| | WHEN NO OFFENSE IS THE BEST DEFENSE
By Elmer F. Magnussen
An Israeli Christian was asked about the soul-winning method he found
most effective among Jewish people in his country. He replied, "In
Israel, you evangelize best by living a normal Christian life."
His perceptive answer did not imply osmosis evangelism a passive, say-
nothing approach dependent on "just living the life." In fact, he was
in the states to record the New Testament in Hebrew for personal
evangelism distribution in Israel.
By life and principle, he accurately reflects what Scripture teaches
regarding our witness for the Lord: We believers must balance
Christ's manifestation in us and His message to mankind.
Today many organizations use various specialized evangelism techniques.
While these resources can prove helpful, we need to be careful.
Evangelism is not essentially a strategy of impressive, smooth
sounding methods. Instead, it should be the life expression of all the
church, all the time.
THE LORD'S WITNESSING MINISTRY
One of the striking things about Christ's evangelism is that it lacked
discernible approach pattern in pressing for a decision. At times He
went to the people; at other times they came to Him.
Christ often ministered by response: An individual posed a question
or need; He responded. Sometimes He pressed for an immediate decision,
as in the case of Levi the publican, but more often He did not.
Our Savior maintained a sense of restful urgency. Though the salvation
of mankind was central to His mission (Luke 19:10), He did not grasp
wildly for souls. His objectives were balanced and well-defined.
Just as Christ simply seized his day-to-day opportunities for ministry,
our task is to apply ourselves diligently and confidently to the job at
hand. The harvest is not beyond us but around us (Matt. 9:36-38; Luke
10:1-12; John 4:35).
Our goal, therefore, should be to complete our course of service with
as effective a testimony as possible, knowing that when we are called
home, we have left a witness others can build upon.
While Jesus' witnessing ministry does not model for us a particular
method,it does demonstrate at least three characteristics vital to any
effective testimony: credibility, sensitivity, and accessibility. The
quality of our character and, consequently, our characteristics are
more important than how we learn to do or say certain things.
CREDIBILITY. Jesus established His credibility through His words and
works.
"The very works that I do," He said, "bear witness of Me, that the
Father has sent Me" (John 5:36). His miraculous activity emanated from
who He was God resident in a human tabernacle. The quality of His life
provided the skein for weaving the fabric of His ministry.
"Never did a man speak the way this man speaks" (John 7:46). Jesus'
word of witness did not include phraseology borrowed from tired
traditionalists. Nor was it fired by zeal without substance.
His word, the people soon discovered, came from God. While self-
proclaimed religious intellectuals argued about its origin, "The
common people heard him gladly" (Mark 12:37 KJV). Credibility is no
less important today than it was 2,000 years ago.
A prominent businessman attended church services for more than a year
before the pastor approached him about salvation. During that time,
however, the pastor had made it clear he was available to talk about
the man's spiritual condition.
The businessman later testified that a primary factor leading to his
salvation was the harmonious attitude and ethical concern that
permeated building program committee meetings. The pastor's messages
and personal conduct augmented that testimony, firmly establishing the
believers' spiritual credibility.
The fruit was picked when it was fully ripened, under discerning,
faithful believers, God's saving Word, and the Spirit's mighty power.
From the Lord's sensitivity to a person's needs flowed a variety
of ministries. His compassion took Him where others would not go
(Luke 5:27-32)and led Him to people rejected by others (John 4:27).
Christ refused to press hungry souls into general categories or
faceless blocs. Each encounter came during day-by-day living.
Marion, a vibrant, witnessing Christian, possesses that same
sensitivity. Her kindness, consideration, and practical help are
genuinely offered to needy people or simply extended as a demonstration
of friendship.
This "helps" ministry is accompanied by an effervescent verbal
testimony of Christ's liberating power. And her glowing witness has
brought a steady flow of both Jews and gentiles into God's family.
Marion is not buying souls; she is simply giving herself in a natural,
caring way. The time she spends with people who need Christ allows her
to radiate and articulate her testimony of God's grace.
ACCESSIBILITY. The wonder of the incarnation rests in Jesus Christ's
availability to people where they were. He did His "personal work" in
the natural flow of circumstances and events.
During years of ministry a pastor may discover that some of his
concepts of personal evangelism are flawed. He sees his church and
others sending people into homes, armed with decision-demand programs.
These trained believers try to control thoughts, responses, and
conversations leading to the coveted "yes."
Secular sales techniques become the model for "closing" the appeal with
are corded decision or commitment for Christ.
While some Christians are comfortable and effective using this
approach, many are not.
Instead, we should teach our people to share their testimony where the
power of their witness is most observable right where they are. If
this were done effectively, we could dispense with some of these
outreach programs,and our churches would be much more attuned to the
biblical norm.
Special efforts to evangelize our communities or our world are not
negated. But those efforts should be only an extension of the normal
life of every local body.
After all, a true Christian witness is produced when the light and life
of Jesus Christ is resident, shining forth to God's glory. Under the
Holy Spirit's direction, these lights are placed in dark corners. When
men look at us, they should see Him and want what we possess.
This light does not emanate only from "full-time" Christian workers.
Every believer walking in God's will is placed in an area designed to
enhance his work and witness for Christ.
Unfortunately, many believers are so intimidated by an inability to do
house-to-house evangelism or tract-passing street evangelism that they
never discover the joy of witnessing where they are best equipped in
their own domain.
While some people are well-qualified to do visitation evangelism
comfortably and efficiently, others are not. Visitation teams should
not serve as a standard for measuring dedication to Christ.
THE CHURCH'S WITNESSING MINISTRY
The recurring theme among first-century Christians was their "witness
to the resurrection" (Acts 4:33). No doubt nearly all of the early
disciples possesses an admirable quality of spiritual life, which, like
Christ, gave credibility to their words of witness.
And whenever they had an opportunity to speak out, the words of their
personal witness or public discourse always recounted the saving
gospel of Jesus Christ. Personal experiences and opinions were only
subsidiary and complementary to the proclamation of Jesus' death and
resurrection.
Perhaps the Word's summary on biblical evangelism is expressed in
Romans 11:11: "But by their transgression salvation has come to the
Gentiles, to make them jealous."
In context this refers to God's setting aside Israel because of her
unbelief during this age of grace. Yet the door of salvation remains
open to all men, Jew and gentile alike.
Saved gentiles, admonished not to despise spiritually stumbling Jewry,
have been grafted into Christ and thus are provided with a magnificent
opportunity for evangelism.
When Jewish people, Paul says, witness the demonstration of Christ's
life in believing gentiles and hear the gospel message, it will provoke
them to consider Christ's claims to be their Messiah. A precious
remnant will believe and be saved.
Though the specific subject of the verse is limited, the principle is
universal. The transmission of our faith rests squarely on the
principle of provocation.
This balanced demonstration and proclamation made first-century
believers adynamic godly force. Their winsomeness, worship, and work
served as living embodiments of their risen, triumphant Lord.
What the pagan world saw in these Christians provoked many to receive
the Spirit empowered Word of life.
The principle of provocation is as timeless as it is universal.
History bears record that the church has swung repeatedly from one
extreme to the other in its evangelism emphasis.
Today we believers, like our church fathers, must be faithful in our
walk and talk so that those around us will want what we have.
This file has been forwarded to you by:
So. MD Christian Information Service BBS
P.O. Box 463
California, MD 20619
(301) 862-3160 HST../ |