Solutions for the Problems You Have with Evangelism

There is little doubt that God’s mission and mandate for his church centers on evangelism. This means that, no matter what churches are doing, the primary objective must be clearly and plainly communicating the gospel. Our message is good news – God loves our sinful humanity so much that he gave his only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Carl F. H. Henry once wrote: “The gospel is only good news if it gets there on time.” Most Christians know this is true; however, we are consumed with other activities and forget the importance of evangelism. Below give 5 reasons for this misplaced focus and then give some recommendations.

First, We fail to maintain an eternal emphasis — being evangelistic requires us to remember that every person is an eternal soul. The daily pressures of this world are distracting and we assume this is all there is. But, we need to live with eternity in mind.

REMEDY: Say to yourself, “This person is an eternal soul. They will live forever somewhere. What can I say today that will point them to heaven?”

Second, We are too concerned with approval of others — the church engages in many activities that will generate public applause. Evangelism is not one of these activities. If our ears are tuned to the approval of those outside the church, we will find other “noble” activities and neglect evangelism.

REMEDY: Seek God’s approval first and remember, when someone trust Christ, they will be eternally thankful for your courage.

Third, We are silenced by bad examples of evangelism — we all have seen bad models of evangelism, models that are mocking or humiliating. Fear of being labeled, or being viewed like these bad examples keeps many silent.

REMEDY: You don’t allow bad table manners to stop you from eating, instead, you strive for dignity when you eat. Rather than letting these bad examples of evangelism to keep you silent, determine to be a good example for others.

Fourth, We forget that the gospel is the solution to social needs — This world is broken! People are hurting. Lives are being destroyed. Evil seems to be winning. Physical needs overwhelm our senses and “mere words” seem so futile. In the face of social issues, it is tempting to neglect sharing the gospel.

REMEDY: Don’t stop providing help. However, never “just” meet physical needs. The gospel is the only lasting solution for this broken world and for those suffering under the penalty and pain of sin.

Fifth, We believe our lack of knowledge justifies silence — there is so much we don’t know about the Bible. We are afraid to share because there are so many questions someone could ask us. We don’t want to lead someone astray and we do not want to be embarrassed by what we don’t know. This fear keeps us from trying.

REMEDY: Share anyway! Study what you don’t know. Let your lack of knowledge be the impulse to study. Here is a link to a simple, free online course on basic Christian Doctrine that I worked on several years ago. Many have found it helpful. Check it out here

Making Much of Halloween and other Cultural Opportunities

Should Christians participate in Halloween?

Should Christians support sporting events, attend plays, or movies?

Should Christian parents encourage kids to play city/club sponsored team sports?

The questions above, or some form of these questions, have been asked by Christians for centuries. Of course, the details are different, but the sentiment is the same. What is the relationship between our Christian faith and our culture? Different Christians leaders have supplied different answers.

As we approach holiday seasons (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year), I thought I would take a few minutes to to give you some handles for thinking through these issues and view these opportunities from a missionary perspective.

Here are a couple bits of advice.

1. Reject the notion that everything cultural is terrible.

When we feel maligned and belittled, it is tempting to define faithfulness as huddling in a corner with likeminded believers and lobbing criticism at those who are different. This may make us feel safe, but it also makes us skeptical of anyone who does not believe and behave exactly like us.

2. Reject the notion that everything in culture is good and can be redeemed.

Christ is not the hero of our or any culture. There are elements of our culture that Christians should avoid because of our love for God and fellow human beings. Living in this world requires us to know when to say “ok” and when to say, “nope.”

3. Reject the notion that we should Christianize, or create Christian alternatives, for elements of our culture.

God has not called us to make every element of this, or any culture, Christian. Some aspects of culture are acceptable just as they are. They are, for all intents and purposes, neutral and can be enjoyed or ignored. We don’t do God, our churches, our families, or our reputation, any favors by creating alternatives to every “secular” event.

Rather than being a cultural naysayer, cultural glut, or cultural imitator, I suggest that Christians maximize cultural elements to extend the ministry of Christ. Consider these questions. . .

1. Is it possible to share a witness for Christ to the lost through this event, holiday, or activity?

2. Is it possible to encourage someone who is hurting, lonely, or neglected by including them in my celebrations?

3. Is it possible to equip less mature believers through these activities?

4. Is it possible to show the beauty of the Christian message by engaging with those who participate?

5. Is it possible to enjoy God’s good world and enjoy friendship with other people in a Christ-honoring way?

Our calendar and the events of our lives do not catch God by surprise. Let’s seek ways to join Him in His work in this world for His glory.

If you are interested, here is another post I wrote for Southeastern Seminary about this topic How Our Calendar Helps with Evangelism

Are You Neglecting this Good thing that Pleases the Lord

Christian leaders can be extremely busy, but are we busy with the right thing?

We live in a broken world with troubles beyond our abilities. We are called on to give leadership, counsel, teaching, organization, resolve conflict, and meet human needs. We teach. We write. We study. We guide. We laugh, and we cry.

Being involved in Christian ministry, whether you are paid or volunteer, can be a hectic and stressful life.

The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to Timothy, one of the young men he had mentored in ministry. Apparently, Timothy was struggling with his ministerial duties and conflicts in the church. Paul provided this young leader several practical handles for ministry and he also challenged him to be faithful in the core elements of his duties — to keep the faith and preach a pure gospel.

As he offered ministry advice, Paul dropped a surprising gem of wisdom on this young pastor. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, he tells Timothy that one of the primary responsibilities of the minister is to pray for his people.

First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,  who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It is tempting to shift the responsibility of this command to all believers, and we know that all Christians are supposed to pray! But the context of this verse makes it clear that the “first” duty of the minister is prayer, intercession, and thanksgiving for all people.

HERE ARE 3 OBSERVATIONS FOR A PRAYING PASTOR:

A Pastor’s Prayer is Good and Pleases God - Go to a bookstore, or check Amazon.com and you will find scores of books telling you how to serve the church. Most are written from such a position of authority that you feel guilty when you are finished.

Every Christian minister I know wants to please the Lord in what they do. The work of the ministry is deadly (and eternally) serious. It is exceedingly complicated and complex. However, according to this passage, one duty that every minister should make the priority is praying for our people.

The Bible tells us that intercessory prayer is “good, and it pleases God our Savior.”

A Pastor’s Prayer is Evangelistic and Gospel-Centered - The content of our prayers should rest on the gospel. Our God is a saving God. He wants all to be saved and come to a knowledge of Jesus. As we pray, we can follow this pattern, knowing that we can ask God for the salvation and Christian growth of our people.

Pastor, are your people struggling with finances, in marriage, with their kids? Is your church not baptizing new believers? Is it not growing or reaching the lost? Are we praying? Are we interceding on behalf of our people to a God who wants all to know him? Allow the gospel to guide intercession for your people.

A Pastor’s Prayer Keeps His Heart Warm Toward His People - It is nearly impossible to be cold-hearted toward people you are praying for. The commission Paul gives to Timothy includes the instructions to pray with “thanksgiving” about all people.

Now I know how difficult people can be in ministry. I even know the joke that sounds something like: “if it weren’t for the people this would be a breeze. . . but if it weren’t for the people, we wouldn’t have a job.”

But I have to ask myself, when was the last time I gave thanks for the people and the ministry God has given me. I don’t remember thanking God for the student who comes to me with excuses and needs, or the small group member who is battling (or not battling) sin, or the church member who asks questions about everything. If I did - I would have a much warmer heart toward them. About that, I have no doubt.

So Christian leader, I ask you — are you neglecting the good thing that pleases the Lord? Is your soul suffering because of this neglect?

Will you join me in making a new commitment to pray for the people God has placed around me?

What NOT to do When you Fail or Sin

One of the most well-known stories in the Bible is the Good Samaritan. It is a tale about a man who was attacked and left for dead. Two religious men see him in trouble, but refuse to help. Then a Samaritan walked by. Now, if you didn’t grow up in church, you might not realize that Jew’s hated Samaritans; this was the enemy approaching a wounded man. Tension mounts. What would happen?

Rather than ignoring or taking advantage, helped the injured man, the Samaritan helped. He covered the wounds and provided a place of safety.

Even though this is one of the most famous stories Jesus ever told, many don’t realize that he was answering a question. In Luke 10, a man asked Jesus what he needed to do in order to be right with God. The response Jesus gave included, “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27).

Then the man responded, “Who is my neighbor?”

Luke tells us that the man was not asking so that he could change his behavior or to make sure that he was doing the right things. Instead, he was trying to make himself look good. He wanted to “justify himself.”

This is a common temptation. We can see it in the Bible as far back as the garden. We can see it in our kids when they say: “It wasn’t me.” We see it in ourselves when we make a mistake or commit a sin, and don’t want to admit fault. Our first reaction is self-preservation and self-justification. “It wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t really a sin.”

Though self-justification is normal, it is also unhealthy for 3 reasons:

1. It leaves us vulnerable to the same temptation again. If we refuse to acknowledge our sin, we will not feel it’s weight. We are then more likely to do it again.

2. It rejects the possibility that we hurt someone else and need to help them heal. All of our sin is against God, but it also hurts others. When we justify ourselves and deny wrong-doing, we make light of the experiences of others and are not able to help them recover from our sin.

3. It damages our relationships with ourselves, others, and God. Our sin does not make God love us any less, but it does erect a barrier of relationship from our end. The shame we feel keeps us from prayer and the Bible. It keeps us from God.

Rather than denying we are wrong or justifying our actions as right, the better reaction is to face our failure head-on. When we sin, admit it, confess it, and make things right. It won’t be the easiest, but it will be the step that brings healing and protection from future sin.

We all have co-workers, classmates, or family members who never admit a mistake or confess a sin. They think they are justified, but they are not fooling anyone but themselves. These people have fewer friends, live shallow lives, and are much more prone to behavior that is self-destructive.

The Bible tells us: If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Confession sounds like a complicated religious ritual. We get visions of a priest behind a screen. However, the word simply means: “to agree.” Or “to say the same thing.”

According to this verse, we receive forgiveness and cleansing from God when we agree that we have blown it — he already knows, so we say the same thing. “God this really was wrong. It was hurtful to _____. I am sorry.” This is the pathway to being cleansed from all unrighteousness.

Say “good-bye” to self-justification and say “hello” to owning, apologizing, and walking away from sin and destructive behavior. Say hello to forgiveness and a clean life.

Two Pop-Icons Share Their Struggles with Porn

What is it like to write a book about pornography?

Since publishing Bondage and Freedom: Escaping the Trap of Pornography, I have had some interesting, even awkward, conversations. I will be standing in a group, and someone will say, “Hey, I just read your book. It was really good.”

I usually respond with, “Thanks.” But I am thinking, which book, the one about missions or the one about pornography? When someone says they liked the book, I never know what they like, or what they are saying at that moment.

On the other hand, I have had some terrific conversations. People asking for help, confess addictions, and even tell how much the book has helped them fight for freedom. This is always encouraging.

A few times I have had people ask, “Why did you write this book? Why are you making such a big deal about porn?”

After telling the story behind the book, I talk about the real dangers of porn and the damage it does to people. Porn is not just a problem for religious people. Those who hate porn are not puritanical fundamentalists. In my book, I cite several pop-culture icons who, to my knowledge, are not religious at all.

First, comedian Chris Rock discussed how pornography destroyed his marriage. He says that his addiction to porn damaged his ability to interact with people in normal social contexts. He says, “When you watch too much porn, you know what happens? You become, like, sexually autistic. You develop sexual autism. You have a hard time with eye contact and verbal cues … You get desensitized.” He talks about missing appointments, being unable to look people in the eye, and struggling to have conversations.

It takes a lot of courage for a mega-star to publicly discuss how his addiction killed his relationships, his emotions, and ultimately ended his marriage. Props to Chris Rock. Want to know more about Chris Rock’s struggle and his thoughts, check them out here: https://fightthenewdrug.org/chris-rock-speaks-out-on-porns-harms/

Second, actor Russell Brand. In 2015, the Brand posted a video about the dangers of pornography and how all porn, even so-called “soft-core” porn hurts us. He was specifically talking about the 50 Shades of Gray movies. He said, “If I had total dominion over myself, I would never look at porn again.” He talked about how porn makes him think less of himself and of others. He says that his use of porn made him insensitive to the needs of others and his own needs. When others become objects, we love them less, and when we watch porn, we eventually think less of ourselves. You can see two videos by Russell Brad here: https://fightthenewdrug.org/russell-brand-reveals-why-he-chooses-not-to-watch-porn/

Thankfully both of these men seem to have broken free from the trap of pornography. Their struggles mirror the experiences of so many young men and women. This is one of the main reasons I have written bondage and freedom as a tool and a help for those who are struggling. Yes, it has led to more than a few awkward conversations, but the thrill of hearing how people are working to escape is worth it. The damage from pornography is real but the possibility of freedom is available.