Greg Laurie: "We're Just No Good at Evangelism"

Greg Laurie: “We’re Just No Good at Evangelism”

Posted on July 06, 2010
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According to Greg Laurie, "If there's one thing that Christians and non-Christians have in common, it's this: we're both uptight about evangelism."

Here are some quotes from Laurie from a recent article at The Christian Post:

"Far too often we don't know how to cross over [to our culture]. Far too many Christians today are unnecessarily offensive, hopelessly lame, and generally inept at communicating... We're just no good at evangelism."

"We have something even more significant than a cure for cancer. We have the cure to sin, and guilt and the cure for hell and the hope for heaven...How much more urgently do we need to get this message out?

"How can I be passive about sharing my faith? How can I say I'm too busy to do that?"

"It's fine to try to be cool, it's fine to try to relate ... but the ultimate thing we need to tell them is that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, loved them so much that He died on a cross for their sins and rose again from the dead and if they will turn from their sins and put their faith in Him, they can be forgiven. This is called the Gospel."

Do you agree? Are we just 'no good at evangelism"? If so, why is that?

You can read more here...

Todd

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CS on Wed, July 07, 2010

Peter:

“Although not a complete equivalent, it indeed is sharing the Gospel. “

No, it’s not. I don’t think anyone can ever say, “I will go to Heaven because John Smith lives like a Christian should.” Again, it may help lend credence to what he believes, but the sharing of the Gospel requires that the message of Jesus Christ be actually communicated (Romans 10).

Leonard:

First off, good job on the teaching, training, and discipling. And I agree that we would enjoy having a meal together and getting the chance to talk.

“MMI to me is a place to discuss ideas for ministry but it has degenerated into a place where we discuss what people do wrong in ministry.”

The problem is that so much of what is going in in ministry is wrong, but being touted as good. Remember that Paul wrote tons about how there would be deceivers in the church and constantly warned them about things to watch out for, naming people in some cases explicitly (i.e. Hymenaeus, Alexander). And while there are occasionally stories here on MMI about great moves by some pastors and some ministries, so much of evangelicalism is a train wreck in process. If the target audience for MMI is church leaders, it’s therefore vitally important to talk about what is going wrong so that they do not adopt silliness, incorrect theology, or even rank heresy into their acumen.

“I would rather hear what you are doing to make disciples. I would rather hear your plan to present everyone mature in Christ and how you live that out.”

Good call. For example, last night I passed out tracts to at least 50 people at a couple of ball games and had one good, in-depth conversation with a young man who said that he wants to live for the pleasures of this world rather than thinking about eternity. I shared the Gospel with him and gave him a DVD that he could take home and watch. He seemed totally opposed to what I was saying, but God may yet work on his heart.

—
CS
Scott on Wed, July 07, 2010

To the blog administrator:

How do I delete my email from receiving notifications for follow-up comments? Or, would you do that for me?
Christopher Fontenot on Wed, July 07, 2010

Peter.

NO IT IS NOT! I know some mormons who live very good lives in service to people. It would be easy to describe them as “sharing the love of Jesus.” But there is no Jesus in any of them since they openly deny Him as Lord and Savior. How can someone who watches what they do in life come to a point of brokeness over their sins in order to understand they need a Savior? Someone living a Godly life will never convict anyone of their sins unless they tell them the Gospel and back it up with a life that pursues holiness.

Scripture tells us that our Godly living should give God glory (and it does) but nowhere does it tell us that souls will be saved as a result. It does clearly tell us that God uses the preaching of the Gospel to save those who believe.

I am not brave enough to stand before God and say, “Hey, you know…I got a better idea for saving sinners. Let’s do it my way and see what happens.” Or are we just ashamed of the foolishness of the message or of the plan of salvation that God has chosen?
Peter Hamm on Wed, July 07, 2010

You are doing a great job not really hearing what I’m saying.

Good day,
Peter
Q. on Wed, July 07, 2010

I have to say, I’ve just been reading up to this point but it does seem like some are trying hard to not see what is being said. It seems like when the conversation gravitates towards this direction you have a camp that responds to things that aren’t being said. I would like to encourage everyone to really read what is being written…
Jan on Thu, July 08, 2010

At the risk of sounding harsh and over cynical…

I think Christians don’t engage in evangelism, because they really don’t care. They don’t own the fact that their neighbors are going to hell. It just doesn’t matter. If it did, they would. So, they send money to missionaries who will do it for them and they abdicate their personal responsibility. Or they expect the pastor to share the gospel… that’s his job and what we pay him for isn’t it?

I would also add that a person who is grateful for what has been given to them cannot help but express that gratitude.
The U.S. is full of spoiled brats who haven’t come to grips with their lostness and where they were before they made a decision to be a believer. So, they don’t recognize their need to be grateful and love Him with their all in response.

I know this sounds bad, but isn’t it true?

If there’s a hot sports event going on, we hear about it everywhere, because people are excited about it. Where’s the excitement, the passion for the Christian life?

Ultimately it comes down to us as believers being willing to bear the shame of the cross and take up our cross daily and follow him.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of salvation to those who believe…

I don’t know many Christians who are willing to take the risk of shame, and they definitely don’t want to suffer, or go “outside the camp” where Christ suffered and share in that suffering.

I wonder if we as the church are going to wake up and what will it take for that to happen?
Kent on Tue, July 13, 2010

Thanks CS for your evangelistic encouragement. To speak the Truth in love and let God get the results is an uncommon approach today. All to many believe it hinges on “my presentation”. Your concerns with the leaders you mentioned who perpetuate this are spot on.