Imperishable Inheritance

Most Christians today have grown up learning and knowing relational evangelism as the only truly effective method of evangelism. Open-air preaching is seen as "dated" and "not how Jesus would've done it." Movements such as the Willow Creek and Vineyard movements have pressed upon much of evangelicalism the relational methodology to evangelism.

There are many questions we could pose, but I want to really dig down and define what "relational evangelism" should be, but first I want to outline what this article is not about. I will then give, what I believe to be, a balanced perspective

The Baby Is Still Useful

I don't want to give the impression that I am completely disregarding the merit in truly getting to know someone. My quarrel exists in the relational model that puts the Gospel only after certain steps. In international ministry I learned first hand the value (and necessity) of bridging cultural chasms to effectively convey the Gospel (hence "Bridges" International). I did also see how easily the Gospel can become less important while trying to contextualize everything; often times this is not done intentionally.

The question is not whether being relational in the evangelistic process is a good thing, but I do want to talk about instances where the relational aspect downplays the oration of the Gospel.

The "Back Nine Gospel"

I once flipped through a book that caught my eye entitled Irresistible Evangelism by the former pastor of the Cincinnati Vineyard. I was flipping through and found a horrific graphic that summarized their philosophy of evangelism.¹ Basically, the analogy is between golf hole and evangelism. When you golf you don't just shoot it straight into the hole (unless you're insanely good²), but instead you take one shot into the fairway, then up to the green, then finally in the hole. And each of these steps correlates to the relational process you move through in their method of evangelism. You don't start off with the Gospel, because you need to first "get it up to the green." This methodology clearly shows their Arminian/decisional regeneration theology.

This analogy, I think, most clearly shows what relational evangelism can go to taken to an extreme. We must first ask: Did anyone in the whole Bible present the truth of God only after the tee and fairway shots? Jesus calls his disciples from the very beginning to repentance, and Peter and Paul both giving stirring Gospel presentations to the masses. I would imagine that if there was a model to clone it would be these gentlemen, but each of these men also contextualized the Gospel to their audience.³

The Proper Balance

I do believe there is a balance to be had on this issue, and I actually found the clearest thoughts on this from a Campus Crusade talk.⁴ The point was made that there needs to be a balance between boldness and clarity, and I couldn't agree more. Sometimes it leans one way or the other, but neither side is sacrificed for the other.

In my own personal opportunities for evangelism I tend to favor the bold side of things, and I myself need to balance more. The essential truth is that the Gospel must always be the highest priority. Being up front, yet loving and respectful, early on I've found actually gives a good foundation to continued friendship due to honesty and openness. This is especially true for someone who claims the name of Christ yet is not regenerate (both nominal and those in cults), and I think this is Jesus' emphasis in Matthew 7:15-23. Being deceived seems far worse than blatantly denying God.

Stand Up

It impresses on me more and more as I share the Gospel that it and it alone is the centrality of everything we live for. Jesus is infinitely worthy of worship from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Sharing his vicarious work with a balance of boldness and clarity is both honoring to him and encouraging for us.

"Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven." - Jesus

1. In the foreword, the author actually says that the title would get "theological Christians" going by the title's obvious reference to irresistible grace. [Back]
2. The analogy uses a par 4/5 and not a par 3 which could in fact be completed in one shot. [Back]
3. Jesus did so to the Samaritan woman (John 4), Paul to the Greeks (Acts 17; cf. 1 Cor 9:20-21), and Peter did so to Cornelius (Acts 10). [Back]
4. I found the graphic in a PowerPoint presentation, and it is on slide 24. [Back]