Old-time Religion?

Over the last 20 years I’ve had a lot of experience in various methods of evangelism. During college I spent my spring breaks doing spiritual interest surveys on Texas beaches. As a missionary I witnessed through drama, puppet shows, and Christian literature distribution. I’ve stood on the street corner singing Gospel songs.

I’ve gone door to door, handing out tracts and talking to skeptics. I’ve done street preaching with a sketchboard, shared The Bridge to Life with friends, taught English as a second language, and distributed the Jesus Film. I’ve led evangelistic Bible studies, organized women’s outreaches, and held Vacation Bible Schools with latchkey kids.

I’ve even been a mime.

I mention all of this so that you will listen to me when I tell you about the best weapon in our evangelistic arsenal.

This weapon isn’t a secret, but in this day of hype and programs, it seems that some have forgotten its power.

If we want to be effective evangelists, we have to be willing to put our faith in the foolishness of the preached Word. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

This is God’s chosen means to bring salvation to His people. Romans 10:14 says, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” A few verses later, Paul writes, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”

A good mime may draw a crowd, but it is only God’s Word which is living and active. “Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

I shudder when I hear well-meaning Christians effectively say that the Bible is too boring to share with unchurched people in its raw form. We are tempted to think that our exciting methods and cutting edge programs have the power to save. They do not.

Only God has that power, and although He may choose to save through these or other methods, we are presumptuous when we think that our method of sharing the God-breathed, living Word is what gives that Word its power.

The Word may be preached effectively in a variety of evangelistic contexts, but we deceive ourselves if we think we are witnessing and the Word is noticeably absent.

“God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:21-24

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes,” Romans 1:16