:: AIP#62 - Total Church #3: Evangelism (10.04.2009)

The first two chapters of Total Church laid the theory/foundation for "doing church" as "a community on mission." [recaps: week 1; week 2] This week we turned a corner, and for the rest of the fall, will look at how that theory plays out in practical, day-to-day corporate and individual life. This week's first element of "church life" was evangelism... but thankfully, not the kind most folks are used to!

Summary:
This chapter started off with a "typical Christian evangelism" conversation: a guy gets hit by a ball at a sports event and at a bar afterward, his Christian friend turns that into "sometimes life throws you hardballs - how do you respond?" While the authors don't openly condemn this kind of evangelism, they instead ask the question, "couldn't there be a better way, employing both gospel and community?"

Regarding the gospel, we discussed how words are essential for evangelism. While one may - and should - "live in a way that shows Jesus to others," at some point proclamation must come into play: there must at least be a conversation at some point, explaining one's actions and lives and sharing the gospel. And the best kind of conversation results from strong relationships. This is where the community comes into play in evangelism.

The rest of the chapter talks about connecting people to the community, and letting the relationship with Christ spring out of natural times of hanging out, building relationships, and sharing meals or sporting/cultural events. The best evangelism, the authors claim, happens when people see the love and community Christians have with each other. Evangelism then isn't a on/off switch; a 3-hour block once a week; a designated event. It's a 24/7 lifestyle, in which we're all living out our faith, equally with other believers and non-believers. It's a 3-strand rope, in which "sharing the gospel," "building relationships with non-believers," and "introducing people to the community" are all intertwined and where none have to happen first. It's doing what we do everyday, but doing it with "gospel intentionality." It's hard, because it's a lifestyle. And it's hard because it puts the burden on each person, not "the church" (=institution) to host dinners, engage neighbors, throw events, and create opportunities to build relationships.

Further discussion:

• The authors begin this chapter with a case study of evangelism and ask, "did it make you cringe?" Do you normally cringe at the uncomfortable/difficult nature of evangelism?
• Do you have relationships with folks who aren't Christians, or do you spend most of your time in "the holy huddle"? How can you begin to form such relationships?
• The authors state, "it is not enough to build relationships between one believer and one non-believer." Do you agree with this? Does evangelism require more than a one-on-one relationships? Does it require the context of Christian community?
• What are some ways you can think of to do everyday things with "gospel intentionality"?

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