Lately I have been thinking about salvation. If you ever went to youth group or anything like that you have probably handed out tracts in some form, or you have given food to homeless people with the intent of telling them about Jesus. This "evangelism" is told to be what Christ expects of us. "We need to go out and evangelize to people". Which we do. However, this is not evangelism. Maybe you will plant a seed in their life, but more than likely (if you don't annoy them) these blunt tactics will achieve nothing more than a reaction. Christianity isn't a reaction. I don't think that salvation is achieved by a few moments in someone's life. It isn't the prayer you said when you were with your parents/youth pastor/friend timmy whilst battling G.I. Joe style. It isn't even the prayer that someone might say when they are 20 something, after thinking about Scriptures for years. Christianity is the way you live, it's loving people, trusting in Jesus, doing things for others (amongst other things).
Do you really think that can be achieved in a 5-10 minute conversation with a homeless guy you met on a street of Chicago with your youth group passing out sandwiches in the "dangerous part of town". I would argue that it is accomplished by moving to the "dangerous part of town" and sharing life with people like them. And I don't think evangelism is bringing some random kid you met to youth group and never speaking to them again. It isn't blasting someone with your religious words that you picked up while attending various church services. Guess what, people that aren't Christians don't know what those words mean, and probably don't care. Christianity isn't listening to christian music, or boycotting movies because they are rated R.
My good friend Barret Hunstad and I were talking last night and he brought up how the whole "Having a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" thing is overdone. What he meant was, these stupid cheesy words that we use, and the simple concepts we put behind them. He went on to say that these things are overdone because there is truth to them. There is. We do have a personal relationship with Jesus. But stop leaving it at that. Think about things. Why did he have to die on the cross? We just take these simple concepts, and run with them. We don't try to gain a further understanding of anything.
I want to say to people who don't think they are good enough at evangelism, you are good enough. Because it isn't most of the things we think of (tracts, TALKING about Jesus, whatever). It is living like Christ lived (which isn't too complex, he loved people and treated them like good people) when others see that, in my opinion, you have evangelized.
Basically, I dont think I act like I love Jesus enough. And I don't think I am the only one.
nicholas david welch
3 comments:
this post was initially crappy to me cause it lacks a title.
however, upon reading it i'd agree
the thing that frustrates me currently about this kind of evangelism is that typically when we go out to bless others, we're the ones who end up being blessed. probably because the poor and the hungry understand what 'total depravity' really means and all the rich peeps who talk to them get a glimpse of what real faith is like.
anyway. thats my two cents. i think i'll blog about that now.
nick-
sweet post.
(the title was and is the best part...in my professional opinion)
-jules
i am picking up what you are laying down in this blog. nice.
clearly you need to try colorado without bronchitis. although honestly, that is crazy that you climbed a 14er in that condition! did you make it all the way?
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