The missing link for evangelism in your generation is transparency/authenticity/genuineness, whatever you want to call it. THAT is what your generation wants. I’m speaking confidently about “your” generation because I really think this idea is the “missing link” for all generations. Let me talk about what I think it means to be authentic.
John 4:36-38 says “The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower [the planter] is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.” (TheMessage)
Which deserves more credit- the harvester or the sower? They’re equal.
Don’t beat yourself up because your personality isn’t outgoing enough, or you “ain’t no good word-smith”, or whatever. Now, we should all be stretched outside of what’s comfortable for us — but what about the people who fervently stand in the gap and pray for the lost? What about the people who live boldly for Christ in their actions? What about those who actually pray with the lost to receive Christ? Which part is most valuable? They’re equal.
God cares about the lost. The more we know God, the more we’ll care about what He cares about. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Evangelism must start with knowing God. If we’re not close with God, we’re going to do very little for the Kingdom of God.
When God’s passion becomes your passion – you can’t help but evangelize. Maybe you’ll be the person who prays for the lost. Maybe you’ll plant a seed by living a holy life in a dark place. Maybe you’ll be the person who presents God’s plan of salvation to those around them. etc. etc. etc.
When God’s passion is in your core – evangelism will be a lot like sweat.
i think that a big problem with my generation is that we dont talk to each other. there is no real contact between us. its all on the internet, texts, webcams.. everything is digital! its hard for people to get together.
another thing is that no one wants to lose what life they have. people think to be a sold-out christian you have to give up your life and go be like billy graham.
so what does it take?
what does it take?
that’s such a very hard question to answer!
now, if i were to venture a response, i guess it would have to go something like this: Love God.
i don’t mean be a good person, or say the right words, or go to church on sunday, or read the Bible, or even say a “sinner’s prayer.” i mean love God with every fiber of your being. love God with every thought you have and every emotion you feel. love God with your whole heart and with every action you take. frankly, you’ll never be able to love Him enough…but love Him. love Him with everything you’ve got.
when you do that, an amazing thing will happen: you will begin to love other people! you won’t be able to stop yourself. honestly, how can you love God, and not love His creation?
now, love isn’t something that sounds nice, and involves us being nice to people and feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked and every other nice thing you can think of. true love looks very specific: joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. i certainly don’t mean to belittle the fruit of the Spirit, but i truly believe that they are all describing different angles of the same house: loving God with all my heart soul body mind and strength.
so, you ask, “what does it take?” and the only answer i know how to give is (and please, don’t take my answer as authoritative, try looking in scripture): Love God!
and don’t stop there. let your love for Him transform you. let your love become His love for others, and let that Love guide your actions. speak Truth where Truth needs spoken, Feed those who are hungry, Clothe those who are naked, Pray, Lend a helping hand, the list could go on forever (and by all of these things, i mean point people to the Cross of Christ, sometimes in actions, sometimes in words, but always out of your love for God!)… but, above all, Love God, and let everything you do be guided by and expressed through your love for Him.
oh…and as far as people losing what life they have…
some of the Wisest things I’ve ever read.
@Joe – That’s a perfect re-type of what I said in my post. Loving God causes us to love others. Knowing God’s passion will make it our own.
@Dustin – what does it take? I don’t think that answer can be given – but it can be DESCRIBED. We can TRY to answer it. Do you even read my blog? lol. Almost every blog post I ever write attempts to answer that question. So just read my blog posts, and that should answer it. đŸ™‚
I perceive the problem with your generation isn’t the “we don’t talk” its the “we don’t care” (which can be seen by symptoms you mentioned). You don’t have to be face to face to evangelize-that’s ridiculous. If you’re authentic and the passion of God becomes your passion – then you’ll use internet, texts, and webcams to evangelize. If the passion of God becomes your passion, you’ll just do it in within the context of your life and culture.
Our culture (internet, texts, webcams) is not the problem. Our lives, attitude, and passion are the problem.
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