Evangelism

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said the following about evangelism:

• It isn't something you can opt out of: you just do it, even if you are not a professional.
• Do it, not out of duty, but because you love people.  Love as Jesus loves.
• It isn't about results.  Don't try to count the number of conversions or how instantaneously it happens.
• Remember that it is good news.  It is positive, happy news.
• Trust the Holy Spirit to work.
• Pray.
• Be prepared, that your conversations may only bear fruit after you leave the scene.  Give people time to absorb what has been said.
• Don't complicate things.  Only answer what has been asked.  Keep the message simple to understand.
• Always be ready to give an answer.
• Realise the importance of evangelism.

I think Welby made good points.  When we make evangelism out to be an awkward, professional task, we become awkward and unnatural as we try to present the facts to our friends.   When we do it without love as our motivation, our message does not connect as people question our motives.  We do not want to force people to convert, but to give them the opportunity to accept the grace of our Lord.

Do you think so?  Do you find evangelism awkward to do?  Awkward to be on the receiving end of?  Should evangelism be done at the edge of a sword?

Is evangelism a Christian thing, or does it belong to other people too?

Why did Jesus come

During the Christmas season of cheer, people sing of "peace on earth, goodwill to men".  Some remember Jesus in the midst of the season, others don't.  Nevertheless, this warm fuzzy feeling of "peace on earth, goodwill to men" gives people around the world a reason to rejoice.

Do you think so?  What do you think of Christmas?  Does it give you a warm fuzzy feeling?

This year, as I read my Bible, I come across messages of sin and of God's intention to deal harshly with it.

Passages like Revelations 9:20-21:

The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Or Zephaniah 1:18:

Neither their silver nor their gold
    will be able to save them
    on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”

In the fire of his jealousy
    the whole earth will be consumed,
for he will make a sudden end
    of all who live on the earth.

These passages tell me that "peace on Earth, goodwill to men" is not entirely the message that we are to get.  We should also know that Jesus is coming again to judge the world because of its unrighteousness.  While judgement and unrighteousness are not popular messages, it is really something that we need to prepare for if we are to have peace with God ... eternally.

Would you agree?

Should we listen to only messages that we like, and shut out the ones we find unpleasant?  Is there good and bad intertwined, as ying-and-yang?  What is God really telling us?  Are we listening?