Sharing the Good News

Beginning of post in New Wineskins

Rethinking Evangelism by Michael Gose
January - February, 2008

“Evangel” means “bringing good news” but being “evangelistic” often seems more like recruiting for a fraternity or sorority rush.

The clock is ticking and you must persuade your neighbors to join your organization. After rush week, presumably, you need not concern yourself with anyone who has not taken the opportunity to pledge. The decision time to join has passed. Time to start working on new people for next year’s pledge class.

My perception that we evangelists sometimes confuse sharing the good news and “rushing” potential recruits is based on personal experiences. Here’s one example.

A very good friend of mine once asked me about the agenda Christians have. He had had a Christian couple in his neighborhood who seemed to enjoy his company, and they visited regularly to see him at his house. He enjoyed their visits and looked forward to them. Thus he was dismayed when these visits suddenly ended.

My friend had the strong impression the visits had stopped because he had not joined their church. I believe that this was probably the case. If so, there’s something quite wrong with that scenario, and I have a strong suspicion that his experience is not all that uncommon. Doesn’t this sudden lack of interest in him suggest that my friend was seen as only a “means” (increased church membership) instead of an “ends” (someone to be valued regardless of their decisions about joining up)? If so, how truly Christian does this seem?

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