Evangephobia Pt. 1
by Tim Hunter
What comes to mind when you hear the word evangelism?
Be honest.
Is it a middle-aged, just very “dad” looking individual with a phone clipped to his belt and a pair of fresh sketchers on his feet knocking on doors asking people if they were to die today would they go to heaven? Or maybe it is someone on a street corner with a bullhorn who seems just a bit angry shouting the gospel at cars as they drive home. Or maybe it is a personal experience. Perhaps there was a time when you were really excited to share the Gospel! You had been to a seminar or heard a really good sermon encouraging you to share the gospel and you went to your workplace or school or random dude on the street armed with the Romans Road and a list of questions and… fell flat on your face.
Look. I have been there. Maybe I’m still a little there. Evangelism is something that we know we should do. We know we need to share the gospel but if we are honest, many times there is a pit in our stomach as we think about it. It’s like going to the dentist. You know you should, but if there was a way to get around it and keep your teeth (or be a good disciple) without doing it you would probably check that box.
It’s no secret. Multiple reports and studies have shown that fewer and fewer Christians are sharing their faith.
And I kind of get it right? I mean our culture is trending not towards Christianity, but away from it. When looking at our reaction many times within the church I have noticed two loose extremes. Two case studies if you will. The goal of this article is not to correct these views or even teach correct approaches to evangelism if you will. Rather, it is to identify a problem, identify our false extremes. A post next week will prayerfully move us together towards grace-filled, courageous evangelism. But for now: meet my friends Fred and Frank.
Fear of Culture Fred
He sits behind the castle of his house and lobes grenades at the culture around him while behind his keyboard. His favorite statements are things like “Oh man, Jesus better be coming soon to get us out of this mess.” or other agitated statements regarding politics or other cultural happenings. He is marked by an overall demeanor of fear and suspicion of everything that is not home or church. If it is not within the church walls or in his living room he wants no part. World Bad. Jesus Good. His approach to sharing the gospel is primarily motivated by guilt or fear.
Fit into Culture Frank
The culturally savvy Christian. He happily drinks up everything about the culture around him. New Netflix series? He’s watched it. Pop culture? He knows it. New tik-tok dance? He masters it. He constantly ingests and digests the ideology of the world around him without a second thought. He might be in church constantly and raise his hands at the third verse of “king of kings” but he is not at all concerned with the gospel going forth to the world around him. He is content to come to church and get along with his lost friends. His approach to sharing the gospel looks like taking good care of his front yard so that maybe, just maybe, his neighbor will approach him and ask why his lines are so straight - and he can tell them that Jesus is his landscaping inspiration.
Ok, so maybe those are two extremes. But I think all of us if we look hard enough, identity in some ways towards one of these extremes.
Is this what Jesus had in mind when he said to preach the Gospel to the nations.
Probably not.
Is there a better way?
Come back next week.