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Christianity Today, December (Web-only), 2007 |

Excerpt

What Evangelism Isn't

We need to stop mistaking other Christian activities for the spreading of the gospel.

Mark Dever, excerpted and adapted from The Gospel and Personal Evangelism | posted 12/31/2007 08:45AM

I remember as a little child hugging my father's leg at a gas station only to realize it wasn't his leg I was hugging. I was embarrassed! It was a case of mistaken identity.

In the matter of evangelism, ...

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Louis Balley

Posted: January 14, 2008 8:05 AM


Wonderful.We have too much activities, programs and performances and there's a lack of demonstration of the power of the simple, real and living Truth of the Word. Praise Him!

steve

Posted: January 13, 2008 6:55 PM


words alone never converted anyone to any religion

EP	Posted: January 12, 2008 10:55 PM

Jesus laid down his life for us. I suppose we could be cool and accept that quietly and act accordingly. But don't you think its odd that he said that saving even one of these souls will cover a multitude of sins ? What is it that differentiates saved people from unsaved ? It is faith and gratitude to God with a will to stop our sinning. This is great for us who believe, but what about those who don't believe? We have to be gentle with those who God has brought to us as in most cases they've hit bottom. However with those God's brought to us that haven't hit bottom we have to be steadfast and strong willed. It seems we have to treat each one put before us in different ways to reach them. We're giving a message to people that they obviously don't want to hear, have problems, want answers, want food or just clean water. We develop our faith to address each one in whatever way they will be receptive, in some cases being pretty darned bold. I pray that boldness for us All.

Elaine p

Posted: January 10, 2008 2:59 AM

I concur with the concerns of john p and Darren King. If you looked at Jesus ministry on a day-to-day basis, he would fail to match Mark Dever's "evangelism" standards. How often did Jesus preach in parables that failed to clearly tell people that they needed to be converted? How often did Jesus heal people out of compassion, and never gave the "truth" of how to be saved? How often did Jesus engage in apologetics? And when Jesus sought out the blind man who had been healed and thrown out of the temple for his testimony, Jesus told him who he was...... but failed to "clearly present the gospel."

God's Girl

Posted: January 09, 2008 6:53 PM

I agree with this man, Mark Denver. He's talking about the 15-50 minute wait at the doctors office, there is not a visual group of people able to witness our lives as Christians, offering, Church work, even giving to others, without the unconverted ones, I could tell you of Christians and Christians, impressed by doing works and put in fear of Christians instead of fear of God. God, wants us to tell others about Him, especially if we know Him as He is, real. Maybe there are Christians who do not know the Life of Christ. WHo know something that they magnify about the Life of Jesus, instead of being able to recite it completely backwards and forwards. Something I want to be able to do. We (Christians) have never been the central theme of Evangelism, Jesus is. Jesus, in our Father's and Jesus' and the Holy Spirit. Our LORD, is Jesus, HE, ours, is the First and THE LAST. Our Lord Jesus said - "I am the way the Truth and the Life, No man goes to the Father but by me." if we only realized.

Colin

Posted: January 09, 2008 3:30 PM

I suppose the concern is that much activity however good, does not equate with "real evangelism" - that of clearly outlining who Jesus is and how he came into the world to affect our lives for the better. Some people fear that social activism might detract from the essential message of Christian evangelism that Jesus saves us from our sins . On the other hand people may be alienated when we share our most earnest concern for their souls but neglect their hungry bellies. Too many Christians want to ignore social injustice claiming that their real concerns is for the after life...

Ed Maxwell

Posted: January 09, 2008 2:51 PM

I am really appalled at the comments about this article. This is simply one man's opinion. You can believe anything you choose but in my opinion Jesus Christ is not just a coincidence and the bible is the largest selling book in the world. Yes, my belief is that Christ is the only way as He has endured all the criticism and untruths of all of the other "god". After all He is the only God that is not in the grave. Christianity is a support system and God is found through others. Therefore the act of a secretive God being worshipped only in the solace of your own home is a travesty. If you are a true Christian, then the world should know you as one and you you be spreading the gospel to whoever will hear. Refer to Matthew 28:18-20, the great commission. Be proud to be a child of God. For God is definitly in community and speaks through many saints.

Andy N J

Posted: January 09, 2008 1:39 PM

I became a Christian because wopmen who I mostly did not know prayed for me for years. I did not even know they were praying for me. I thought there was a conflict between beign a Christian and being a man until I met a group of men who lived the gospel as best they could admitted to each other when they could not,and forgave each other. Seeing these men in action helped me becoem a godly man and it is this type of role modelling that I think is the best evangelism becuase it not only states the gospel, it offers hope and a path that the gospel can be included in daily activity.

Fiona Sue

Posted: January 09, 2008 12:42 PM

A concise, biblically supported presentation to counteract the "outreach" movement that so many "Evangelical" churches are embracing. No matter our actions and attitudes, if we never get around to sharing the Good News, the gospel of Christ, then we are just acting like people, some nice some not. For people who have rejected Christ after hearing the Good News, there is hope. God's words and truths are in their head for them to contemplate and possibly change their heart. Many people have rejected Christ because of the actions and attitudes of "Christians" not based on the Good News and that is very sad. Enable people to come to the faith honestly and biblically based on God's words, not our actions and attitudes.

Daniel

Posted: January 09, 2008 9:18 AM

It seems, from the comments, that the author's point is being missed. He's not saying to JUST go and tell the gospel with words but saying that if our works, testimony, answers to the faith, etc are not tied to a literal telling of the gospel then we are not really or fully evangelizing. Yes, they will know us by our love, but how will they know Jesus without hearing His story. A lost person needs to know HOW to be found not just what one does once they are found.

Darren480

Posted: January 09, 2008 8:56 AM

You people are missing the point. Dever is exactly right on this. As Luther argued, grace is communicated through means. The Bible says clearly that faith (which saves) comes through hearing, and that hearing comes specifically through the Word. It is the proclamation of Law and Gospel that communicates Christ. The word 'evangelion' from which 'evangelism' is derived means literally "Good News", and it specifically relates to the Person and Work of Jesus Christ...not your testimony, apologetic arguments, or actions etc. Why? Because one can give those things without ever proclaiming the person of Christ, the Cross, his propitiatory work to save us from Sin. Those only open the door for evangelism. Dever's point is that they should not be confused. It is not your testimony, etc. that communicates saving faith. Only the Gospel.

Ifeanyi

Posted: January 09, 2008 7:56 AM


Thank you for this article. God calls every believer to tell the message of Jesus,a nd the article nicely puts it in focus. Thanks

Geoffrey Seven

Posted: January 08, 2008 10:06 PM

Have to agree with Tobsen above. St. Francis said, "preach the gospel. Use words IF NECESSARY" (emphasis mine). Personally exemplifying the gospel, through one's own conduct or through service to the poor, is a powerful form of evangelism. I know from my own experience that these things can speak louder than words. God's grace of course is what ultimately draws us to him. But the reality is that I had heard the Gospel before and never heeded it until I met some Christians who exemplified qualities that I could aspire to and identify with.

b	Posted: January 07, 2008 7:27 PM

i agree that the gospel needs to be shared in words -- actions are not self-interpreting. that's the best aspect of this article. maybe it sounds different in the context of the whole book, but as i read this excerpt, it seems that the author's definition of evangelism is too narrow. proclaiming the good news of salvation in Jesus should be in both word and deed, and goes beyond the salvation of an individual 'soul' to the whole person, their relationships, and even to the redemption of creation.

Joyce Leeman

Posted: January 07, 2008 1:55 PM

I reviewed the article and find, as did several of the other writers, that our works are most definitely a testimony of a changed life that is appealing, and thusly, a manner of proclaiming the gospel that brings a difference in purpose to life. Jesus set an example in a purposeful and determined manner that we are to follow, and I believe that more than words, is appealing to those who do not know our Lord. The "strong-arming" of previous generations may have certainly won souls, but living and setting the example is most important, and I believe that then the opportunity will avail itself to tell them of a life-changing personal relationship with our Lord.

F McDonald

Posted: January 07, 2008 7:38 AM

Although I feelI am in broad agreement with Mark Devers idea of what evangilism is I am unhappy with what he has written. The very reason he writes seems to be to direct all those who approach evangelism in a wrong way ie impose their idea of evangelism on others. So the problem is how to convey to other christian groups the proper way to evangelism and here is the impossible trying to be explainedi n this article. As long as there is widespread disagreement as to what makes a disciple of Jesus these various christian named groups will always be imposing what they believe is the true way. Otherwise they are in danger of being spineless toward the lost. Now if miracles were to be abundant like the blind recieving sight at the name of Jesus what once blind man would listen to any other way to salvation but that christian group's way . And yet even the pride of that group could soon cause a drift from the biblical way of salvation. The one true way is an imposition!

Not thrilled

Posted: January 05, 2008 6:36 AM

I realize this article is part of a book, so maybe in its isolation it has given the wrong impression. But I feel this article insinuates that it is good evangelism to blatantly 'hit people over the head' with the gospel. There has been much damage done by good intentioned evangelizing that lays no ground work or bridge building first. On an individual basis or in large group situations, this can undo faithful work previously invested in these lives. To say that building rapport and giving testimony to God's wonderful power is not part of evangelism is wrong.

christineD

Posted: January 04, 2008 8:01 PM

Thought-provoking article. I depend heavily on apologetics when having real or imagined conversations with my unbelieving friends. I also am drawn by how intellectual arguments show how "sensible" the gospel is. Also, we must, I think, study the language barriers of our time. So many Westerners have "heard " the gospel and filter out the true meaning because of false connotations for certain words. Or there are "defeaters" in their world view (T. Keller's word) that must be dealt with before they can "hear". Of course the Spirit Holy (see how your brain had to deal with that small change) must do the converting. Of those who had immediate equal access to Jesus and His good news, some believed right away and others rejected as quickly. Still others went away wondering and later became His followers. Yes, the headlines must be clear "There's a New King in Town" but the details and reasons are an important part of the story--as are the souls to whom the message comes.

Grace

Posted: January 04, 2008 12:49 PM

As a native New Yorker I am immediately suspicious of anyone who tries to sell me anything. What is your motive? What's in it for you? If you're intent is saving my soul without concern for the being attached I'm not interested. Jesus had an intimate relationship with his Father. And he never left the side of his disciples until his appointed hour. Relationship. Truthful, sincere, patient, loving and long-suffering hallmark fruitful evangelism. Whether you're from the east coast or not, just about everyone can sense—in a New York minute—whether the evangelist's intent is on selling or saving.

Tony Haro

Posted: January 04, 2008 12:17 PM

Evangelism is theological term that describes a modern movement of Christianity in sharing the gospel and God's sovereignty to the unbeliever. However, what is missing is God's power (the Holy Spirit) to change a person. The author is defining evangelism as a one man show. We Christians only have influence, not the power to convert anyone to our faith. I often wonder whether or not the need to share the gospel is a subconscious need of my own to do God a favor or whether the other person's need to be converted at that moment of sharing the gospel. Evangelism is a shared responsibility with God and involves various modes of action. Jesus didn't adhere to one formula for everyone and he relied on the father to guide him thoughout his ministry on earth.

Jeffery

Posted: January 03, 2008 11:27 PM


I agree with Jeff. Non-Christians who are responding angrily to this article must be looking under every rock to find something new to offend them. And their objections really aren't pertinent to this fine article. Perhaps they could read a little C.S. Lewis or Francis Schaefer to find a better context for their complaints.

Jeff	Posted: January 03, 2008 3:13 PM


I'm surprised at all of the hostile comments. For those of you who aren't Christians, why on earth are you even bothering to read articles in a magazine called Christianity Today???

M Shea

Posted: January 03, 2008 2:49 PM

Wow thanks for telling me what evangelism is. I will stop referring to those other things as evangelism from this moment forward. We all know what we need is labels for everything. You have made the Christian Label Game so much clearer now. When Jesus summed up the Christian life by saying "Just love God and love people" I sense He was a bit fed up with life by the law. I'm not so sure labeling things as evangelism, and not evangelism is any better. But if it makes people feel better by telling others that they aren't doing evangelism, go for it. As for me, I'll just let Love God, Love People guide me.

Tobsen

Posted: January 03, 2008 9:05 AM

What this article says is, as some other commenters have said, ridiculous. Jesus said 'You are the light of the world.' He also said things like 'If you love one another, people will KNOW you are My disciples.' That to me doesn't seem like some kind of new way of loving each other by going and telling everyone the gospel, because that wouldn't be loving each other, that would be ignoring one another. If people forget words then actions are worthless, but without actions words are worthless. Jesus used relationships to portray His message of the kingdom of God, and even used His own stories to describe the kingdom, which seems a lot like personal testimony to me. There's more to rant about, but I think you get my disapproval...

Andy B

Posted: January 03, 2008 8:02 AM


So Christianinsanity is right and every thing everywhere else in the world that people believe in is wrong? Their gods and beliefs are a bunch of baloney and the Bible is right? You people are insane.

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