I’m NOT evangelical.
I may be many, many things… but evangelical is not one of them. Do I believe in the benefit of spreading the Gospel? Absolutely. But I believe we spread it in the same way Christ and the Disciples did- not by handing out tracts (or as Mike Frost once heard them called “Jesus Brochures”) or putting on plays or dancing in the streets or inviting over every single person you meet for a dinner that’s actually just a way to trap them so they have to listen to you… instead- we go out on the streets. We hold these people. We live side by side with them. We don’t bring them into our homes, we go into theirs. We take part in their lives. We minister to them. We meet practical needs. We clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give homes to the homeless, comfort the grieving, care for the sick, hold the hand of the dying.
Imagine if tomorrow morning we woke up to a world where Christians once again (as they did in times of plague and disease past) had the reputation for being where there was need, giving selflessly, treating their own lives as if they had no value because they knew their value came from God. Imagine that everywhere need was felt, God’s hands were present because ours were. Imagine if we sold our possessions to take care of the needy, if all of the military widows who are grieving right now were taken in and cared for, if the homeless were given the skills and attention they need to be valuable to society once more, if the starving in Africa were fed, if the street children of Guatemala were given parents, if the hospitals around the globe where people perish in stink and agony were filled with hands to hold.
How long do you think it would take for people to start saying, “Who is this Jesus guy? I want to know him!”
? How long?
Think about it.
Nicole replied:
I wish this place had a [this is good] button, because this is good!
May 12, 2008 at 12:08 pm. Permalink.
Rob V. replied:
” instead- we go out on the streets. We hold these people. We live side by side with them. We don’t bring them into our homes, we go into theirs. We take part in their lives. We minister to them. We meet practical needs. We clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give homes to the homeless, comfort the grieving, care for the sick, hold the hand of the dying.”
Be careful, you’re implying there are no evangelicals or evangelical churches who do this. This is absolutely not the case, because we have been mandated by Jesus to do this. Just because you don’t see it yourself doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
May 12, 2008 at 12:50 pm. Permalink.
Lindsey replied:
Rob: Perhaps you misunderstand me. First, I listed things that non-Christians see as the principle ways of evangelizing (tracts, “street performances”), and then listed what I see as the true spreading of the gospel (the list you posted.)
I never said, “this is the only thing these churches do” and “this is the only acceptable way”. Simply, “this is what people see” (because, as a whole, if you asked a non-Christian on the street what they believe is “Evangelical behavior) they would list those first things. Trust me, I’ve asked) and, “this is how I myself behave/wish others would.”
My own home church is what many would describe as Evangelical. We do street performances and street ministry, and there are Jesus Brochures to take in the entryway- but we also do a lot of hands on ministry, visit the sick, buy food for the hungry, there are a few homeless people from our town who are regular attenders as well as often present throughout the day on weekdays, and we are an active and necessary part of our community. Our pastor is a good friend of the mayor and is a major participant in community forums and our church has been principle in a program to reface downtown buildings- volunteering not only to help people care for the physical aspects of their homes but also refacing community businesses and helping to rebuild a derelict hotel which now gives low cost housing to the working poor and people trying to transition out of jail.
To put it simply, I practice what I preach on this one. And I do believe that the second thing is true evangelism, and have witnessed very vibrant churches who practice it. But if you look at the Evangelical stereotype, what do you think people would identify? So let’s work together and change that stereotype.
May 12, 2008 at 12:59 pm. Permalink.
shellakers replied:
This is absolutely what ALL christians should be doing. We all fall short but this is a reminder, to me, that there is ALWAYS more to be done. It’s like, “Put your money where your mouth is”.
Very good, as always
May 12, 2008 at 1:05 pm. Permalink.
M54 replied:
But Lindsey you left out the most important thing… we must pray for ourselves and the “unchurched”. I am sure it goes without saying that this is part of it though. And I do mean MOST IMPORTANT PART.
I own a service business and regularly perform (probono) services for either churches, non-profit or needy individuals. Additionally, I use income from my business to serve more tangable needs.
Some people ask “When you see a panhandler, what do you do?” Well, I say, over time I have allowed the Holy Spirit to work in me to give me that nudge to or not too. But whenever in doubt, always give. That way your heart is pure and if the “panhandler” was just working you that’s on him/her.
I don’t write this to say that I am all that and a bag of chips but too say that there are many ways we can serve our community.
I often think how sad it is when a person who professes to be a Christian is asked at work; “Are you a Christian?” I mean this “Christian” has been working with this person. Shouldn’t the fruit tree be obvious? (without beating them over the head with one of the branches of course)
May 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm. Permalink.
Rob V. replied:
I think I see what you’re saying now. Fair enough.
May 12, 2008 at 3:56 pm. Permalink.
wep601 replied:
This is good stuff… reminds me of a quote “Preach the Gospel always…use words if necessary.” (St. Francis). I tend to agree that folks would be rushing to know Jesus if Christianity were lived out as you describe.
May 12, 2008 at 4:21 pm. Permalink.
jaklumen replied:
I’m reminded of some of my experiences with the 12 Steps, as many 12-Steppers use some of the same language at times that evangelicals do.
One particular group I was involved in was comprised of members of my faith. Two of the books I used a lot were written by a wife/husband team. The wife wrote the groundbreaking book, while the husband wrote a book on a more particular issue. The latter was my long-distance sponsor for a time.
The wife was very pro-evangelical, at least in some of the more traditional and stereotypical aspects. She thought the LDS faith should use more evangelical language, and when corresponding politics crept into her correspondences, it made me VERY uncomfortable. As a general rule, we are discouraged from endorsing partisan views in church. Personally, I find campaigning in church to be abhorrent.
@M54: Some people ask “When you see a panhandler, what do you do?”
This is more or less the LDS answer, and I hope that it agrees with what you have said:
” And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.
Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—
But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.
And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.
I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.
And again, I say unto the poor, ye who have not and yet have sufficient, that ye remain from day to day; I mean all you who deny the beggar, because ye have not; I would that ye say in your hearts that: I give not because I have not, but if I had I would give.
And now, if ye say this in your hearts ye remain guiltless, otherwise ye are condemned; and your condemnation is just for ye covet that which ye have not received.” (Mosiah 4:16-25)
So, generally, in my poverty, I am wont to say, “I give not, because I have not.” Of course, my time, my talents, and my willingness to serve are still quite available.
Earlier in the book it says “…when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” So service is very, very important and very emphasized in my faith. When a non-member friend moved recently, I helped him. It was something I had done so many times for members of varying activity and attendance– well, that is just what I do, without too much thought. I still could do better, but I am grateful that I was taught how important it was.
Our church has a lay ministry, which filters down to the individual members. All males in good standing over the age of 12 are called to be home teachers, that is, are assigned to minister to individual families of the ward (congregation). All women over the age of 18 (that is, the adult women’s group) and in good standing are called to be visiting teachers, that is, are assigned to minister to individual women of the ward. That way, there is two men to look after every family, and two women to look after every woman. They are all charged to meet the very definitions of ministry you (Lindsey) described.
I have been a home teacher, although I am not at this time. I was taught time and time again, through example and mentoring, how to serve the families I was assigned to. I learned many lessons of compassion and empathy as well as working hard to help families in need. Needless to say, I have been very grateful to home teachers who helped my family when we were in need, too.
I weep for friends that have been hurt by insensitivity, carelessness, and spiritual blindness of individual members, especially when it has led them to leave the faith or even fight against it. But I know that member ministry is the bread and butter of my faith. Although there have been times I have languished in despair, when I stretched forth my effort to serve, somehow, my needs were taken care of.
May 12, 2008 at 8:51 pm. Permalink.
dpcpastor replied:
Lindsey,
I agree with you on almost everything EXCEPT your definition of an evangelical. You are confussing “fundamentalist” with “evangelical” and they are not at all the same. In fact, evangelicals are many of the things you are saying you are. This week there was an Evangelical Manifesto which was released for the very purpose of explaining waht evangleicals are adn are not. We are not “Fundamentalist”. A simplistic, but helpful, way of looking at it is that “Fundamentalist” looked to Jerry Falwell as their leader while “Evangleicals” look to Billy Graham. There is a HUGE difference between the two.
Evangleicals care for AIDS patients, run WOrld Visison and Compassion International, fight for civil rights and house the poor. In fact the National Association of Evangelicals heads one of the world largest relief minsitires called World Relief.
I’m sorry if I am making too much of this but, you see, I am an evangelical BUT I am not at all like those you described.
Blessings,
Darian
May 13, 2008 at 12:13 am. Permalink.