Evangelism without superhero capes

The WhatsApp conversation went something like this:

Friend: Hey I need your help!

JB: Sure, what’s up?

Friend: Well, as a couple we’re not religious – in fact, we see religion as a spiritual crutch - no offence... 👊

JB: 🙉 None taken, but happy to explore this more later... So, what’s the problem?

Friend: Wife’s just given birth and says to me, "This is – SHE is! – not a cosmic fluke, she is... designed! I believe in God!”

JB: And?

Friend: Well, we were so happy! And now this. 😔 You’ve got to talk to her!

JB: Well, I’m hardly going to talk her out of it, I’m a vicar. 😂 Let’s have lunch first. 👊

Do you enjoy evangelism? I relish sharing the good news of Jesus - and no, I don’t wear an E-emblazoned superhero costume!

While conversations like the WhatsApp chat above are soaring moments of spiritual breakthrough, many Christians are convinced evangelism is a drudgery, a distasteful and uncouth after-church detention class activity for adults. How has evangelism acquired a villainous persona in popular and church culture? Bad practices and baneful experiences, I imagine.

Are you prepared to step beyond evangelism’s stereotype?

Historical disparity?

At the First Lausanne Conference, 1974, Billy Graham said: “There can be no adequate evangelism without the Holy Spirit."

In 1987, J.I. Packer lamented a de-emphasis on the Holy Spirit in Reformed and evangelical theologies, typecasting the Spirit as the impoverished "Cinderella of theology” (see David Wells, God the Evangelist Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1987).  If this howler of a disparity still exists between who the Spirit is as evangelist and the role of the Spirit in practice, then no wonder evangelism is as awkward as adolescence.

Gone fishing!

When I was a boy, I went sea fishing with my father and grandfather.  After an hour, my grandfather said he needed a break and asked if I would take over. As soon as he handed me the rod, it bowed in two. I felt their small bullish tugs and nips and turns, and shouted with excitement: “Grandpa, I’ve got one! – or maybe two, three...” Six. I had six.

Only when I was older did I realise my grandpa had, in fact, snagged the fish before handing me the rod, spooling out just enough line so that I wouldn’t notice them until I began the wheeling in, and yet I landed my fish on the wave-sloshed stern, stickering the name "fisherman" onto my small oilskins.

Out of sheer love, "Jesus the fisherman" initiates relationships with lost people. Christians may pin words like "evangelist" and "evangelical" to their lapels, but it is Jesus (through the power of the Holy Spirit), who intrigues restless hearts and piques dissatisfied minds. Listening to His voice and gripping a readiness to follow Jesus into evangelism are essential. This is what Paul means by being "Spirit-led."

What if Christians feel ill-prepared for evangelism?  Could it have something to do with their spiritual DNA?

Spiritual DNA in a Petri dish

Let’s consider an analogy from genetics - The Double Helix of Healthy Spiritual DNA.

Just as the two strands of the iconic "double helix structure" of DNA move in opposite directions simultaneously (i.e., antiparallel), functioning perfectly to complete the helix unit, we can think of evangelism and discipleship as two living strands within healthy Christian DNA that also move in antiparallel directions in the same "moment."

Here’s what I mean...

As Christians run towards God (inwardly in their hearts, collectively as a church), "Seek the Lord with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29v13)… They also, by effect, run towards the world (outwardly in personal and collective relationships), "And you will be my witnesses, to the ends of the world" (Acts 1v8).

Evangelism is innate to a healthy spiritual DNA which is why Jesus deploys believers as part of his missional operational plan. 

All Christians ought to possess a quality (holiness) that induces a "thirst-for-God" in other people. Jesus metaphorizes this trait as salt and light. 

In the company of Christians, irreligious people should ask them questions about Jesus!

Have church leaders simply broken off the evangelism strand of Christian spiritual DNA, creating a defective helix, one which serves only the needs of church members?

'Gone fishing – finding joy!'

Jesus is having conversations with thousands upon thousands of lost and broken people outside the church, prayerful dialogues about life and national news stories, personal challenges and meaning. Who is Jesus talking to in your sphere of influence?

Evangelism occurs naturally when Jesus invites you into one of these conversations as His personal witness to your friend, your colleague, or a relative stranger. What a joy!

So, I spoke to my friend about the polymath Michael Polanyi and his work on the non-neutrality of science. Meanwhile, his wife took an Alpha Course, encountered Jesus and was baptized.

Spirit-led conversations about Jesus should be routine for Christians, not rarely spotted drips of blessing - a theme we shall return to next month.