Finally, evangelism

For this month’s blog, I've lifted a whole section from the accompanying handout to help express some of my views on evangelism.

Worryingly, I’ve almost grown weary of writing out my own conversion story. Meeting Jesus in a dream seems to fly in the face of any evangelistic strategies we might want to teach others. Though I continue to pray that the spiritual blindness given to unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4) may be graciously lifted so they can discern God’s presence and workings. Finally, from an earlier time, my own testimony, all 2 minutes and 49 seconds of it, if you’re interested, Simon – The Testimony 

Finally, evangelism. Here’s one of the paragraphs more fully explained.

Why It Matters

• Jesus came to “seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10. These are Christ’s words at the home of the tax collector Zacchaeus. Probably the most hated man in the city is the one whose home Jesus chooses for dinner that evening. An act of spiritual discernment? I’d say so. But also an act of compassion. Everyone has a spiritual need for God. Yet, we also have ‘felt needs’, or presenting needs. Those things (rightly or wrongly) that consume our thinking or shape the way we see ourselves. God’s great love often touches those areas where our hearts are already partially open, in order to bring about our greater need for His spiritual healing. This can often be discerned (wisely) when church congregants come forward for prayer, often motivated by their ‘felt need’, whereas God has something far more to give them. God’s heart, though exceedingly compassionate, is for our salvation. John 3:16, Romans 5:8, and Hebrews 12:2 (to grab just three Scriptures) give us a consistent picture of God’s mind: His love, grace, and joy in bringing about the certainty of our personal salvation and spiritual restoration to our Father in Heaven.  

• The Great Commission wasn’t optional. Matthew 28:19-20. Though some can argue Jesus is talking about discipleship, not evangelism, this holistic commandment embraces the reality of venturing into new territories; thus, Jesus’s view of discipleship involved bringing outsiders into the Kingdom of God – unquestionably emphasised by baptism, which across the New Testament is seen as a physical act of ‘entrance’ rather than a later decision within a person’s discipleship. To quote the musician and evangelist, Keith Green, “Jesus commands us to go! It should be the exception if we stay.”    

• People around us are spiritually hungry, often more than we assume. Though some Christian ideas assume humanity is incapable of valid godly thoughts, my perception is that the wealth of false religions and ideologies isn’t simply the fruit of our depravity, but a sign of a broken spirit seeking to find that eternal connection that exists in the true origins of the species (Genesis 1:27). There have been plenty of attempts to categorise modern secular people: traditionalists, lethargics, hedonists, the self-obsessed, yet also, there are spiritual-seekers. After decades of pastoral ministry, I have to conclude the majority of people know they’re sinners – though not a term they would naturally choose to use – they know they’ve been hurt and they’ve undoubtedly hurt others. And when emotionally exhausted and in need, they don’t hide the damage – a lost sheep, desperate to find significance and security with their shepherd.              

• The gospel still has power to save, heal, deliver, restore, and renew. What can I add? Just a loud resounding – AMEN!! If we’ve reduced salvation to a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card, then we have completely missed the point, purpose and value of the present and eternal Kingdom of God. If you can explain the ‘gospel’ using only the Easter narrative, then we might be able to bring a person to the point of salvation, but not to the purpose and place of salvation. A supposedly intelligent Christian once told me, ‘The Gospel is only found in Paul’s writings and not in the actual Gospel narratives.’ I understood his misguided point. However, he was both sadly and dangerously mistaken! The first recorded words of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel (often assumed to be the first Gospel written), found in Mark 1:15, mention repentance, the good news (the literal definition of the Old English word ‘gospel’) and, most importantly, the Kingdom of God. I am not diminishing the centrality of the Cross, but I believe its essential importance requires the extensive context of Christ’s incarnation and earthly ministry; and understanding His eternal purposes, through sacrifice and resurrection, find their true meaning in the breadth of Old Testament events and promises. These events and promises are often neglected, even though the apostle Paul goes to great lengths to emphasise them in both Galatians and Romans. Though we may have been told at times not to focus on the gifts but on the Giver, when the Giver is so generous, ignoring the fullness and extent of His victory is probably an act of blasphemy and human arrogance. Enough said. Perhaps I should have kept my answer to, AMEN!  

• Evangelism keeps the church outward-facing, humble, and dependent on God. It’s been said cynically, if the Holy Spirit left the church, would we notice? YES!! And God have mercy on us if we don’t. Another comment or cliché is, the church is the only organisation that exists for its non-members. Inward-looking and inner healing are not the same, but nowadays they often lead to the same passivity. Increasing levels of mental health issues are both putting a strain on pastoral ministry and subtly creating an impotent God. It’s hard to present the liberating truth of God’s Good News when our prescription medication is in conflict with the fruit of the Spirit. Though we know not to put the cart before the horse, it's 2026!! When was the last time you had to organise a buggy and pony? Most psychologists and life coaches agree that motivation rarely leads to action, but action often creates motivation. I believe greater understanding comes in doing, and that wisdom grows from experience more than from books. The Great Commission has already been mentioned in this blog. Though the occasional keen believer might take a Christian gap year or join a short-term mission organisation, Christ’s instructions will only be fulfilled if the local church shapes its entire ministry around His parting words; Acts 1:8 echoes His sentiments and deserves our full attention too.   

And finally, the handout: Finally Evangelism.