Definition of Evangelism: What Evangelism Isn’t
As the new year begins, I want to revisit a working definition of evangelism. For some background as to what we have used as a definition of evangelism, read our evangelism definition from April of 07.
To recall, I use the PC (USA)’s definition of evangelism
Joyfully sharing the good news of the sovereign love of God, and calling people to repentance, to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to active membership in the church, and to obedient service in the world. (Definition adopted by the 202nd General Assembly of the PCUSA, 1990).
Mark Dever has an interesting piece in Christianity Today called “What Evangelism Isn’t.” It is adapted from his book The Gospel and Personal Evangelism.
What Evangelism Is Not:
- Imposition
- Personal Testimony
- Social Action and Public Involvement (”They commend the gospel, but they share it with no one.”)
- Apologetics
- The Results of Evangelism
To his list I would add
- Church Marketing (advertisements, web page, direct mail, etc).
- Visitor Hospitality.
All of these items (maybe with the exception of Imposition) all support the work of evangelism, but individually, they fall short of the destination — calling people to repentance, to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to active membership in the church and obedient service in the world.
This is the point Dever makes repeatedly in the article: “We need to stop mistaking other Christian activities for the spreading of the gospel.”
I would take issue perhaps with one of Dever’s assertions: Imposition.
It’s important to understand that the message you are sharing is not merely an opinion but a fact. That’s why sharing the gospel can’t be called an imposition, any more than a pilot can impose his belief on all his passengers that the runway is here and not there.
This would be true if a conversation only involved one side: the speaker. But a conversation involves both a speaker and a hearer. The hearer sets the boundary. Either they want to hear what you have to share, or they don’t. If they don’t, and you continue to speak, it’s an imposition.
Sure, I may be presenting a Christian gospel, but if its unwanted by my hearer, I am imposing.
Let me ask you this?
- If you have read the article, do you agree or disagree with Dever?
- What would you add to his list?
I invite you to comment.
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Hi Chris… Good article. Have you read his book? Recommend it for upcoming class?
[...] Definition of Evangelism: What Evangelism Isn’t [...]
I’ve not yet read the book, but it is on my list of books to get when I’m in the bookstore next week.
Let’s just keep in mind that evangelism isn’t only a conversation you have with someone. It is often proclamation, which may involve that dreaded “imposition” you described. However, my philosophy is that there is nobody making anybody listen, as long as they are free to leave.
I’ll never forget a student who was hearing a presentation of The Four Spiritual Laws. Right before the Christian sharing the booklet with him got to the prayer, the student stood up and stormed out of the cafeteria. That was late spring. The next fall that same student ran into the Christian who was sharing with him and excitedly exclaimed, “Phil, I got saved over the summer!” When Phil asked what happened, he said that he couldn’t “get those stinkin’ circle diagrams” out of his head after talking with Phil. “I remember thinking that I was in the circle diagram on the left, that Jesus was not in my life and I was running the show!”
So, the moral of the story is that you never know how God may use even our “imposition” of the gospel. Let’s leave the results to God and not worry so much about offending people. What we should worry about is the content of our “gospel,” making sure that people understand the “bad news” and their need to repent before we give them the “good news.”
Bill,
Thanks for chiming in this weekend.
I think what I’m speaking of is when boundaries are being crossed inappropriately. When the student left, the presenter didn’t chase him down, but rather respected the fact that he left.
If someone tells me they don’t want to hear any more, then I respect that boundary.
Imposition is not respecting the boundaries of others, in this context of a 1-1 conversation.
I do agree that evangelism is more than conversation it is proclamation as well. Likewise, I also agree with your reminder about making sure of the content of what we are explaning.
Chris.