STUFF ABOUT GOD AND CHRISTIANITY | Dr. Ron Braley
Mention the need to evangelize their faith, and Christians tend to freak out. They imagine having to go door to door handing out pamphlets and telling people about a Jesus they don’t often know how to verbalize.
Evangelism isn’t meant to be this way. Instead, we’re to organically present the Kingdom of God through Holy Spirit-fueled actions and stories. Here are a couple of examples: Jesus said to her, “‘Go, call your husband and come here.”
The woman said, “I have no husband.”
Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’ for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”
The woman said to Jesus, “‘Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.’ … So the woman … went into the city and said to the men, ‘Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done …’” (John 4:16-19; 4:28-29) And a leper came to Jesus saying, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
In addition, “Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. … (and he) went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to him from everywhere.” (Mark 1:4045) Your experiences are your evangelism. No one can refute what God has done for you and through you. So use what you know to introduce the kingdom to those who need to meet him.
As you walk by the spirit God has given you, verbalize your faith meaningfully. In other words, tell about your experiences and the kingdom in speech and actions the unchurched will understand; meet them where they are.
Don’t use “Christianese” or words even most Christians don’t understand, such as “propitiation” or “sanctification.” Your defense for your faith — your “elevator pitch” — doesn’t even have to mention God or Christ at first, which the hearer likely won’t know or understand.
Here’s a brief example: “I was a drunk. I’d lost everything. But in my darkest moment, I learned about the creator of everything, including you and me, who loves us so much and wants us to have a relationship with him and be healed. He has changed my life, and, as you see, I’m a new person. You can be, too. Let me tell you how …” Summary: God has worked with you and through you. Just act accordingly and talk about those things. Use what you know to introduce God to those who need him. Next time, let’s learn how to find joy in anything. Meanwhile, share your kingdom experiences — first by action, then by word if necessary.
God’s blessings and peace.
Braley, a Taylorbased minister, Air Force veteran, husband and father, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Regent University in 2018 and a Doctor of Ministry from the same school in 2021.
