Communicating the Relevance of the Gospel in a Changing Culture (IV)

All that has been by way of introduction, because in light of what seems to be today's view of truth – relativism, everybody can have their own truth, etc., I wanted to establish that what we believe IS the truth. We have to know it’s the truth. We have to be confident that what we are inviting people into, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is the best thing for them, because they’re not going to recognize it when we first start.

Because of the points I have made, I believe, more and more, we have to rely on relationship evangelism. We need to introduce people to Jesus, all the time developing a relationship on a personal level yet over time letting Jesus look after drawing them to himself. So how do we do it?

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:5-6)

Besides being a rather touching story, this illustrates that relationship evangelism takes time. Sabrina took Alpha 4 times. (Plug – don’t just run it once).

It's crucial to remember that we don't begin by putting people off. Don’t start with a lecture. Jesus should be the only stumbling block, not us. Do not begin by judging lifestyles – LGBT, cohabitation, etc. Everyone is welcome on an Alpha, and no one should be faced with a lecture when we first meet them.

Listen before talking. I would hope that if a gay person came through the doors of our church they would feel welcomed. Alpha is open to everyone. Let the only offense be that of the cross, not of our speech, attitude or behaviour. 

Carey Nieuwhof, in one of his blogs, says that the people we want to reach these days don’t all have big problems. Not everyone’s life is falling apart. It’s an insult for us to assume they are miserable. Many out there are quite happy the way they are. They are not necessarily laden with guilt over their lifestyles. I believe that if there is any sense of guilt, it’s often hidden beneath the surface, layers down and more a vague sense that something may not be quite right. There may just be something missing.

What we can say, the thought we can plant, is actually the title of the introductory session of Alpha – “Is There More to Life than This?” IOW, someone might be very happy, but is there more? What if there is something that could make life even better?

I remember  the year was 1953. I was walking home from school, along Barton Street in Winona Ontario. As I got closer to my house I saw something that absolutely thrilled me - a television aerial on the roof. We got a TV! Our first! I ran the rest of the way home and burst into the living room. There it was! a 26" black and white on four spindly legs. We got three channels; a bit fuzzy, but we loved it. We were ecstatic.

Nowadays, you can get a 60" HD flat screen to hang on your wall. (Probably for about the same money as that first black and white cost.) But what a difference! As much as I loved that first TV, I would never want to go back to it. At the time though, we didn't realize there was anything better. The Christian life is like the new flat screen while life before Christ was like the old black and white, and I can remember both. I thought it was great at the time but I sure wouldn't want to back to it now.

Evangelization is just telling somebody, "Hey, there's something better." Alpha is allowing God to lead them to it.

(to be continued... Next: Bringing people to faith is a process)  

Blessings,

John