I strongly believe in evangelism. After all, Jesus not only brought good news–He is the good news (Luke 2:10). Salvation is found in no one else (Acts 4:12), and he commanded us to go out into all the world to share this joyful message of redemption (Mark 16:15-16). However, I would like to present the idea that evangelism needs to look different depending on the context.
The greater the suspicion or skepticism that exists in a message, the more important trust in the messenger becomes. You can only share as much truth with someone as the strength of your relationship will bear. No one with any wisdom is going to attempt to drive a truck weighing 5,000 pounds across a bridge rated for a maximum capacity of 1,000 pounds.
Unfortunately, I see well-meaning people daily trying to drive 5,000 pounds of truth across a relational bridge that is rated for 1,000 pounds. The church has much truth to share with society, and it should; however, we often forget that truth is best communicated within an atmosphere of trust. Otherwise, we are speaking, but no one is listening. This approach may make the speaker feel good about himself or herself, but it will have little or no positive influence on the intended audience.
One of the most potentially polarizing things that Jesus ever said was, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. …I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:2-3, 6, ESV).
Do I believe this? Absolutely. I have built my entire adult life upon this truth. Nevertheless, I think it’s beneficial for us to remember that Jesus didn’t declare this truth from the mountaintop as he gave the Sermon on the Mount or on the plain as he fed the multitude. He proclaimed this truth to his disciples in a small group setting. Jesus met people where they were. We also see the Apostle Paul taking this approach in the Book of Acts. When Paul went to a city with a large Jewish population, he always started in the local synagogue. Why? Because they understood the Old Testament, and this made it easier for him to speak of Jesus as the promised Messiah. However, he took a completely different approach in Athens. Paul uses cultural artifacts from Greek life to build bridges for the gospel.
Do I believe there is a place for the public declaration of truth? Absolutely! But, in my opinion, the content of our public proclamation needs to contain the centrality of the gospel, not that which is divisive or about behavior. That content is important, but it part of the discipleship process.
Here’s my final takeaway, and I think it’s an important one. The right content shared at the right time in the right context has the potential to build trust and change lives. The right content shared in the wrong context or at the wrong time will not only be disregarded but may even inoculate the hearer from the important truth being shared.
