Relational Evangelism

For far too long the emphasis of Christian evangelism has been on proclamation and little else. We preach from pulpits or rostrums, even via satalites, television, radio, and now the Internet. Once we've delivered the message we "make an invitation" that basically translates to, "Now that you know this, what are you going to do about it?" We assume that the mere delivery of information, i.e. Bible doctrines, prophetic interpretations, original language nuances, etc., will somehow result in people changing their lives for the good. Unfortunately, the reality is that most don't. Here is a profound truth: Information does not change lives. Experience does. In other words, you really don't learn something until you personally experience it. So the question is, Why do we spend thousands and thousands of $$$ on proclamation and little or nothing on building healthy relational bridges? Maybe because proclamation is easier and cleaner. Relational evangelism is a lot messier.

But here is another inconvenient (?) truth. About 95% of Christian conversions happen because of personal relationships and tangible experiences. It seems to me then that the primary goal of evangelism must no longer be to convince people of what we believe to be the truth, but rather to establish bonds of friendship and godly love across the great gulfs of separation. If we are to faithfully pattern our life after God's way of doing things, relationships MUST be at the forefront of our thinking. After all, the heart of existence is the Trinity -- a bond of holy relationships between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Of course, a growing understanding of biblical truth is essential to discipleship. I'm not throwing that out at all. But first things first! God's way is to first establish the relationship, then to encourage growth in grace.

Teamwork - The Heart of Everything

Think about it. Nothing happens anywhere in the known Universe outside of some kind of relationship. Even the physical cosmos is governed by the relationships of heavenly bodies balanced by gravity and centrifugal force. In other words, everything that is contributes to the way things are. As John Donne said, "No man is an island." We all make a difference, one way or another.

Synergy is the product of two or more entities working together for a common purpose. Synergy accomplishes more that the sum of what each individual could achieve alone. Ducks and geese fly farther together in formation than if they all flew separately. Teaming up for a common cause makes everyone in a team more successful. Teamwork works, because that is the way creation works best.

It seems to me, then, that teams and teamwork should be the most natural organizational structure for the church. Hence: Teamnet Ministries. The whole doctrine of Spiritual Gifts is built around this concept. God gives different gifts to different people to use in concert with everyone else's gifts to accomplish His purposes through the church -- the body of Christ on earth. See Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; and Ephesians 4.

In another post I'll talk about using our gifts as priests in the priesthood of all believers.