Wade wrote:Valerie wrote:Wade wrote:
I was sharing that my experience with Evangelical churches is that the Pastor is the main one evangelising. Others randomly do it but would rather go to the ball game... But maybe there are others that are different?
In our experiences in decades of belonging to Pentecostal/Evangelical type of churches, we were strongly encouraged to evangelize, share our faith, serve others, etc- I agree with the point that the 'ball game' seems to important- I feel this is an area that the more Evangelical type of churches need to recognize- we can fill our schedules with too many 'pleasures' that we don't make time to evangelize- however, some people use these same 'outings' to help build relationships with people who don't know Christ- there are many ways to 'evangelize', not always door to door- a lot of people don't like to be interupted at home, find it rude, intrusive, selfish- to 'bother their busy time' or 'family time'. So there doesn't appear to be one way to evangelize. We were always encouraged to pray to be used wherever we are, work, home as neighbors, etc- as I write this I realize I fall so short, the time factor is difficult! An actual evangelist is one of the 'gifts' and one of the callings: Ephesians 4:11
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
but we should all be ready to share our faith.. I Love Apostle Paul's approach and wonder how we can best put his (sucessful) approach into practice more?
1 Corinthians 9:
19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
If we truly appreciate what Christ has done for us (and for all!) we will want others to know Him too- and pray for this and to be ready to share-
Evangelicals may have a good or bad reputation from church to church at putting this into practice- I don't think we can judge all churches by our own personal encounters, really- I was led to Christ by people in these churches- who cared, who prayed, who shared- who reached out-
In being honest, hope I didn't sound judgemental.
I too was lead to the Lord by these people, even if I don't understand them often...
My evangelising happens the most with people I spend the most time with. At work people see me everyday and get a chance to know and trust me and then opportunity opens to talk about deeper and/or personal things, which I connect into spiritual conversation and the kingdom gospel as I felt led.
I'm not sure what they think though or have in mind when they talk to me and then come to a church that is not an Anabaptist church...?
I don't think you sound judgemental Wade- discouraged perhaps? I think when you've been really engrossed in and exposed to, and studying about, and seeking to be- Anabaptist, it's difficult to then go to Evangelical churches because there is a stark difference of many things. I guess what helped me was realizng and keeping in mind, the Church is a hospital for the sick- for the healing of souls, by our Great Physician- many people in these churches come from unchurched backgrounds, dysfunctional homes, worldly environments- not from sheltered Christian environments- most people in the U.S. & Canada, haven't really been exposed to a lot of conservative Anabaptists- we are all sinners, in need of a Savior- when caring about the souls of people, there's something to keep in mind- that it is God who cares more than we do- about them-and He, in reaching those who will respond to His call, is not limited by where we think this church or that church falls short- It is by grace that we are saved, through faith and not of ourselves, lest any man should boast- otherwise, Christ would not have had to die for our sins.
1 Corinthians 3: (as carnal as the Corinthians behaved, they were still considered a body of Christ, growing in their faith, and had spiritual gifts within as well)
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.