I was recently in Pittsburgh with with some other pastors to discuss how to help encourage "stuck churches" regain their missional focus and call.Much of our conversation focused around this word: Evangelism. We discussed at length (and passionatley) just what we mean when we say "evangelism" and just exactly how one measures a church that is healthy in the area of evangelism.
While there were some differences between us pastors as we tried to define the word evangelism, our culture all the more has all kinds of thoughts and images when one hears, "Evangelism" or "Evangelistic" (in some ways Evangelism has become a dirty word as it conjures up images of people passing out tracts, holding picket signs, or even missionary imperialism).
So now I am curious...How do you define the word "Evangelism"? What does Evangelism look like? How does a church measure it's health in this area?
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Gosh...you are so right that Evangelism does "conjure" up feelings about missionary imperialism. I am going to be honest here and tell you that, as a God loving person that wants to communicate God's love in my daily life...the word "evangelist" scares me. It's like the Rorschach ink blot tests...and what spontaneously jumps into my mind doesn't have the most positive of essences. I think of missionary imperialism, global conquering, and also extreme t.v. evangelism. The secondary reaction, once I've had time to think, is positive memories of the Evangelical Free Church I grew up going to in Oregon. And I'm speaking purely of the word and my psychological response, and not its definition, naturally.
Overcoming the negative connotation seems like a large task. I can't say that I can offer any insight but I simply wanted to leave some feedback.
Funny I should read this, because just tonight at the Lakes mall playland, I was approached by a man with his two teenage daughters. He asked me if I was going to Heaven. I responded that I believed I was. He asked how, and he asked me what Jesus meant to me. We bantered back and forth and he seemed for the most part satisfied with my responses, but kept repeating this phrase: "I just need to clarify for you how you can get into Heaven".
I understand the importance of salvation through Jesus, and I jokingly told the man that I thought Jesus was a "stand up dude" (he didn't seem amused) but in my heart, this "street evangelism" is off putting to me.
Getting into Heaven is wonderful...and yes, it is the goal. But there seems to be a "skimming over" that misses the awesome opportunities we have on this earth to care for eachother...communicating God's love...and feeling the calling to serve, without the reward of Heaven constantly dangling in front of us like a piece of meat.
Am I crazy for feeling this way? I don't operate under the constant reminder of Heavan. It just feels so good to be doing His work and loving other people in this life. Conversion and street evangelism have never played a strong roll in my life and I'm not sure they ever will...so where does that leave me, spiritually?
Well, sorry for the novel Dave...but I always am provoked to blabber by your blog entries. ;)
-Chantal
Thanks for sharing a recent experience Chantel. I found it interesting that the conversation you found yourself in hinged on: "I just need to clarify for you how you can get into heaven."
As you recognized, thoughts like this do cause a "skimming over" of the full hope of the gospel. These philosophies of evangelism communicate an "evacuation" theology (we all better jump ship before it gets even worse). Yet the hope of the gospel is not one of evacuation, but of rescue.
When Jesus spoke of "heaven" he spoke of it coming to us (the prayer he taught us, "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven"). Understanding this has profound implications.
Becasue God's kingdom is coming ("as it is in Heanven")our role is not to give out tickets to heaven, but to participate as ushers of God's reign. This means when we care for the poor, the weak, and creation we aren't merely doing good deeds in the name of Christ, we are participating in manifastations of the kingdom come.
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