I asked the Church Board, our leaders this question recently: “What would you say to your Baptist/Pentecostal/Anglican friend that would make him or her want to become an Adventist?” I would like to invite you to this task. Is there something about what you’ve got to offer that is so catchy, so desirable, so gooood, that others would say “I want it!” ???
That’s what Evangelism is all about – giving people something so good which they would want. Good News, Good Info, Good something that makes a difference, that would change their lives for better. What is your Evangelistic Good?
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Don’t tell me “Sabbath” – there are 400 other denominations that keep the Sabbath, and I know many others who are more serious about the Sabbath than most of us. Don’t give me the “health” answer – are you really “digging” the health lifestyle yourself? What is it that is worth telling others? Seriously, stop, think, and get an answer, before reading further.......
One person told me “Ellen White.” lol! For the last 30 years it has been cause of embarrassment to most church members rather than witnessing item. In fact, whenever we are engaged in an Evangelistic program we fear people would go on-line and read-up about her, and would not come back again. This is the first time in 30+ years we are picking up the Sabbath School Study that deals with the issue.
Any suggestions on what should we offer as Evangelism to our close friends who differ? Another way of asking this same question is “What do we reproduce?” One person answered: “Beliefs!” That’s exactly what we’ve been offering as a good news – set of doctrinal beliefs. Our Evangelistic series had been a lectureship on a set of answers to questions no one is really asking.
I like an answer given by a young person – we are to reproduce Love of God, Jesus in us, the relationship with God. Can you envision now such Evangelism? Offering people not just a set of statements, and a lecture on topic of “28 way of interpreting Bible,” but love, relationship, hope, certainty, God’s Presence. People crave real community.
Back to our original question: you meet up with your Presbyterian co-worker and say: I would like to teach you how to be closer with God, how to discover God’s plan for your life and how to walk in deeper relationship with Him. No one would say “no.” In fact if you are already walking with Jesus, you want to go deeper. If you are already hearing from God, you want to hear more. If you are already discovering His mighty hand, you want to have His Power in your life all the time. Offer such Evangelism, and your Charismatic/United/Methodist friends will say “thank you.”
So, do you have the “product” we are to offer to the world? As I work to prepare for our first outreach series in April, I recognize that only those who have living relationship will be able to contribute and support this effort by evangelising. Many of our own would have to attend as recipients first, expecting their own transformation into becoming God-chasers and God-catchers first.
Why do we do it? One reason, because we are obedient to our Lord Jesus who told us to go and make disciples, for there is not “plan B” for saving the world. But obedience alone is not enough, without love and passion of God’s heart in us, implanted by the Holy Spirit, the obedience becomes drudgery. It is the love of God in us that makes us do it.
Ask yourself today: what do I have to offer for Christ’s sake?
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