Evangelism — God’s Ways Above Ours
In an earlier “ Quick Post “ I offered insight into why some may be too pushy in their approach to Evangelism, missing the opportunity for pre-evangelism relationship building.
Many secular folks do not accept even the possibility of a supernatural God. They express an understandable opinion that it would be unconscionable for God to have allowed sin to enter the world. Of course there are Biblical Christian responses to this argument related to the need for mankind to understand love by its juxtaposition against evil. However that brings up the questions on the level of satisfaction God had with Adam and Even prior to the fall, the reason for the Flood, and actually the creation of evil from non-evil when Lucifer fell.
My point is that we can all get burred in the weeds of theology trying to explain the unexplainable, trying to defend the indefensible.
As Biblical Christians we know that, in the end, it all comes down to faith.
Leap-Of-Faith
I was an athiest who came to Christ through apologetics, or a logical view of who Jesus is and what He did for me. However, even at that point in my life, having head knowledge of the implications of salvation, I believe I would have gone to Hell for eternity had it not been for my faith (heart knowledge) taking the final step beyond what my mind accepted as truth. As each of us looks back at our own salvation experience we know that God offers the opportunity for a leap-of-faith and without it, we remain lost.
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Pre-Evangelism
So, as we interact with the secular world who does not accept faith as a premise for explaining God, what are we to do?
We need to build relationships and show love and compassion with those around us. We need to break out of our Christian cocoons and view the world as a potential harvest field (John 4:34). There are those who are asking the questions which we have the eternal answers for. Who are the “ripe fields” and who are the ones we need to “shake the dust off or feet”?
I have landed on two approaches responding to atheists and agnostics as an entry point or form of pre-evangelism. Their responses determine if they are a seeker or dust. However, each are always treated with respect, compassion and an open mind desiring conversation. Further, as my conversation pit is typically the blog site Medium, I am always very sensitive to those who are quietly tuning in.
Two Strategies
The first is to the seeker who is likely not ready to hear anything biblical. The approach is one based on the theory of evolution and can be read on this “ Quick Post “.
The second is to the secular who attempt to use their human logic to justify a world without God. To that group, I have begun offering the following brief response as a way of opening the door of conversation.
What if an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient God who created the universe and everything in it was above the capability of mankind to understand Him? Is that worth considering, regardless of how frustrating it may be?
Isaiah 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Regardless of your approach, God calls us to be His disciples and to share His truths (Matt. 28:16–20). With the Holy Spirit in the mix, we are His Plan A and there is no Plan B.
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Jeff Hilles | BCWorldview.org
Medium: medium.com/@Jeff_hilles
Originally published at https://www.bcworldview.org
