Defensive Evangelism
For the last few months, I have been working with the missional team at Castle Rock. During the last class, we were discussing the “mission” of the church. Particularly, we were dealing with Castle Rock’s focus on mission. During the conversations, we heard numerous stories of the negative public image of the churches of Christ. Of course, here in Colorado, you have less of this, but if people have an impression of the church, it is a negative one. This caused the group to start to ask the question, of what is at the root of a lack of evangelism in the church. We talked about the fear in evangelism as well as the barriers to evangelism. We honed in on this talk by identifying that often evangelism in the churches of Christ starts with a defensive position. It seems that we start by having to defend ourselves from criticism. Instead of starting at Jesus, or love, or some more positive element of the faith, we are defeating ourselves from misconceptions or harsh past behavior, or whatever. Instead of focusing on “the faith” we are focusing on image issues. Think about what this dynamic creates. We feel we are backed against a wall at the beginning. This really starts a conversation in a bad direction. In a culture that does not want to fight about religion, or a culture where your ideas are as valid as mine, this creates a difficult conversation. Of course the people you are talking with can label you, and attack you, so much for this your ideas are as good as mine, usually this is a one sided issue, but we are in a precarious situation. Maybe this helps to explain why evangelism is on a decline in our congregations.
Related posts:
- Article on Missional Evangelism
- Evangelism That Will Not Work
- Incarnational Cultural Evangelism
- Review of “Mystic Way of Evangelism”
- Attending Evangelism University
About The Author
Sounds like some great conversations to me.
It is one thing to invite someone to join you and a few other Christian friends into your community, eventually being reading the Bible together as questions and curiosities are aroused, to seek God as co-sojourners in search of the life God calls us for regardless of where each person is in the journey. It is another thing to act as though we’ve got the Bible thing all figured out and the others just need to listen and learn. It seems that the former seeks to be and develop disciples of Jesus while the later seeks to be and develop disciples of a sectarian doctrine.
Grace and peace,
Rex
maybe we need to be converting people by the witness of our actions and our lives, not with words?
If the label “Church of Christ” is a barrier, consider changing it. My church decided to name ourselves “Northside Community Church”
Scripture does teach a wife can to lead her husband to the Lord without a word. But hopefully we understand what all Peter is saying. Truth is, action and lives lived are important in leading others to Jesus but without the hearing of the gospel (words) one cannot be saved. 1 cor 15:1-4 and other passages teach the same. Your church decided to change it’s name. Well and good if that is what you want. Church of Christ used as stating who we belong to is not a barrier. It is identifying who we belong to. As a community church are you out in the community? Are you sharing and teaching (words) that one may hear and be saved? Or are you saying come on in and do whatever and believe whatever you want regardless of scripture?
Sonny,
I think your reading Wendy’s comment in to pejorative of a sense. I am neither for or against removing the denominational name “Church of Christ” from the marquee sign but I have seen circumstances where being associated with that denominational name (and that is how it has been used) has been a barrier…and I have seen circumstances where it was the opposite because of the good reputation held by a local Church of Christ. But let’s not kid ourselves…if we need a sign on the front of the building that reads “Church of Christ” in order to identify who we belong too then we might as well pack up our bags and go home because we surely are very far from the disciples Jesus called us to be if the only way people connect us as belonging to Christ is by some church name.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Sonny, yes as a community church we are out in the community. We are involved in community programs as well as hosting programs in our building which benefit the community. Our name also informs the community that we are open and accessible to all. What makes you think we say do whatever or believe whatever?
Hey as I said it is your business what you put on a sign. IMOP allowing the name of Christ to be shown is not a barrier. I do not wear the name “church of Christ” as a denominational name. Only as showing who I belong too. Those who wear others names may honor Christ too. I was not born yesterday or born again yesterday. Wendy I am glad you are in the community serving. I often preach we must be a community church. Regardless of where we support ($) preaching as a congregation our greatest service should be in our own community. What makes me think you say do whatever or believe whatever? I have my ears open and that is what I hear.
Rex what does “pejorative of a sense” mean? If you wish to be the denominational church of Christ that is not my business is it. Blogs are to write to and to respond to. Allow God to judge.
Sonny,
That line was meant to read “…in to much of a pejorative sense” and by that I meant that you seem to be reading her comment as being somehow derogatory when that is not the tone she seems to be trying to convey. Any ways…we can all talk about wearing the name of Christ non-denominationally but talk is only talk. When we who are members of a local “Church of Christ” or “church of Christ” (capitalization makes no difference) defend that name/phrase as though it is the only name by which a local Christian church can identify itself on its marquee sign, we denominate the name. When institutions and para-church ministries affiliated with our fellowship take that name to claim affiliation only with a select number of local churches, what has been created is a denomination. We may not like it but it is what it is. The Churches of Christ – those churches who support colleges like Freed-Hardeman, Harding, ACU, etc… – are a denomination by our own making.
Grace and peace,
Rex
Rex you have made several judgments that you only think is true. You judged that I was being derogatory. I was not. You seem to know what she was saying but not knowing what I was saying. Maybe you agree with Wendy more than me? (that is ok) I agree that talk is only talk. Wearing the name of Christ “even on a sign” is not a barrier. Maybe how a local congregation acts and treats others makes it a barrier? I have never stated that CoC is the only way we can identify ourselves. No I don’t by into “denominational” Christianity. You seem to and that too is ok. Because I may support (never given them a penny but our youth from my area have done well there) does not make me a part of a denomination. Teaching is what separates denominational-ism from one who wishes to be a part of the body of Christ.