Elephant #2: Get Saved!

On April 13, we dealt with the second elephant. This elephant has been really bothering me the last year or so. It is the way we do evangelism. The problem outsiders have with this is that it seems we are not genuine in our efforts to get to know them. That we are agenda-driven. That our only concern is conversion. We don't really care what they think, believe or feel, we just want them to hear what we have to say. Most of the evangelism methods that I have learned have been confrontational and devoid of relationship. Some have been scripted so that it sounded more like selling vacuums than presenting a life-changing message. It seemed it was about the presentation rather than the person. The formula seemed to be a logical progression of facts backed with irrefutable Scripture and closing with a carefully crafted question that would ensure acceptance. But I don't see Jesus operating like this. Jesus never presented His truth the same way twice. He responded to people's questions, He listened to their stories, He responded to their needs. He was more about conversations than presentation. The difference between Jesus and much of present day evangelism is that Jesus was not conversion-driven. We are all about the conversion, get them to "pray the prayer" yet He often turned away those who were asking the right questions. Jesus was disciple-driven. He was into making disciples not converts. He balanced the ease of conversion with the cost of discipleship. Its easy to profess faith in Jesus but it is a whole other thing to follow Him. That was His invitation - "Follow Me!"