this devotion?
Evangelism is such a loaded word in American Church life because it
has often been misused to mean marketing. Last year, "This American
Life" ran an episode about Evangelism gone bad. One example they used
was a trick used by Campus Crusades during Beach Week. They would
have women dressed in bikinis handing out fliers to come to the free
luau where "food, games and drinks" would be offered. Of course those
drinks were non-alcoholic, and during intermissions the same women
would stand up and share how Jesus Christ changed their lives. As one
guy described it, "by the third intermission you suddenly realized
these women were not available and that the old bait & switch had
occurred."
I find much of my time is spent explain what Evangelism
is not, rather than helping people discover what true evangelism is.
For me, John 1:43, 45-46 is a beautiful example of what true
evangelism is.
43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he
said to him, "Follow me..." 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him,
"We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom
the prophets also wrote-- Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come
and see," said Philip.
As followers of Christ, we should be like Philip who actively seeks
out and invites a friend of his to come and discover who Jesus Christ
may be. I also love that when asked a question, Philip does not give
a 5 point argument, but rather invites Nathanael to join him in this
journey of faith.
It is my goal to spend the next few weeks, talking about
"Doable Evangelism" in order that we may discover that true faith is
not made through a sales pitch and a bait & switch, but an invitation
to walk together in our spiritual journey.
What is so scary about the word "Evangelism?" Who are
some people that have invited you to "come and see?"
In Christ,
Rev. Wes Barry
Minister for Evangelism and Young Adults
*I have totally lifted this phrase from DoableEvangelism.com, and
rather than have another copyright issue on my hand, I would like to
point you all to their website and trademark.
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