After reading the article, I do not think it had much of an impact on my perception of Evangelism. In addition, chapter 22 presents a more familiar manifestation of the preaching of the word of God. I am of the opinion that in society, it is customary to consider the virus as something terrible, so this comparison does not seem sufficient to me. However, many of the provisions from the article regarding evangelization and its perception through the human soul, that is, the cultivation of love, are very close to me. I like the idea that I can set an example from my own experience so that people can see and be inspired by Evangelism. Like God and Jesus, his followers must be sincere and genuine.
God never required superhuman qualities to be effective in ministry: He only needs faithful and devoted hearts. Evangelism should be the natural (organic) expression of every believer (Earley & Wheeler 2010). I agree with the following statements that the Gospel should naturally multiply regarding the comparison with the virus. Daily Evangelism is viral in nature: it is contagious yet organic and does not require additional intervention. Evangelism is something involuntary, like breathing, so there is no need to remind about it to participate constantly. The main Bible statement for Evangelism is “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). In my subsequent Evangelism, I would like to combine experiential demonstration with the assurance of the Gospel.
I believe there is a connection between ‘incarnational’ and ‘informational’ approaches to Evangelism. Imitation of how Jesus entered into the characteristics and experience of another, an imitation justified precisely by the fact that Jesus is the uniquely incarnated Christ, seems to be impossible without further telling about Christ. The believer cannot hold onto the good news of Jesus’ saving work. At the same time, as we share the Gospel, we must constantly be aware that we are dealing with non-Christians who are unique individuals. We must take into account each person’s specific situation of loss and determine the way in which we will talk to him about God.
As we lead people to Christ, we must stay with them to help them establish their faith. Then they, too, can be bearers of the good news, and the gospel message will be multiplied by their constant witness. Eventually, the Disciples changed when they saw the resurrected Christ, and the disciples changed radically. Just as God personally brought the Good News to humankind, we must ‘incarnate’ Christ in the lost (Earley 2010). It means penetrating the lives of misguided non-Christians with the goal of not only verbally presenting the Gospel but also living it before them. It is the main value of Evangelism and its affirmation, which in this case does not become ‘empty’ words. While proclamation evangelism may reach some people, the people it reaches are usually already prepared. It happens when they have already heard the fundamental truths of Christianity several times, and God has worked on their hearts. It takes time for them to process the information and see the confirmation of the message, as seen in real life. People need to see Jesus in us before they believe what we have to say about Him.
Reply to James
Good afternoon, James!
I find your post excellent in accepting personal mistakes and getting on the path of righteous Evangelism. However, unfortunately, I do not quite understand your position regarding ‘incarnational’ and ‘informational’ approaches to Evangelism directly in your life. You’re talking about the ‘visual phase’ of your evangelistic project; does this mean that you rely only on incarnational Evangelism. Although you say that there is an inextricable link between incarnational and informational Evangelism, it does not seem evident to me that there is an influence of readings on your perception of Evangelism.
In your post, you mention that you will lead small groups dedicated to biblical theology, which, of course, refers to the informational way of spreading Evangelism. However, it seems that people in such groups already have some idea of faith. As Earley says in his essay ‘A Lifestyle,’ it is suitable for their future choices. It means that they were primarily influenced by incarnational Evangelism. As you rightly point out, a balance of ‘incarnational’ and ‘informational’ Evangelism is more appropriate in your workplace.
However, I see that you and I agree on the balance of ways to spread Evangelism. I also believe that an excellent example from personal experience, backed up by meaningful conversation, can have the most impact on a lost soul. By saying that the Bible is the perfect word and living the life that embodies the person of Christ that we find in the Bible, we are presenting to others a balanced representation of the love of God. On the other hand, if we speak about the truth of the Bible but live a life inconsistent with these truths, the incarnational message will overshadow the informational one. That is why each approach is of little value without the other.
Reply to Jacob
Hello Jacob!
After reading your post, I was inspired by our positions regarding incarnational and informational approaches in the life of an evangelist. The articles we read this week help us understand this even better, as they demonstrate both methods. The quotation you quoted from Tim 2:15 perfectly confirms that it is necessary for a theologian to be a worthy worker who correctly teaches the word of God. I am glad you brought this up as evidence for your position because I think it’s a solid argument. This quotation can also be used as an example for lost sinners to show where the truth lies.
I mentioned in my post that all people are individual, so the approaches to talking with them should be different. You also have it when you emphasize that the use of each of the campaigns, incarnational or informational, is very situational. You have provided excellent examples from your personal life, beyond those in the bible, of how you develop and try to embody the informational approach of Evangelism, apart from the incarnational process. You are a great demonstration of what Tim was talking about, a worthy worker spreading the truth. However, I think it should always be remembered that too many empty words with insufficient effect on the Christian life may seem less sincere. Therefore, a balance should be maintained, which depends on the situation and the needs of the interlocutor. This balance should be the guide for our daily life, and following the example of Christ should be our earthly goal.
References
Earley, Dave, and David Wheeler. “Following the Example of Jesus.” Essay. In Everyday Evangelism: Sharing the Christian Faith, 108–33. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010.
Earley, Dave. “A Lifestyle.” Essay. In Everyday Evangelism: Sharing the Christian Faith, 177–83. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010.
“Romans 1.” Bible Gateway, 2011. Web.