This weekend we're beginning a seven-part pulpit series entitled WIND: The Church Sets Sail in Acts 15-28. We're examining the "Gentile Half" of the book of Acts (where the gospel is released with the Jerusalem Council's decision).
I've been thinking lately about what Christians in America think about "evangelism"--spreading the gospel. These words come to mind:
Giving Bible studies
Winning souls
Invitations
Apologetics and Argument
Conversions
Marketing
Preaching and presenting
Making the "ask
Sharing your faith
Defending your faith
Etc.
It seems to me all of these fit within the same category: I, as a Christian, go out, and try to convince somebody who is not going to church, not professing Christ, not part of my group ... to sign up. I'm don't think there is anything wrong with this so long as it fits within a wider view. This is what I've been thinking about my own experience and those Christians I know who seem to be influential beyond the Christian world.
Pray attention
Play attention
Pay attention
First, they pray for people who are beyond the moat. They pray for friends who don't seem close to God. They pray for places and spaces (I do this) where people mingle: coffee shops, restaurants, sports fields, etc. They pray for God to open their eyes and they pray for the Spirit to work in people's lives.
Second, they invest in "play." In other words, they enter the "game" of relationship. They realize influence is never remote. You can't NEVER (double negative, I know) ... You can't NEVER hang out with people and expect to be part of what God might be doing in their lives. If you and I are consumed within our own faith, our own denomination, we are kidding ourselves (and is isn't a very funny joke) if we think we will have missional impact. You have to press "play" and get involved, hang out, converse, be with. In my own faith tradition we have used the phrase "Babylon, come out of her my people" The more I reflect on this text the more I see Babylon (greed, materialism, humanism, etc.) not as something I must leave externally but something I must deal with internally, inside of my own life. Jesus never modeled disassociation with the world, with sinners, with Gentiles, etc.
Third, my friends who seem to have influence pay attention: to the Spirit and to people. They don't see opportunities for conversation has "sales calls." They listen. They listen. Oh, if I ever built an evangelism class I would spend half the time on the subject of listening. What are people hurting over? What might God be doing in their lives? We are often so arrogant as to assume that God is in our own briefcase and it is our job to give him, sell him to somebody else. God is already at work, loving and talking and connecting with people. It is our job to see that, to recognize that, to acknowledge it. And do so in the presence of others.
Pray attention.
Play attention.
Pay attention.
And see what God does.
