Sharing Your Faith: 6 Myths of Evangelism
1. You need to have a lot of knowledge to share your faith. After being healed by Jesus, the formerly demon-possesed man in Luke 8 immediately "proclaimed throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him." What has Jesus done for us Christian?
2. You shouldn't share your faith with someone before you have a relationship. This argument is valid but it loses its potency when you consider how long it took Jesus to build a relationship with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). We could also consider Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).
3. Only those with the gift of evangelism should do evangelism. Apparently, Steven (Acts 6) did not have the "gift" of preaching or evangelism. He was one of the men chosen to take care of the widows in order that the apostles could be freed to preach the word. However you interpret A)the spiritual gifts, B)the difference between preaching and evangelism or anything else in this passage, the Word says that he was a "man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." And what a sermon he preached.
4. Simply living a good moral (Christian) life is evangelism. I'm sure you've heard this: Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words (Francis of Assisi). Of course Matthew 5:16 says that our good works will be seen my men who will in turn give glory to the father. But "How are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? "(Romans 10:14-15)? What is the gospel? "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, he was buried, [and] that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Yes, walk your talk. But are you Talking the walk?
5. Evangelism is forcing something down someone's throat. THE GOSPEL IS OFFENSIVE! But we must speak it boldly with meekness and humility. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says, well, you know, be prepared to give account, yet "do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. For [this is the kicker] it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." Notice that Peter says "WHEN you are slandered..."
6. Evangelism is only successful if you see fruit. Look for it. Pray for it. And thank God for it. But, "neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:7). Judson, Paton, Moffat, and Brainerd (just to name a few) all left legacies that caused much fruit some time after their deaths and planted seeds on which God would do miracles at a much later time.
Bottom line: We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
I didn't think up the 6 myths. My new friend Archie (aka Chris) did. I am thankful to God for him.
Serve your King.
2. You shouldn't share your faith with someone before you have a relationship. This argument is valid but it loses its potency when you consider how long it took Jesus to build a relationship with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). We could also consider Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).
3. Only those with the gift of evangelism should do evangelism. Apparently, Steven (Acts 6) did not have the "gift" of preaching or evangelism. He was one of the men chosen to take care of the widows in order that the apostles could be freed to preach the word. However you interpret A)the spiritual gifts, B)the difference between preaching and evangelism or anything else in this passage, the Word says that he was a "man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." And what a sermon he preached.
4. Simply living a good moral (Christian) life is evangelism. I'm sure you've heard this: Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words (Francis of Assisi). Of course Matthew 5:16 says that our good works will be seen my men who will in turn give glory to the father. But "How are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? "(Romans 10:14-15)? What is the gospel? "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, he was buried, [and] that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Yes, walk your talk. But are you Talking the walk?
5. Evangelism is forcing something down someone's throat. THE GOSPEL IS OFFENSIVE! But we must speak it boldly with meekness and humility. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says, well, you know, be prepared to give account, yet "do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame. For [this is the kicker] it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil." Notice that Peter says "WHEN you are slandered..."
6. Evangelism is only successful if you see fruit. Look for it. Pray for it. And thank God for it. But, "neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth" (1 Corinthians 3:7). Judson, Paton, Moffat, and Brainerd (just to name a few) all left legacies that caused much fruit some time after their deaths and planted seeds on which God would do miracles at a much later time.
Bottom line: We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
I didn't think up the 6 myths. My new friend Archie (aka Chris) did. I am thankful to God for him.
Serve your King.
posted by Son of Man | 6:50 PM
4 Comments:
I am heartily rebuked.
Thank you.
Thanks Josh!! Great post with thoughts that make you think :-) Keep it up bro. I used to believe in myth #2 a while back but now Im convinced its a myth. Number 6 is a great encouragment, its all from the Lord! see you soon!
David
HAHA YESSSSSSSSS i am SUCH a blog stalker.
What a great site » »
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