Evangelism

Evangelism may be one of the least popular activities of the church in this age. Whether unbelievers veer toward secularism or pluralism, few people are willing to tolerate the proclamation of the gospel. Why is that?

For secularists, the gospel of Christ is dependent on an ancient and, thus, unenlightened tradition. Secular thinking demands freedom from these ‘silly old wives-tales,’ as long as that freedom conforms precisely to the gospel of Darwin as expressed by the most recent scientific fad. Secularists are unwilling to face the reality of an invisible God, a virgin birth, the incarnate Christ, and bodily resurrection, therefore they flatly reject Christianity. Having some ‘uninformed’ Christian proclaim the truth of these backwards-sounding doctrines is not viewed favorably by many people in our day.

On the other hand, for pluralists, the Christian gospel is extremely narrow and exclusive and, therefore, it appears to be intolerant and prejudicial. Preaching the gospel requires a person to tell others that they are wrong, and that they are living in sin. Intolerance and speaking about sin happen to be two cardinal sins of our age; so few pluralistic thinkers will sit idly by while a Christian describes the exclusory salvation of the Bible.

Yet it is for these very reasons that evangelism is so necessary in our day. Our age, like every age before, must be radically confronted by the gospel of Christ—earlier eras of human history were no friendlier to the claims of Christ. It has never been socially acceptable to proclaim the cross of Christ or justification by faith. Even an examination of the Old Testament shows that those who preached the true doctrines of God were often persecuted!

Secularists must be confronted with the absolute truth of the Creator God, the One who sustains their very bodies and minds and who sovereignly rules their destiny. They must be confronted with notions of blood sacrifice, substitution, and worship of an invisible Deity. The cross will offend them. Pluralists must encounter the radical holiness of God, the unity of truth in Him alone, and the absolutely exclusive claims of Christ.  The cross will offend them.

What we must realize is that confrontation is at the heart of evangelism, but that it is a blessed and beneficial confrontation. Unless sinners are confronted with the reality of the gospel they cannot be saved. God must fundamentally change the heart of an unbeliever in order to save their soul, and this heart-change takes place by the Spirit, through the proclamation of the Word (Ro. 10:17, 1 Pet. 1:25). To confront people with the difficult realities of the gospel is loving (Mark 10:21).

Be encouraged, then, to preach the gospel to those around you, even if it means engaging them with the hard truths of Scripture. God is good to use our proclamation for the salvation of sinners—but we must be faithful to preach, even when it is unpopular.

--Dean of Admissions