Family, carries an Evangelical message and the responsibility to share it.
Sometimes they even use words.
Effective, winsome evangelism can also take place with strangers. In fact, our love for God and sinners should extent beyond people that are already in our life. It takes two minutes to build a relationship with a stranger, just as Jesus did with the women at the well.
And I have to agree with William, WOTM’s evangelism approach using the law to appeal to the conscience is highly effective and Biblical.
Mark,
“Sometimes they even use words.”
Unfortunately, the quotation you paraphrase has no historical support. It is a legend. Even Catholic scholars have not been able to find the alleged author making the statement once in his writings.
On the other hand, Scripture declares that the Gospel is a spoken message (Romans 10:14-17).
Tony Miano,
Toitally agreed, but i do not believe that the intent of Jesse was to vilify ALL Steet Preaching. I belive he qualified it by description and did not intend to critique your (Biblical) Street Preaching… In fact the very type of street preaching I would love to be involved in if only I had the support and care to be enabled in Open Air Preaching.
I believe that Jesse was attempting to address the imbalance and in so doing made the mistake of adressing an extreme view and made comments regarding ONLY the extreme practices of a very few UNBiblical and insesitive and unloving folk who have a zeal without true knowledge.
In that I believe we all make errors and I am sure Jesse would be FIRST to support your work, when he takes up the challenge, if he has not already done the same himself…
Jesse,I would commend you to Tony’s invitation, even if only to encourage him in his service with the Law & the Gospel. This could be an opportunity for Outreach and support of local evangelists for Grace Church?
Soli Deo Gloria!
Hi Tony,
I think you might have missed my point. I wasn’t giving a history lesson, I was emphasizing the fact that every individual Christian is to evangelize, and that the first portion of “salt” we give to the lives of those around us is often in our behavior, which later opens the door for sharing the Gospel verbally and specifically.
A recent new Christian told me that while I did share the Gospel with him, it wasn’t that which caused him to finally want to submit to Christ. It was his years of watching the consistency of my walk and the difference in my life from those around him and me. That’s what made him realize there must be something to it, he started going to a church in his area, and God saved him.
We should ALL be ready with an answer for the Hope within us, given with gentleness and respect, but we aren’t ALL called to the same type of initial contact evangelism, and even when a person is called/gifted to a primary fashion, differing circumstances call for a different approach to get to the same goal.
There is no “laity”, there are those who equip the saint, there are those saints who become equipped, and all are responsible for being ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven to the glory of God.
I used to do a lot of street preaching. Regretably, sometimes more like the bad example given at the beginning, most times not. I did it weekly for about 7 years. In my opinion, it was not very effective mainly because the social patterns of communication had changed. When you saw open air preaching in the Bible, or with the evangelists of the Awakenings, the “Public Square” was the normative place to hear news, announcements, proclamations, and religious teaching. Modern America simply doesn’t function on that paradigm any longer. Now I know that the Word is powerful, and possibly getting it out through the air and into the ears of a passerby on the street who otherwise may never had heard it is, in itself, a worthy goal and can be greatly used by God, I would agree with the author of the post that a well-rounded evangelistic approach is probly more effective. I hope I haven’t sounded like a pragmatist. Someone can straighten me out. I think the blogosphere is sort of the new Public Square. Maybe?
Fine, but I didn’t say that John did not do evangelism, did I? I could say, hardly a week goes by that I don’t hear of John in my local newspaper, and what would that prove, would that be a vote in my favor? Because what I said is that the message doesn’t get out of your circles which you affirmed as the truth by saying the local man on the street doesn’t know him. That’s a problem. My point is that it is not the job of the ministry to pawn off on the laity a duty particularly prescribed for the officers. That is why the public doesn’t know. And your insinuation that I am an example of the kind that say it’s not my responsibility is simply your ego taking over your mouth. You don’t know me. You’re simply ego attached to your tradition. Go take a pill.
You would say it and assert it, but not by any fiat of Scripture that the laity are evangelists (take off your emotion,note the word). What you did present in your post was a modernist point of view of the responsibility of being an evangelist. Evangelism, that is witness for Christ is another subject and of course the responsibiliity of all. But, that is my point. You confuse the two.
Thom, brother whoa hey wait.
Thomas,
I want to try to briefly respond to some of the challenges you posed to as it appears Jesse is unable to do so today. I want you to know that I agree with you regarding your statements about the priority of elders who do the work of an evangelist. It is no wonder many American churches do not have a heart for the lost, it is because their leadership lacks it.
However, I feel like you are making a false dichotomy between elders evangelizing and the laity doing so (see your statement, “I think the emphasis upon personal evangelism is wrong.”.) Help me understand what you’re saying, because in another statement you seem to contradict yourself by saying, “all should be doing witnessing as God give opportunity.” Maybe I’m not getting it, but could be a bit clearer?
You stated above:
“Then too, the citing of Jesus or the Apostles as life style evangelists, is not just untrue, it denies the fundamental fact of Scripture that the task of evangelism is given to the elders of the church. It will do no good to quote the Acts of the Apostles as examples for the flock in general, nor even the ministry of Christ as such.”
I couldn’t find your response to Jesse’s examples where he said in the post “Consider the woman at the well (John 4), the rich young ruler (Luke 18), and Zacchaeus (Luke 19).” I would also add Matthew 9:10-13 where Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors (and took his disciples with him). How did Jesus get the reputation of being the friend of sinners after all? (see Matt. 11:19).
Furthermore, it was the apostle Paul who said to imitate him as he imitates Christ in 1 Cor 11:1. That is in a context of becoming all things to all men that he might win some to Christ. It is in an evangelistic context. I think Scripture strongly presents the pattern of all believers being involved in reaching the lost in a life-style sense, based on the example of Christ and the apostles.
You also stated,
“The recent modern tradition of placing the onus on the congregation to do the work of the ministry, is bogus and allows the pastor as CEO myth to perpetuate. The duty of the congregation is to support the ministry, not to be it.”
How do you understand Eph 4:12? It says the offices of the church are, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” This verse seems to contradict your statement.
You also stated,
“In the Great Commission Ressurgence being vetted, just who is it that makes disciples? Is it everyone? And if they do, do they baptize? Do they teach? You cannot have it both ways. Either the laity is properly authorized to baptize and teach along with making disiples, or they’re not the authority of evangelism.”
Part of the Great Commission includes teaching obedience to all of Christ’s commands, including the command to “make disciples of all the nations. Inherent in the Great Commission is the guaranteed entrusting of this command to each disciple throughout the generations, not just the laity.
Scripture never limits baptism to a pastor or elder, and certainly it does not limit teaching to the elder. Review the “one-anothers” of Scripture, like Col 3:16 which says to teach one-another, or 1 Thess 5:11 speaks of encouraging one another. Eph 5:19 speaks of speaking to one-another. Heb 10:24-25 speaks of encouraging one another and stimulating one another to love and good deed. The “teaching” of Matt 28:19-20 is more that just a formal sermon from the pastor, but plays itself out informally throughout the NT in the one-anothers of Scripture.
We’re all familiar with the infamous quote “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words” (attributed by some to St. Francis, I don’t know if that is true or not).
Another way to phrase the quote would be, “The fear of man prevents me from using words and I prefer to stay in my comfort zone, so I’ll just live a life and hope people notice.” Sure, people can observe our lives and hopefully see a difference, but that is NOT evangelism.
Regarding open air preaching, let us all remember that society today (at least in America) is not just a little different than 2,000 years ago. John, Jesus, and the other apostles didn’t have facilities to which they could gather interested hearers. The interested hearers surrounded and followed them. Matthew 5-7 was to a captive audience, not on a street corner to passers-by.
Paul went city to city and started witnessing on the street corners? No… he went into the synagogues.
When Paul preached as Mars Hill, he wasn’t doing open air preaching. He went to where the philosophers regularly gathered to discuss philosophy and preached the wisdom of God rather than the wisdom of man. He had a captive audience before he started to speak.
When Peter preached in Acts 2 he wasn’t hoping someone would stop and listen, he was addressing a crowd that had gathered because of what was going on.
The type of open air “preaching” Jesse described in this article has no biblical basis. Shouting to people in the open air and hoping someone will pay attention is not biblical.
Thomas, when you speak of “laity” if you’ve been around these circles very long you should understand that “we” (Grace Church, et al.) do not believe in a heirarchical structure where “laity” are in a different class. We believe God has gifted leaders (including Evangelists) to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. (Eph. 4:11-12) Leaders (including Evangelists) are for training, not doing all the work themselves.
William,
I agree that Jesse was not trying to vilify all street preaching. I’m not cranky.
I just think the article lacked balance, since the negative example of street preaching he presented is what far too many Christians consider to be normative when it comes to street preaching.
And Jesse, I do hope you, and any other Christian reading this blog, will accept my invitation to join me on the streets. “Back-up” is always appreciated.
If Tuesday mornings don’t work, you will find me and my team on Brand Boulevard (Glendale), on Saturday nights (again, schedule permitting), from 5-8PM. we set up right across the street from “In-n-Out.” So, if you’re in the area grab a Double-Double and help us share the Law and the Gospel with lost and dying people.
And, one or two days a week, you will find me on the campus of Cerritos College. You’re welcome to join us there, too.
Just come and see for yourself. Listen to the Law and the Gospel that is being preached and how it is being preached. And then watch as one-to-one conversations happen non-stop as the open-air preaching serves as a springboard for conversations.
Not looking for a fight, but enjoying the conversation.
Massimo,
You are right on… the “laity” are equally qualified to evangelize, baptize, teach, disciple, serve the Lord’s supper, etc. There is nothing in the so-called Great Commission that is off limits for any believer.
“Another way to phrase the quote would be, “The fear of man prevents me from using words and I prefer to stay in my comfort zone, so I’ll just live a life and hope people notice.” Sure, people can observe our lives and hopefully see a difference, but that is NOT evangelism.”
I don’t know if I’m just misunderstanding the terminology being used here or what, but are you saying that Scripture doesn’t call us to live Holy lives before the unsaved not only to give Him glory but to also draw a reaction from them because our lives themselves can create openings for sharing?
1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 3:1-2, :16, 1 Peter 4:4, point to this. Here’s a great sermon which touches on the topic as well.
Mark,
Of course I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that many people use that quote to justify not saying anything and only living well before unbelievers when we should be doing both.
Well, this was disheartening. I can’t help wondering what everyone’s opinion is on how effective Christian bumper stickers are. Should we put them on our cars? Are some biblically appropriate and some too loud and colorful; and therefore obnoxious? Can we have more than one? If so, would five be considered over zealous?
I am confident that no one reading this will actually think that I desire to start a dialog about the appropriateness of Christian bumper stickers. Needless to say, that is just a little sarcasm to (hopefully) make a point.
Well, it seems that the witnessing method madness has calmed for a time. A logical way to look at this is that it is not one method over another but a balance of methods as the Holy Spirit leads to reach the person you are talking to. Screaming at cars will not work for everyone. Passing out tracts won’t work for everyone. Not everyone is comfortable with the Way of the Master approach.
Each of us has to find the method, or methods, that work for us and that will reach the people that God brings our way.
Those that say, “I don’t like it so I won’t do it” are either ignorant of the scriptual commands of Christ or are looking for an excuse NOT to do what they know is right to do.
Mark 16:15 is in The Book. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Just do it!
“How do you understand Eph 4:12? It says the offices of the church are, “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.””
This interpretation is one of the primary problems of the modern church in evangelism. The idea that what Paul is talking about in Ephesians 4:12 is “equipping” the body to go out and do things is a completely erroneous and faulty interpretation.
See T. David Gordon’s article regarding this issue:
http://civitatedei.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/t-david-gordon-on-ephesians-411-12/
Patrick
http://www.theologyofomaha.com
Great post!
I preach and we at our church have found out that we are most effective when we are witnessing to the folks God has put in our way. There’s a relationship there already. People are more apt to listen to ones they know.
Also, I try to keep before our folks that it should be “Every Day Evangelism”…kind of just like you said – Evangelism is not an event, but a lifestyle. We believe every day God can give us opportunities to evangelize…going to the store for milk? Go to the store to leave a tract or two, and then get some milk. Going through the drive-through? You’re going through to speak a word for our Lord to the one who’ll be helping you, and by the way, you’ll be getting something to eat.
We’re all called to evangelize. It’s an attitude. What’s our attitude like when we mention the word, “evangelize”? NUFF SAID.
Thanks again for the post!
Lord bless!
Dear Jesse,
I happen to be very familiar with Tony (Lawman) Miano and his ministry. Tony is a sound, biblical, and compassionate evangelist.
Oh how I wish I could take him up on his offer.
Go and unashamedly preach the glorious gospel.
Bless you all!
Jesse,
Have you ever seen Emergent – Rob Bell’s video “Nooma #9″? Rob attacks open-air preaching in a very condonsending way. I’m not sure if you are doing that in this post. But, for the last 2000 years open-air preaching has been the “main-stay” of Christian efforts to “go into all the world and PREACH the Gospel to every creature”. Ray Comfort claims “open-air preaching can reach more people in one day, than the average church does in a whole year”. I think that pretty true. Not to mention the Apostle Paul used open-air preaching as his main tool to spread the Gospel in the book of Acts. Also the open-air preaching of Christ is of no little account.
I don’t discount other opportunities that arise with work collegues, family and so on. But preachers especially should (to quote John Piper) “never, never, never, never, never, never” right off the method that has been so faithful to the Lord’s service for many, many years.
Check out http://www.wayofthemasterradio.com for more info on the reasonableness of Biblical open-air preaching (as there are quite a few “unreasonable” approaches/methods used today, as in Paul’s day too.)
Keep the discussion going though.
Hey everyone.
I am reading through this blog doing a bit of research ready for the start a new speech radio station I am launching in the UK called Law Grace Radio.
Let me be the first to back Jessie to the hilt on this one. Evangelism is a way of life, afterall as saved people we will tell people that is our job.
I am not sure though Jessie if you’re writing off open air preaching or not here? Clarification for my wee brain would be useful! I believe it is a very valid method. Afterall, if God is sovereign and he commands us to tell people, thats our jon- tell people. Jesus did much open air preaching himself.
Finally, Nathin, if Rob Bell doesn’t like open air preaching it probably means we should open air preach. Rob has shown many example of the most appauling use of exergesis I have ever seen! The guy couldn’t call a spade a spade if he tried. Some of those Nooma’s are wonderful (the boys at Way Of The Master Radio would kill me for that one) but they are. As motivational talks. Listening the guy preach he handles the word of God wrongly- period!
Sorry for the slight rant. Love you brothers and sisters
Jason
Great article Jesse. I wonder if the “Turn or Burn” Christian who stands on the street corner has the wrong motive. Could they be saying, “I am spiritual enough not to be afraid of anything.” Maybe they think they look more spiritual because they are not afraid to yell out for Jesus. I would say those people do more harm. People look and think, “Why would I want to become one of them.”
I do know some great street preachers who sing, then preach, saving messages to any willing to listen. They prayed up and preached up. To me that is what happened in those Biblical accounts.
Personally, I never have done any street preaching. A few times I have spoken with 3 or 4 and soon it turn into 6 or 8. I prefer the one on one accounts – sitting on the side of a well or straddling a log by the river bank. Very few will stand on a soap box, but all, can quietly speak up for the Savior
Provided his message is *accurate,* I’m grateful for the “Turn or Burn” guy (as well as the one-on-one evangelist)–regardless of what his motive is. Philippians 1:18.
Evangelical Christianity has a noble tradition of open-air preaching, and some of the finest preachers in history have done it. George Whitefield did little else. Spurgeon did it, advocated it, and gave lectures on how to do it correctly. Both of them were vilified for it by more “refined” religious leaders in their respective eras. May the Lord save us from that kind of “refinement.”
Open-air evangelism has always had a more or less counter-cultural stigma. And people have always been offended by it, because it tends to confront them with the truths they least want to think about at precisely the moment they are trying to do something to avoid thinking about things like eternity and accountability to God.
And therein lies the true effectiveness of open-air ministry, I think. You can’t measure the “success” of the street-corner guy by the number of converts he wins. You’d have to be able to know how many men on who drove by him on their way to a strip club or a secret trist and were convicted when they saw his “Repent” signs. And there are no statistics on that.
There used to be a guy in Santa Clarita who had some very-well designed signs and spent most of his time on one or the other of the valley’s two busiest intersections. I never saw him without thanking God for people like him. My son is a policeman whose territory includes Venice beach. I am thankful for the people who are down there (as they ALWAYS seem to be) doing some kind of open-air evangelism. I often hear Tony Miano on the radio, doing both personal and open-air evangelism at the courthouse (and elsewhere), and I’m thankful for his ministry.
Jesse makes a valid point: most people aren’t won to Christ through the methods employed by street evangelists. The average Christian is more likely to win someone to Christ within his or her personal circle of relationships. So if you can’t imagine yourself doing open-air ministry, get busy evangelizing anyway.
But let’s not miss the equally-true flip-side of that fact: Some people are so deep in sin and degeneracy and so devoid of Christian friendships that if they don’t hear the gospel from an evangelist like Tony Miano, they aren’t going to hear it at all. We should support and encourage what these guys do, because on its own level it can be VERY effective. Only heaven will reveal how true that is.
And the next time you see that guy on the corner holding the “Repent” sign, buy him a Coke and give him a word of encouragement. If you talk to him,. you might find that his motivation is very different from what you assumed.
. . . and on the other hand, heretics often use signs and street-preaching to advance their error and spread their confusion. You have to be careful not to lend your support or casually say amen to people who are corrupting the gospel (2 John 7-11). That’s why I began my earlier comment with the words, “Provided his message is *accurate* . . .”
Excellent (and more importantly BIBLICAL) thoughts you have shared Phillip Johnson. God bless you in Christ Jesus.
-Jim
Gentlemen,
I wholeheartedly agree with Tony (the Law man) Miano, and Phil (you make me sick) Johnson. I have heard Tony on the radio, there is a sense in which you can be taken back (in your imaginations) to the Apostolic age, where Stephen, Paul and Peter would have been doing exsactly what Tony is doing. And we have people doing the same thing here in Adelaide, some will hear the message with gladness. Others swear, curse or throw eggs at the preachers. We need to remember that the message is offensive in-and-of-itself. We should be thankful that open air preachers and Christians in general in America are not crucified, boiled in oil or fed to the lions (yet).
Just a final thought, there have been some comments to this post that seem to go contrary to the Theology of a Sovereign God. When someone says “what if we’re turning people off” or “people responde better if they know us”, isn’t that going past God’s Sovereignty. It’s not our job to over-contextualise or capitulate to our audience. But it is our job to stay Biblical, BE FAITHFUL and for God to be Sovereign, especially when it comes to evangelism.
We are but clay pots, what can a world of men be attracted to? If the clay pot is filled with the Glorious Gospel, the contents is the Power unto Salvation, not us.
Go TONY!
Just to add to Nathin’s comment on the Sovereignty of God; the author of this article speaks of “Jesus seizing the opportunity” as if the events of Christ’s life happen by chance. I am stilling reading on reformed theology and learning, so it is possible that I am applying this in the wrong sense of sovereignty. Any comments/help from pastors here?