There are many voices out there among Christians concerning this issue. If we are going to be effective in evangelizing the world, it would help, first, to be clear about what evangelism is and is not. Hopefully, the insights in the next three blogs will help toward that end.
First of all, evangelism requires speaking the gospel. I have spoken to well-meaning believers who sincerely believe that being kind and doing kind works of service equals evangelism. Friends have told me something like this: “Well, Chris, your kind of evangelism is speaking the Word to people, and that is good for you. But, my gift is not in speaking. I am gifted as a doer, a servant. So, I share Jesus with people by loving and caring for them. Is that true? Do people receive what is necessary for eternal life by Christians being kind to them? We must be crystal clear on this.
What if the next door Buddhist or the Hindu down the street or the Muslim uncle or the very loving atheist co-worker outshines the average Christian in showing kindness and love (and sometimes this is exactly the case)? What then? Does the unsaved, Hell-bound person made right with God by such shows of love?
Some use St. Francis of Assisi as an example, by quoting him, “Always preach the gospel, and when necessary use words.”
There are two problems with this. Stay tuned and find out what these two problems are in the next blog!