Comments on: Why Do We Evangelize? http://saltypeanutgallery.com/2008/02/04/why-do-we-evangelize/ unsolicited commentary flavored with wit from a decidedly Christian world view Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:31:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Don http://saltypeanutgallery.com/2008/02/04/why-do-we-evangelize/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Don Tue, 05 Feb 2008 03:33:03 +0000 http://saltypeanutgallery.com/2008/02/04/why-do-we-evangelize/#comment-67 Byron, What a great example of what I'm talking about. Be sure and let us know how things work out. Byron,

What a great example of what I’m talking about. Be sure and let us know how things work out.

]]> By: Byron http://saltypeanutgallery.com/2008/02/04/why-do-we-evangelize/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Byron Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:31:03 +0000 http://saltypeanutgallery.com/2008/02/04/why-do-we-evangelize/#comment-64 Well, as one of those "EV Free" guys, I'll certainly take your words as a complement, whether they were intended that way or not, but it is interesting how true I find them to be. I can identify, from my Baptist days, with exactly what you're talking about, Don. The emphasis on "numbers" was at times encouraging, but at times almost nauseating. So much of this can be such a subtle thing. Yes, every person won to faith in Christ is a soul that will not spend eternity in hell. What I'm concerned about, sort of a corollary to your words, is the significant watering down of the gospel, the cheapening of it in many ways, so we can "count" more people, and I've been in situations where the "counting" of people came across as a massive ego thing. I've got a friend (who will remain nameless) who is a good guy, doing a good work, but frankly, not a guy I will ever be real close to, in part because EVERY time I speak with this guy, he manages to talk about the numbers he's running in his church (and they are large, admittedly). But at what price? And with what means? A guy walked into our church building a week ago with some problems, wanting some counsel. I took a couple hours to explain the gospel to him, including talking about where Jesus says, "count the cost", and the fact that Jesus was going to CHANGE his life if he trusted Christ. He trusted Christ. He met me for lunch the next day, and is again tomorrow. He was in church with his girlfriend Sunday, perhaps for the first time in his life for all I know. Know what I'm interested in seeing? Not how many people I can get to "make decisions", but whether this fellow's life is different three months, six months, a year from now. That's where the proof will be in the pudding. And that's where our work as a church---not me, but all of us---will play a role. Well, as one of those “EV Free” guys, I’ll certainly take your words as a complement, whether they were intended that way or not, but it is interesting how true I find them to be. I can identify, from my Baptist days, with exactly what you’re talking about, Don. The emphasis on “numbers” was at times encouraging, but at times almost nauseating. So much of this can be such a subtle thing. Yes, every person won to faith in Christ is a soul that will not spend eternity in hell. What I’m concerned about, sort of a corollary to your words, is the significant watering down of the gospel, the cheapening of it in many ways, so we can “count” more people, and I’ve been in situations where the “counting” of people came across as a massive ego thing. I’ve got a friend (who will remain nameless) who is a good guy, doing a good work, but frankly, not a guy I will ever be real close to, in part because EVERY time I speak with this guy, he manages to talk about the numbers he’s running in his church (and they are large, admittedly). But at what price? And with what means?

A guy walked into our church building a week ago with some problems, wanting some counsel. I took a couple hours to explain the gospel to him, including talking about where Jesus says, “count the cost”, and the fact that Jesus was going to CHANGE his life if he trusted Christ. He trusted Christ. He met me for lunch the next day, and is again tomorrow. He was in church with his girlfriend Sunday, perhaps for the first time in his life for all I know. Know what I’m interested in seeing? Not how many people I can get to “make decisions”, but whether this fellow’s life is different three months, six months, a year from now. That’s where the proof will be in the pudding. And that’s where our work as a church—not me, but all of us—will play a role.

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