Video Series
Video transcript
If you find yourself in a church that is not focusing on evangelism, again, there are two levels to this.
One is you can recognise that your church may not be primarily evangelistic. Perhaps they’re more about teaching. In which case, I hope you would be a part of saying to that church: well, let’s not forget evangelism. Let’s not forget about bringing in the lost and sharing the gospel with them or going out and finding the lost and sharing the gospel with them.
So, at one level, there’s recognising that it may be to a lesser or greater degree than some other church you’ve been a part of; but, on the other level, if your church is not focusing on evangelism, recognising that God may have you in that congregation to improve the church and help the church accomplish what it should be called to do… should be a priority for you.
So, in one sense I’m saying, do not abandon your church just because it doesn’t do things the way it ought to or the way you believe it ought to. And, on the other level, I’m saying don’t abandon the effort to influence your church to go in the right direction.
Don’t abandon the effort to influence your church to go in the right direction. Be committed to your community in the faith
But it’s not a case where you should say, if you don’t do evangelism the way I believe or with the focus I believe you should have on it, then I’m going to take my toys and go home. That should be your home. You should be committed to your community in the faith.
And the fact that they might disagree with you in one church conference or business meeting, whatever you call it, or in one journey group or life group or Bible study or Sunday school session, whatever you call it… whatever that group is, the fact that they might say no at first doesn’t mean they won’t go home and think about it. They will.
Have a long-term influence on the congregation so that they want to share the gospel more as they see you sharing the gospel more.
(Video courtesy: Steve Thomas)
Barry Creamer serves as president of Criswell College in Dallas, Texas. A trained philosopher and historian, he holds an M.Div. from Criswell College, and a Ph.D. in Humanities from the University of Texas at Arlington. His writing has been featured on numerous print and electronic platforms.
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