Flashback Friday: How NOT To Do Evangelism

This is- quite unfortunately- a true story first posted in 2013. But similar stories play out far too often in our communities every day, so it seemed worth sharing again on this Flashback Friday.

I guess I'm going to hell...

Yesterday afternoon my door bell rang and I peered through the peep hole to see two well dressed middle-aged men standing outside my door. My house is often visited by local Jehovah's Witnesses, and so I opened the door expecting to receive some literature and a few words of encouragement. I was surprised to be told that they were instead representatives of a local Baptist congregation that I am not familiar with (You should know that I  married a Baptist and have lots of wonderful Baptist friends, and that what follows should in no way reflect poorly on the denomination as a whole!). They said that were in the neighborhood to invite people to church and offer them the good news of Jesus. They asked if my family attended church, and I replied that we were a part of Van Dyke United Methodist Church. I expected that to be the end of the conversation. I was so wrong...

The shorter of the two gentlemen said that he was sorry to hear that I attended a Methodist church. He asked if I knew that I was being taught an evil, Satan-inspired theology. When I replied that I did not know that, his partner said that it saddened them to know that I was going to hell. Just like that. Didn't even ask my name before condemning me to hell. These men didn't know me at all, but they had already passed judgement. When I asked how they could be so sure of my eternal destination, they again parroted back the words that I was being taught a Satan-inspired theology and therefore was going to hell. I have to admit, they seemed quite certain! I then asked them if they considered what they were doing to be evangelism in the name of Jesus. When they said yes, I explained to them that I disagreed. I mentioned that I had read somewhere that Jesus came to save to world, not to condemn it, and that if we want people to know him then we need to show them love, because God is love. This staggered them a bit. I then threw another "punch," suggesting that they might want to check the Bible for more information- specifically suggesting that they read 1 John 4:7-8. I said I would pray that they understand the part where John writes that "if we don't love, we don't know God, because God IS love." I finished by saying that while it is important to tell people about Jesus, that Paul pointed out to the church in Corinth that evangelism without love is just noise. I then simply smiled and waited for a response.

None came. Apparently I had scored a TKO by quoting scripture, and so they wished me a good day and left. I didn't even get my copy of the 4 Spiritual Laws or the address of their church. I went back inside and thought and prayed about what I had just experienced, and then I tweeted a short version of the story. I received numerous responses from people who shared my assessment of the situation- that evangelism without love is empty and weak. Many mentioned bad experiences of their own with church folks trying to "scare the hell out of them." Labeling people and denominations, seeking to shock people into relationship with God and judging people we don't know is not what Jesus had in mind when he told to tell the world about him. It scares me to think that these men left me and wandered my neighborhood representing Jesus in such a way. There is simply no telling how much damage was done.

So while they think I am headed to hell, there is work to do in the meantime. If love is the answer no matter the question, then we need to get out there and share the love of Jesus in every way  possible. We need to do random acts of kindness, invite people to the wonderful church I attend, and be the best neighbors we can be. We need to love inclusively. And for our churches, I have a suggestion. In our teaching and training, let's just drop the word evangelism and just start talking about reaching out in love. It's not a program, it's a lifestyle. Just a thought...

And as for my fellow Methodists, I suppose we should all find out how we wound up on a list of "Satan-inspired Christians." My guess is that teaching that the love of God whose name is Jesus is for EVERYONE just rubs some people the wrong way! :)  Have a blessed weekend!

Because of Jesus,

Finding Samaria

There are few scriptures used more in protestant churches than Acts 1:8. It is often the vision statement for both the missions committee and the evangelism committee. At my church it is our mission statement- period! Our pastor often reminds us that we are an Acts 1:8 congregation. This means that we are in ministry from the neighborhood to the nations; from Tampa to Tanzania; from Hillsborough to Haiti; from the Gulf to Guantanamo Bay (As an aside, is it just me or are way too many pastors in love with alliteration? Do they teach it in seminaries? And if so, WHY? Thus endeth my rant!). These final words of Jesus before he ascended to be with the Father give us marching orders, a purpose that the entire family of God should be able to embrace. We are called to carry on the work of Jesus, to be witnesses to all he has said and done. But as I preached in a sermon many years and as my pastor referenced last Sunday, there are subtleties to this passage as well. And one big, honkin' question for each of us as we seek to be witnesses for the Christ. Let's explore!

Over the 2000 years or so since Jesus made this statement it is possible that we have changed the meaning of the word "witness." For many in the church, to witness now means to tell people about what the Savior did for us with the intention of influencing them to attend the church of our choice. Telling people about Jesus is a worthy and noble thing. But to believe that is all this scripture requires of us is to discount the first words of the verse. Jesus indicated that we would "receive power" when the Holy Spirit comes on us. That power should enable us to rattle hearts and minds as we change the world by loving the way Jesus loved. Want people to really hear the Good News? Then SHOW THEM what it means to experience the grace, mercy and unconditional love that can only come from knowing the Messiah. Of course we need to preach the Gospel and tell people about the wonders of our Savior. But as 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us, without love those things mean nothing. And we are commanded to take that love to our communities (Jerusalem), our nation (Judea) and to the very ends of the earth. It is our purpose as a church. Each is important. We often think that foreign mission carry some extra badge of honor. In fact, as Pastor Matthew eloquently pointed out in his message, the trip to our neighbor's house to show them Jesus is often harder than a short-term mission trip. The Great Commission reminds us that we are to GO and TELL. The location is not what's important. God can use us wherever we may be, and God will send us wherever we are needed. Even if it is simply next door.

There is another question this passage should raise for many of us: Why did Jesus include Samaria on this list? The answer is painfully obvious but often ignored. Jesus spoke to a primarily Jewish audience. And that audience HATED Samaria and Samaritans. First century Jews would travel hours out of their way so that their feet would never touch Samarian soil. Samaritans were scorned. Yet Jesus refused to see them that way. And by including Samaria in his Acts 1:8 list, he was making the same point he made with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Everyone is our neighbor. Everyone needs to hear about the love of God whose name is Jesus. Most importantly, everyone needs to experience that love in their lives. The call to be witnesses is a call to not only go to the ends of the earth, but to reach out to the people we dislike the most, to those that we think of as "the least of these." 

When I preached my sermon on this matter some 25 years ago I concluded with the question I will leave you with today. Matthew mentioned it last Sunday as well. As you consider what it means to be a witness for Jesus, to share his love with your neighbors and with the world, ask yourself this: Where is my personal Samaria? More to the point, WHO are the Samaritans in your life? All Christ-followers are called to be witnesses. Not everyone will go to Africa, or take a mission trip every summer, or preach in the town square. God has a purpose and a place for us all, and we know we have been given a power from the Holy Spirit to do these things. But there is one thing I can promise you. To truly be a church that is a witness for Jesus, we are all going to have to visit our personal Samarias and love our personal Samaritans. Even the ones across the street. Let's get crackin'!!!

Because of Jesus,

I'm Going To Hell (Or How Not To Do Evangelism)

Yesterday afternoon my door bell rang, and I peered through the peep hole to see two well dressed middle-aged men standing outside my door.  My house is often visited by local Jehovah's Witnesses, and so I opened the door expecting to receive some literature and a few words of encouragement. I was surprised to be told that they were instead representatives of a local Baptist congregation that I am not familiar with (You should know that I  married a Baptist and have lots of wonderful Baptist friends, and that what follows should in no way reflect poorly on the denomination as a whole!).   They said that were in the neighborhood to invite people to church and offer them the good news of Jesus.  They asked if my family attended church, and relied that we were a part of Van Dyke United Methodist Church.  I expected that to be the end of the conversation.  I was so wrong...

The shorter of the two gentlemen said that he was sorry to hear that I attended a Methodist church.  He asked if I knew that I was being taught an evil, Satan-inspired theology.  When I replied that I did not know that, his partner said that it saddened them to know that I was going to hell.  Just like that. Didn't even ask my name before condemning me to hell.  These men didn't know me at all, but they had already passed judgement.  When I asked how they could be so sure of my eternal destination, they again parroted back the words that I was being taught a Satan-inspired theology and therefore was going to hell.  I have to admit, they seemed quite certain!  I then asked them if they considered what they were doing to be evangelism in the name of Jesus.  When they said yes, I explained to them that I disagreed.  I mentioned that I had read somewhere that Jesus came to save to world, not to condemn it, and that if we people to know him then we need to show them love, because God is love.  This staggered them a bit. I then threw another "punch," suggesting that they might want to check the Bible for more information- specifically suggesting that they read 1 John 4:7-8.  I said I would pray that they understand the part where John writes that "if we don't love, we don't know God, because God IS love."  I finished by saying that while it is important to tell people about Jesus, that Paul pointed out to the church in Corinth that evangelism without love in just noise. I then simply smiled and waited for a response.

None came.  Apparently I had scored a TKO by quoting scripture, and so they wished me a good day and left.  I didn't even get my copy of the 4 Spiritual Laws or the address of their church.  I went back inside and thought and prayed about what I had just experienced, and then I tweeted a short version of the story. I received numerous responses from people who shared my assessment of the situation- that evangelism without love is empty and weak.  Many mentioned bad experiences of their own with church folks trying to "scare the hell out of them."  Labeling people and denominations, seeking to shock people into relationship with God and judging people we don't know is not what Jesus had in mind when he told to tell the world about him.  It scares me to think that these men left me and wandered my neighborhood representing Jesus in such a way.  There is simply no telling how much damage was done.

So while they think I am headed to hell, I have work to do in the meantime.  If love is the answer no matter the question, then I need to get out there and share the love of Jesus in every way  possible.  I need to do random acts of kindness, invite people to the wonderful church I attend, and be the best neighbor I can be. And for our churches, I have a suggestion.  In our teaching and training, let's just drop the word evangelism and just start talking about reaching out in love. It's not a program, it's a lifestyle. Just a thought...

And as for my fellow Methodists, I suppose we should all find out how we wound up on a list of "Satan-inspired Christians."  My guess is that teaching that the love of God whose name is Jesus is for EVERYONE just rubs some people the wrong way! :)  Have a blessed weekend!

Because of Jesus,

The Great Confusion

Anyone who has spent time around a Christian church is most likely aware of something called The Great Commission.  This directive comes directly from the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20, in which he tells his followers to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  Pretty straightforward you would think.  Go tell everyone.  So why is it we struggle with all 3 of those words.  We don't really want to GO.  We have a hard time discerning what we are supposed to TELL them about our faith.  And quite often we wonder...did Jesus really mean EVERYONE?  Only an institution like the church could turn The Great Commission into The Great Confusion...


I used to be a youth pastor, and when you serve the church in that role the task of telling everyone about Jesus takes on a very narrow meaning.  You GO to schools, ballgames, concerts and other places where the students can be found.  You TELL students about the love of God and about your ministry- and then hope your words and their friends will help them show up at church so the conversation can continue.  It seems so obvious that your task is to tell EVERYONE you can.  You stay awake at nights thinking of new ways to engage a larger audience with the gospel.  It's a huge part of why you do what you do.

This is what a pile of  Waycross 7th grade
cheerleaders looked like in 2006...

But the church does not always see it that way.  Oh, they talk a good game, but the fact is they are often threatened by outreach and evangelism.  I was called on the carpet more than once in my career and told that I was spending too much time with students who were not church members.  This seldom came from the staff; it usually came from the parents of students who were church members.  I'll share an example of what I mean from my final stop, Trinity UMC of Waycross, GA.  Our student ministry was rather small when I arrived in 2006, so I began to GO and TELL every chance I got.  As the 2006-07 school year began, I was everywhere, sharing about our church and my Savior.  We had a couple of middle school cheerleaders who were a part of group, and they got excited about inviting friends to our ministry.  Within a few weeks, we were overrun with middle school cheerleaders, most of them 7th graders.  At various points in time over a dozen of them attended our youth group.  I was thrilled at this new growth.  The two sets of parents who went to the senior pastor and complained were not.  When new high school guys began to come be part of our ministry because I let them use our youth house for their rock band to practice, parents complained again- because their kids weren't getting all of my attention.  My pastors supported me, but the conflict remained.  And this was not my first such experience.  I have been told a number of times over the years that, "your first priority is to students whose families are church members.  After all, they pay your salary."  And there it is...


The Great Confusion takes Jesus' command to share his love with the world and makes it all about me.  If we really reach new people, they might sit in my pew.  They might draw attention away from me.  They might take my seat on the Church Council.  Their children might be more talented than mine, and little Bobby and Sissy may not get to sing lead vocals with the youth Praise Team anymore!  We reduce The Great Commission to writing checks for overseas missions and calling it a day, when in fact some of the biggest mission fields are located in our own back yards.  They're called schools.  And right now there are thousands - THOUSANDS! - of Christ-loving youth workers who want to reach those schools with the gospel, only to find that one of their roadblocks is their own church- because church members continue to make the institution "all about me."  Real youth ministry is not about scheduling events at times that are convenient for church members, or about keeping the riff-raff away from "our good kids."  It's about reaching the lost.  It's about loving them in name of Jesus.  It's about equipping "our kids" to care for those who are hurting and are lost.  So c'mon, church!  It's time to get with the program.  GO.  TELL.  EVERYONE.  Let there be no confusion about our mission...


Because of Jesus,

Sheep Stealers

This past Wednesday I made an evening run to our local Sweetbay grocery store.  As I pushed my cart through the produce section I saw a man waving to me, and I recognized him as someone who had once been a part of the congregation at Wesley Memorial UMC during the time that I served that church.  We'll call him "Roger."  I had run into Roger a couple of times since moving back to Tampa in 2007, and he had always been friendly.  Actually, more than friendly.  You see, Roger is a talker.  Anything under 30 minutes is a short conversation when talking to him. This time, after a quick "hello" and a "how's the family?" Roger got straight to the point.  He asked me where we are going to church now, and after barely waiting for my answer told me where his family was attending.  That information was followed immediately by a barrage of dazzling facts.  Their church was growing at what sounded like an amazing rate.  They have 11,000 members.  They have 4 services in their auditorium that seats 3000.  They have a men's bible study on Tuesday nights with over 250 men.  After each incredible statistic, he told me that this was the church my family and I should attend.  And after each invitation, he mentioned what he clearly found to be the most amazing thing of all- the church has a Starbucks in it.  I stood there a bit dumbstruck at first, but then reminded Roger that we love our church and were not looking to move.  He then began to tell me how many of his mega-church's members had recently left another (even larger) local mega-church to attend his.  This was a point of great pride in his eyes.  In fact, according to Roger, people from all over Tampa Bay are leaving their churches to come to his- and he insisted we should join them.  

I know that there are plenty of valid reasons for people to switch churches.  The fact that another church is larger and has a Starbucks inside is NOT one of those valid reasons.   When I once again pointed out to Roger that my family loves our church, he gave it one final shot- which I am sure in his mind seemed like an offer I couldn't refuse.  He gave me (see picture) a card good for a free cup of Starbucks coffee if I would only give his church a try.  At that point, I kinda lost it.  I complimented Roger on his enthusiasm for his church, but then pointed out that what he was engaging in was not evangelism.  I am already a Christ-follower and already have a church.  Roger (and I am guessing lots of other folks from that mega-church) has been trained in the fine art of Sheep Stealing.  When you focus your efforts on getting people to move from one church to another rather than on engaging new people with the gospel, then you are Sheep Stealing- raiding another flock so that your flock looks more impressive.  Unfortunately, far too often this is how large churches get to be larger.  They are able to build fancy structures and offer programming that make them a sort of Six Flags Over Jesus.  Then they make sure everyone in the community knows that they offer things that a smaller church cannot.  And soon, the sheep began to be lured in.  Throw in a cup of Starbucks, a gymnasium, and a high profile pastor-  and the sheep are hooked...


So my question to you today is this- when was the last time you invited someone to go to church with you who doesn't already have a church home?  Jesus told us that he came for the lost and the sick.  We spend too much of our time giving band-aids to people who already know where the hospital is.  Sheep Stealing is easy.  Sheep Making- now there's a challenge that can only be met by leading people to the Good Shepherd.  Let's get busy with the business of Jesus.  And "Roger," if you're reading...my family doesn't drink coffee.  Put in a Slurpee machine and we'll talk!  :)


Because of Jesus,