A few years ago, a funny incident occurred at a convenience store, involving my dad and my stepmom Betty. She was waiting in the car, which was left running while Dad ran into the store to grab something. When he came out, he got in the car and could barely squeeze into the seat. He said, "Betty, what are you doing messing with the seat?" He then began backing the car out of the parking space. As he turned to look behind him, he noticed that the lady in the seat next to him wasn't his wife Betty. It was a terrified older woman! Dad had gotten into the wrong car!
Mistaken identity can also happen in evangelism. People can think they're doing evangelism when they're really not. The consequences can be more serious than embarrassment. So in chapter five of his book, The Gospel & Personal Evangelism, Mark Dever mentions five things mistaken for evangelism.
- Imposition. Some people don't practice evangelism because they think they're imposing their beliefs on others. While some people are definitely guilty of giving that impression, such is not the nature of true evangelism. The gospel is not an opinion or even a belief; it is a fact. "That's why sharing the gospel can't be called an imposition, any more than a pilot can impose his belief on the passengers that the runway is here and not there." (p. 70) Even though we must convey a sense of urgency in presenting the gospel (see part 3 in this series), true evangelism involves no coercion but only the truth proclaimed in love. Biblical Christians know that we can't force anyone to believe in Christ. That is a work of God (see 1 Cor. 3:5-7; 2 Cor. 3:4-6).
- Personal Testimony. Sharing your testimony is a wonderful thing. The psalmist is a model of it: "Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me" (Ps. 66:16). We should delight to tell others what God has done for us, but we must realize that sharing our testimony is not doing evangelism -- unless we include the gospel. This is something that I (Matt) must repeatedly emphasize with believers who are preparing to be baptized. As they get ready to share their testimony, they must not assume that everyone knows that the gospel is. Therefore, the message of Jesus' substitutionary death and resurrection for the salvation of sinners must be intentionally and explicitly tied into the testimony. "An account of a changed life is a wonderful and inspiring thing, but it's the gospel of Jesus Christ that explains what it's all about and how it happened. And it's the gospel that turns sharing a testimony into evangelism." (p. 73)
- Social Action and Public Involvement. Caring for orphans, feeding the hungry, volunteering at the local crisis pregnancy center are all good things. They show love to our neighbors, benefit our community, and can improve society. "But none of them, not even the best, are the gospel of Jesus Christ" (p. 75). However, they can and do commend the gospel. That's why Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16; cf. 1 Pet. 2:12). Some years ago, I (Matt) latched on to a helpful statement from my friend, Tim Beougher (Professor of Evangelism at Southern Seminary), who said, "Your walk gives credibility to your talk, and your talk gives clarity to your walk." The second half of that statement is every bit as important as the first. If we do good deeds without sharing the gospel, then people could very well think that we're simply upstanding, moral people who are good enough to go to heaven. That is not the message we want to send, which is why it's important that our good works are accompanied by gospel proclamation.
- Apologetics. Here is another helpful activity that Christians should be engaged in. Scripture says that we are to be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have (1 Pet. 3:15). That's what apologetics is -- answering questions and objections people may have about God or the gospel. Dever writes, "Apologetics can present wonderful opportunities for evangelism. Being willing to engage in conversations about where we came from or what's wrong with this sword can be a significant way to introduce honest discussions about the gospel" (p. 77). But, as Dever also points out, "the greatest danger in apologetics is being distracted from the main message" (p. 78). To do evangelism, we must follow Jesus' agenda. We must make the message about him and the way of salvation through him.
- The Results of Evangelism. This last area is a good reminder for me (Matt) personally. Unless people come to faith in Christ, I can tend to think that I haven't really done evangelism. But that's not the case at all. Evangelism is the simple telling of the gospel message; it must never be confused with its fruit. John Stott correctly stated, "To 'evangelize' ... does not mean to win converts ... but simply to announce the good news, irrespective of the results" (italics mine). The apostle Paul wrote, "We are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life" (2 Cor. 2:15-16). The same message produces two entirely different results. No matter how people respond, we as witnesses for Christ are still a pleasing aroma to God. With this in mind, Dever writes,
We don't fail in our evangelism if we faithfully tell the gospel to someone who is not converted; we fail only if we don't faithfully tell the gospel at all. ... Evangelism is telling people the wonderful truth about God, the great news about Jesus Christ. When we understand this, then obedience to the call to evangelize can become certain and joyful. Understanding this increases evangelism as it moves from being a guilt-driven burden to a joyful privilege. (p. 82)
Amen! So let's get out there and share the gospel with others!
But what should we do after we evangelize? How do we interact with people in light of their responses? That will be the subject of our fifth and final article tomorrow.