FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM
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This is the idea that we make a friend, build a relationship, earn their trust, and THEN share the gospel.
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But how long should we develop the relationship with them before we talk about God? What if they die before we get a chance? Isn’t it true that often friends are the most difficult to witness to, and the longer we leave it the harder it gets? Isn’t it also true if you’re really concerned about someone’s eternal salvation you can relate to them in just a few minutes? Being friendly to people is much different than waiting to become friends in order to somehow earn the right to witness to them.
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If you avoid sharing the gospel with those who aren’t friends, ie. the people you don’t like, or just don’t click with, they will never get to hear about Jesus from you.The Bible teaches us that we are to be friendly, but we are not to be friends with the world. (Romans 12:1-3) We are to present the gospel to friends, but also to strangers, relatives, and even our enemies. (1 Corinthians 1:20-31)
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Maybe we need to get rid of this idea of friendship evangelism alltogether and just get on with living and sharing the gospel with the people we meet, and along the way a few of them may become friends and a whole lot of others won’t.
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Point to Ponder
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Building relationships as a form of evangelism rests on guarantees of tomorrow. 150,000 people die every day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed! “Behold now is the day of salvation” 2Corinthians 6:2.
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LIFESTYLE EVANGELISM
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The idea that if a Christian lives openly, allowing Christ in them out, non-Christians will be attracted to the Christian faith and want to know about Jesus. This false philosophy teaches that we witness with our life rather than our lips.
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If anyone was ever able to lead a soul to salvation by His lifestyle, it would have certainly been the Lord Jesus Christ. He was perfection in a human body. He never sinned. Though Jesus was perfect, there is no account in the Scripture where anyone was ever saved by observing His lifestyle.
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Jesus prayed for the salvation of others in John 17:20, "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word." Jesus knew that all who would believe on Christ, would do so because of a verbal message. That is why He prayed for those who would believe on Him THROUGH THE WORD of other Christians, not through the lifestyle of other Christians. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17.
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Point To Ponder
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If we are truly living the Christian lifestyle we can't help but tell others about Jesus. Romans 10:11 "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." Acts 4:20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." These verses tell us that if we believe, we will not be ashamed, and that we cannot help but speak what God has done for us.
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Shirley Worden
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CORNWALL MISSION
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