Evangelism Is Easier With This Paradigm Shift
Overcoming Challenges in Evangelism - Part 1 of 2
By S. Crawley
Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash
Recently I wrote about some common challenges faced by both Christians and un-churched people relating to evangelism, and I introduced a practical tool which can overcome them.
Having a tool is good, but what about the paradigms and beliefs which create the tension in the first place?
I have personally wrestled with these challenges from both sides of the equation - first as an un-churched person, and then as a follower of Jesus.
My Personal Struggle
As an unchurched person, I was drawn to spiritual things and had an interest in God at a young age. From early in my life, I experienced significant broken relationships and accumulated painful experiences. I wanted something better. There was something in me that wanted to reach for God, but I didn’t know how. There were Christians in my life who were sharing truths about God or trying to persuade me to follow Him, but what they were saying didn’t connect with that pain in my heart.
When I finally saw the connection between the longing in my heart and the possibility of a living relationship with God through Jesus, I remember wondering - why didn’t anybody communicate THIS to me before?
As a follower of Jesus, I LOVE seeing people encounter God, and the positive transformation in their lives and relationships that flow from that. However, earlier in my journey, I struggled with my understanding of evangelism. I don't like talking to strangers. I'm not good at remembering and delivering detailed presentations. I am not a natural sales guy.
I felt there was a disconnect between genuinely caring for someone and wanting the best for them on the one hand, and trying to get them to agree to a set of statements about God on the other. At the same time, I knew that God was working in the lives of people around me, and that He wanted to involve me.
It felt like a choice between being inauthentic or being unfaithful to God. I was stuck.
Tension Resolved
As I wrestled with this discomfort and drank from the Bible, I had two powerful paradigm shifts that resolved the tension and opened up exciting new possibilities.
They brought me new freedom and joy to the concept of ‘evangelism’.
They led to conversations and relationships where unchurched people were engaging with God and enjoying the process.
Since then, I have regularly found myself in conversation with others who have the same wrestle. When I share my experience, they consistently find those same paradigm shifts helpful, so I’m jotting them down here in case they are useful for you, too.
To keep things bite-sized and readable I’ll tackle one paradigm shift now, and one next time. The first relates to our role in evangelism. The other relates to God's role in evangelism.
Powerful Paradigm Shift #1: Our Role in Evangelism
I realised I was seeing evangelism as something very similar to "sales" in the business world.
The goal of a salesperson is to close a deal.
It doesn't matter HOW they do it.
It doesn't matter if the product is good or bad for the buyer.
It doesn't matter what the relationship between salesperson and customer is like afterwards.
Everything a salesperson does is about getting the prospect's agreement and commitment to the transaction. This can easily lead to manipulation or unhealthy methods for “encouraging” a sale. Customers can end up feeling used and cheated.
There are plenty of good and honourable salespeople around, but the way the system works generates pressure towards the interests of the salesperson, not the sales target. I saw and experienced enough of those dynamics in evangelism practices to feel uncomfortable.
Especially in situations or countries where there was also a power difference between a wealthy Christian and a ‘poor’ non-Christian or a “well-educated” Christian and an “uneducated” non-Christian.
Then, one day, I realised.
The Bible never asks us to be salespeople. Jesus commanded His disciples to be His witnesses. A witness is completely different to a salesperson.
In a court of law, it's not the job of the witness to convince. A lawyer brings the case and builds the argument. The goal of a good witness is simply to communicate honestly, authentically, and reliably in response to the questions asked. Witnesses do not need to manipulate and will get in trouble if they try—they simply share what they have seen or experienced. The judge listens, forms a conclusion and gives a verdict.
Our role as witnesses is simply to truthfully, faithfully and appropriately communicate our experience of who God is, and what He has done. (God has the most important part to play in this process - but more on that next time).
A Witness is Who We Are, Not What We Do
The biggest challenge with being a witness for God is that it is impossible if we only have theoretical book knowledge or somebody else's opinion.
God is inviting people into a living relationship where they grow as dearly loved children and learning to continually listen, trust and obey Him as our Father-King.
Unless we say "yes" to that invitation and are actively leaning into it, we are going to struggle to be witnesses. We might be able to point to theology or religious practices, but not to a living and active relationship with God the loving Father-King. A credible witness has to have personally seen and experienced something.
As we lean deeper into the gritty, practical reality of that relationship, we see and experience more and more of who He is and what He does. We see God work and accumulate experience of Him showing His goodness and meeting us in our needs and brokenness. We become His witnesses with experiences and insights to share.
As our lives intersect with others, we will recognise connections between their brokenness and ours. We will have opportunities to serve and support them. God will create opportunities for us to share our experiences and be His witnesses in ways that bring hope and life to others.
Being His Witness
Evangelism, as it is often understood and practiced, can create some significant challenges for both people who follow Jesus and people who don't.
Shifting from a "salesperson" mentality to a "witness" mindset resonates deeply with Jesus' command and biblical language, and relieves some of the unpleasant pressure which both groups of people can feel with evangelism.
As witnesses, our role is to:
- Say yes to the loving Father King.
- Listen, trust, and obey God.
- Bear witness to what we have seen and experienced in our relationship with God.
- Love and serve the people around us.
Next time we'll look at the second, and related, paradigm shift - God's role in evangelism. From there we will explore some ideas and practices about how these paradigm shifts can translate into practical action.
It would be great to hear your comments and reflections - everyone reading this has their own experiences and perspectives which can enrich the rest of us!
For Reflection
1. A Scripture - Acts 1:6-8
- If we take the word "witness" literally, what are the implications of this passage for our understanding and practice of evangelism?
2. A Thoughtful Question
- How does the distinction between "witness" and "salesperson" change how we see evangelism? How does that feel?
3. A Possible Application
- Which aspect of "our role" challenges you most in this season of life? How do you think the Father wants you to respond?
Discipling the Urban Harvest provides practical insights and encouragement to walk with God in multiplying discipleship in an increasingly urban world - growing as children of the Father, serving the communities He has called us to, and discipling those hungry to know Him.