Evangelism are we doing it right?

I've been part of the evangelical church since my rebirth into the Kingdom of Christ/God. I fully understand that to enter into the redemptive relationship with God in Christ is one that involves the work of the Holy Spirit and of man in cooperation.

Predestination or Free will?

I do not hold to the extreme Calvanistic view that some are predestined to be saved and others are not. I read too much in the NT about the entering into redemption being of one making the choice to submit to God for redemption, or free will.

I also see that within the concept of the sovereignity of God that even if we really don't have free-will in this area, that God's choice for us is hid in the mystery of God's knowledge within eternity and we are not privy to that information.

This whole debate in the church becomes one of division rather than encouragement to evangelize or live our lives in Christ. And as Paul points out to the Corinthian assembly, division of the body of Christ is sin.

True Evangelism is based on a Loving Community.

One of my observations regarding the foundation of evangelism is that it must be based on a loving community of believers.

Jesus taught the disciples a new command, John13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus taught that the foundation of our communnities is love. Here he shows that the world, all men, would recognize that we follow Christ by our love for one another.

We have alot of ideas as to what the church is. It is very popular to think of the church as being the universal body of Christ, encompassing all beleivers, every where all around the world, as well as the living and the dead. This idea is meantioned in the NT, yet it is not the main way the church (Greek word is ekklesia, literally meaning an assembly of called out ones) is defined. The NT is mostly discussing the local assembly. The brothers and sisters we are in direct fellowship with.

The basis of our local assembly life is to live out the love for one another. In doing a study of the NT to understand what they did for meetings I found very little about meetings, in fact only one passage of teaching, and that was corrective in nature, 1Cor 11-14. The major teaching regarding assembly life is about loving one another in real practical ways. (If you would like to read my study, please email me as it is comprehensive and too long to post in this format.)

Jesus is not talking about the church universal in this reference. He is talking about the local group of believers that you and I fellowship with on a normal basis, daily, weekly.

Jesus says that the world will recognize that we follow Him by the way we love those we are in relationship with.

This is one reason that division in the Body of Christ is so sinful. For us to be divided over doctrine or practice to the point that we can't love one another prevents those outside the body of Christ from recognizing that we are Jesus' disciples. Remember this love is practical, not just making statements that we love all believers. We must show it in serving one another, even considering the needs of another believer as being more important than our own.

The world is not fooled by our love statements. They want, they need us to show them the money. To put feet to our statements. To work to show ourselves approved of God by actively, practically loving one another.

The world is not impressed with our temples made to house God. They want love.

The world is not impressed with our programs. They want loving relationships.

The world is not impressed with our Christmas or Easter extravaganzes. They want daily loving relationships.

The world is not impressed with our books, DVDs, tv programs. They desperately need to know that we really, really believe what we say. That we are willing to die for our beliefs, and really do walk them out in love for each other.

Look at all the literature and self help programs, helping people learn how to love. Look at all the misguided attempts of men to find love. Dating services, hook up places, meet markets of all types from bars to coffee shops to book stores. They want love....

For any of our evangelism to be fruitful it must be founded on real, practical loving relationships with one another that spill over to all our neighbors. The division of the body of Christ into unloving denominations prevents many from seeing Christ, from being drawn in by His love.