May Letter 2007

Evangelism is an important phenomena in the history of our Faith. Paul's evangelistic efforts were responsible for the spread of the early “Jesus movement” in community after community. In more recent times, It was evangelism that led to the Great Awakening(s) in our Nation's infancy, and to the spread of Christianity westward into the frontier. In fact, it was the evangelistic spirit that led to Barton W. Stone's “camp meeting” at Cane Ridge which helped establish the Restoration movement, and, eventually, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Restoration movement, a partnership between Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott, flourished thanks to the hard work and immense sacrifice of traveling preachers. These preachers disseminated a message of unity and called for a return to the Christianity of the original church.

Without the evangelistic spirit or awareness that Paul and the early Disciples possessed, our church would not be as it is today. However, like the development of new theologies and ministries, evangelism has changed shape and is practiced in differing ways. Some of these ways are more helpful than others. Some are more acceptable to certain people types, while other Christian groups shy away from evangelism altogether.

Over the last few years, I have reflected on Evangelism consistently. I have seen the abuses and misconceptions surrounding Evangelism that have led to internal and external strife in the Christian world. My hope is to offer my voice to you and to the Christian community.

We need a new Evangelism; one that speaks to our world. I am persuaded that Evangelism should be centered around Jesus' teachings and ministry. I believe that Evangelism should be built around the idea of table fellowship, which Jesus espoused. It is here, in the image of a communal meal, that we can truly make evangelism a productive and worthwhile endeavor for our church, and our Faith. When we sit down to eat together, we share something in common despite our many differences. Similarly, Christian community must be a place for diverse perspectives to come together and share in the work and message of Christ. Evangelism must fundamentally be an invitation into that community, the extension of fellowship to a person or peoples that desire such inclusion.

Unfortunately, this is not the form Evangelism has always taken in our world.

In many churches and for many people, Evangelism has been about committing people to special beliefs and creeds. However, I believe Evangelism is not about talking to people, but about conversing with people. Evangelism should not make everyone think the same way or believe the same things. Evangelism must be centered on invitational community. A community that shares in the work of Christ despite our diverse backgrounds, cultural locations, social perspectives, and political ideologies. The invitation must be open and should be unconditional.

Ultimately, people in our world do not need to hear why “we” are “right” and “they” are “wrong.” People in our world do not need to be told how to think, what to say, or that their particular culture is invalid. Instead, people need to be given an invitation; an invitation to commune and fellowship with their neighbors of good conscience and loving intent. When people are not treated as people, but rather as objects of conversion, Christianity loses its sensitivity, compassion, and missional message. Christianity is about God's Love for God's people; it's about community in spite of diversity, and up-building God's Kingdom. May that invitation, extended to us, be reciprocated to the people of the world.