EVANGELISM, METHODS OF

In an apparent effort to promote the spread of the gospel message, someone in a major city decided to take a can of spray paint and spray-paint the message “Trust Jesus” on sidewalks, overpasses, and even mailboxes in the downtown area.

This was not “evangelism,” but rather, “evandalism.” The right message does not justify the use of wrong means.416

Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium.417

Evangelism must be done where lost people are.

An old farmer fishing in a tub of water in his back yard was chided by his neighbor: “Man, there ain’t no fish in that tub. Why are you wastin’ your time like that?”

“Yeah,” came the reply. “I know there ain’t no fish in here, but it’s just so powerful convenient.”

Many churches are engaged in “convenience evangelism,” which is really very little evangelism at all.418

A little girl asked her father why firemen stayed in the firehouse all day and polished their engines and other equipment. He explained that they did this to pass the time while waiting for fire calls.

Many Christians likewise stay close to the familiar surroundings of the church community, applying another coat of worship or getting a theological tune-up, while all the time waiting for some sinner to request a gospel presentation. The problem with this approach to evangelism is that the world is already ablaze, and the call went out two thousand years ago! A person in the midst of a fire doesn’t need a beautiful, well-tuned, and shiny fire engine to be rescued.419

“It is better for most of us to fish with the rod than with the net. To angle for single souls rather than to try and enclose a multitude at once. Preaching to a congregation has its own place and value; but private and personal talk honestly and wisely done will effect more than the most eloquent preaching” (attributed to Alexander Maclaren, a widely known preacher).420

Many believers who would share Christ have more zeal than knowledge and offend more often than they communicate. You may have heard of the barber who was newly saved and was eager to witness to his experience with Jesus Christ. As he met his first customer the next day, he was sharpening his straight razor on the leather strap. His initial approach to his customer was, “Are you ready to die?” One can imagine what went through the customer’s mind as he viewed the finely honed razor. As the cliché goes, “If we don’t use tact, we may lose contact.”421