Evangelism: Three Critical Assumptions
There are a number of assumptions that are necessary for evangelism. These don't guarantee that evangelism will take place, but they must be understood in order for evangelism to happen. You might say that they create an environment or atmosphere where it can happen. Meteorologists issue thunderstorm or tornado watches based on atmospheric conditions. Based upon a whole host of variables such as barometric pressure, temperature at the surface, temperature aloft, relative humidity, etc. they can say that there's a good chance that a storm will pop up on a summer afternoon even if they can't necessarily guarantee that it will happen. They simply say that all the ingredients are in place. So, what are some of the necessary ingredients for evangelism to take place?
The first assumption is purely theological. It is that there is, at bare minimum, something truly unique about the Christ event. I say the Christ event, because we must look at what was actually happening in his life, death, and resurrection. Historic church doctrine holds that his life was an incarnation of the eternal Word of God. We might say that we believe that there is something in him that separates him from other memorable or great religious leaders. If there is not something unique about Christ that differentiates him qualitatively from Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, or even other great figures (Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, etc.) from the Judeo/Christian tradition, I submit that there is no logical imperative for evangelism. This is not to say that there are not elements of wisdom or truth in other traditions, but it is to adamantly maintain that in the person of Jesus, God was doing something truly unique. If we cannot at least hold that there is something unique about Christ, are we really Christian at all?
Another assumption that must be in place is that we must have some understanding of our need for Christ or God. There must be a healthy sense of thanksgiving present in our lives. This is something that is difficult for some Christians. Many North American or Western European Christians live in relative comfort that numbs us to our need for God. If the roof leaks we fix it. If the car dies, banks happily loan us the money for another one. Our lives are ones that are insulated from seasons and times; we are comfortable. We have a difficult time praying "give us Lord our daily bread," with any meaning because our cupboards have plenty. I think that the easy comfort in which many (certainly not all) Christians in our part of the world live also numbs us to eternal matters. Do we truly feel thankful to God for everything we have in our lives? Do we truly have hearts thankful to Christ for opening Heaven's gates for us? If we have no true appreciation of the thanks we owe to Christ in eternal matters- life, death, resurrection, eternal life, etc. much of the personal impetus for evangelism is removed.
The third assumption that we must make is that we have something to offer that is better than what people find elsewhere. We must believe that the Christian life- centered around worship, the means of grace, sacraments, fellowship, study, and service- is qualitatively better than anything else. We must truly believe that we have something of inestimable value to offer. Jesus himself said that that he came so that we might have "life and have it abundantly." Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray Superintendent of the Anderson District is wont to say that, "a life connected to God and to one another is the most meaningful life there is." That is a clear statement that there is something better we have to offer. Certainly this is not the only way one could phrase the value of the Christian life, but it certainly is a good one. Does our life of faith offer something better than what the lost may find elsewhere? If the answer is no, then I recommend that we just spend Sunday mornings on the golf course, the fishing hole, or working the crossword puzzle over an extra cup of coffee.
Given that there is something truly unique about the Christ event, that we owe our very lives to God, that we are thankful for Christ's opening of Heaven's gates, that we have something to offer that is better than what is found anywhere else, how can we not spread the wonderful Good News?
The first assumption is purely theological. It is that there is, at bare minimum, something truly unique about the Christ event. I say the Christ event, because we must look at what was actually happening in his life, death, and resurrection. Historic church doctrine holds that his life was an incarnation of the eternal Word of God. We might say that we believe that there is something in him that separates him from other memorable or great religious leaders. If there is not something unique about Christ that differentiates him qualitatively from Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, or even other great figures (Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, etc.) from the Judeo/Christian tradition, I submit that there is no logical imperative for evangelism. This is not to say that there are not elements of wisdom or truth in other traditions, but it is to adamantly maintain that in the person of Jesus, God was doing something truly unique. If we cannot at least hold that there is something unique about Christ, are we really Christian at all?
Another assumption that must be in place is that we must have some understanding of our need for Christ or God. There must be a healthy sense of thanksgiving present in our lives. This is something that is difficult for some Christians. Many North American or Western European Christians live in relative comfort that numbs us to our need for God. If the roof leaks we fix it. If the car dies, banks happily loan us the money for another one. Our lives are ones that are insulated from seasons and times; we are comfortable. We have a difficult time praying "give us Lord our daily bread," with any meaning because our cupboards have plenty. I think that the easy comfort in which many (certainly not all) Christians in our part of the world live also numbs us to eternal matters. Do we truly feel thankful to God for everything we have in our lives? Do we truly have hearts thankful to Christ for opening Heaven's gates for us? If we have no true appreciation of the thanks we owe to Christ in eternal matters- life, death, resurrection, eternal life, etc. much of the personal impetus for evangelism is removed.
The third assumption that we must make is that we have something to offer that is better than what people find elsewhere. We must believe that the Christian life- centered around worship, the means of grace, sacraments, fellowship, study, and service- is qualitatively better than anything else. We must truly believe that we have something of inestimable value to offer. Jesus himself said that that he came so that we might have "life and have it abundantly." Rev. Susan Leonard-Ray Superintendent of the Anderson District is wont to say that, "a life connected to God and to one another is the most meaningful life there is." That is a clear statement that there is something better we have to offer. Certainly this is not the only way one could phrase the value of the Christian life, but it certainly is a good one. Does our life of faith offer something better than what the lost may find elsewhere? If the answer is no, then I recommend that we just spend Sunday mornings on the golf course, the fishing hole, or working the crossword puzzle over an extra cup of coffee.
Given that there is something truly unique about the Christ event, that we owe our very lives to God, that we are thankful for Christ's opening of Heaven's gates, that we have something to offer that is better than what is found anywhere else, how can we not spread the wonderful Good News?
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