Some people look at their local church and are saddened by the changes they have seen take place... and some of those feelings are for good reasons. However, it is also important to remember that in many ways we must always be changing and evolving to in order to better minister to the culture that we live in. There really is no disputing this truth. If I used a curriculum that we written in the 1930s, there is a very large chance that the content will be effective simply because it was written by a people writing to others living in the 1930s. While the core truth and beliefs may not change, the method in which that truth is taught and conveyed must evolve and change if we are to effectively relate to a 21st century people.
The reason why evangelism must look different in the year 2011 than in did 10, 20, or 50 years ago is because people and culture change. For example, it was much easier to go 'door to door' 50 years ago because in the year 1961, the pastor/priest and the American Church was not nearly the laughing stock that it has become today. With constant news reports of sexual abuse, child abuse, money fraud, affairs, etc, how can we not expect the image of the church to change? How can we expect people to not question the Christian faith when they turn on the television and watch Benny Hinn hitting people with his jacket as he fills them with the Holy Spirit? With that said, the average household is skeptical at best when it comes to the American Church. Therefore, evangelism must look different than it did even just 10 years ago. Before we begin telling people about our faith, we ought to embody it with a servant heart. We must engage in the slow work of building relationships and allowing our faith story to flow out of that relationship. Because whenever someone is truly seeking to know and love Christ more each day, it is impossible for others not to see Christ in them.
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I just posted my blog and decided to check out yours and it's funny I just addressed how the church has gotten to this point you talk of-how we are a joke, and the abuse, greed, etc and honestly, I agree with you that we need to change the way we minister and how we reach out to the community, but I think we need to return to a more biblical model because I think we have moved so far from that, that a lot (but not all) of our new techniques are not really working very effectively-ie: Benny Henn.
ReplyDeleteUntil we fix the church, bringing in new people will not change the image of the church, perhaps just add to the problem unless they are truly transformed and have a personal relationship with Christ.
The truth is that you are right, we must set the example in everything we do-at work, at home to our families, in the grocery store etc. and that example will make the world want what we have but we also have to tell them why we are this way or they may never know and that's harder! Then we need to help them convert to Christ, be baptized and then bring them to church-to a church that is truly living out the New Testament.
I think evangelizing a friend slowly is not necessarily a biblical command, but a great idea, which is effective and a modern idea that is an example of how the church has to change with the times-like you said. But we are to live the example every day as commanded by Christ and many people do, but we also have to speak out to those people in a loving way to lead them to Christ which most of us are afraid to do-hey, me included! It's easier to live Godly silently, but to actually talk about Christ in a meaningful way that is loving and not pushy is much harder. Requires lots of prayer, I think. :)