Note: This is a guest post by Dan Cartwright. He’s been a brother who has been iron sharpening iron with us on here and social media for years. His blog can be found here. He also tweets.
“Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong”
The above statement is the title of a 5 February, 2019 article published by the Barna Group. It caught my attention immediately when I read it and just as quickly prompted the question “What does it really mean?” So I read the article. Here’s some background context from the article:
Almost all practicing Christians believe that part of their faith means being a witness about Jesus (ranging from 95% to 97% among all generational groups), and that the best thing that could ever happen to someone is for them to know Jesus (94% to 97%). Millennials in particular feel equipped to share their faith with others. For instance, almost three-quarters say they know how to respond when someone raises questions about faith (73%), and that they are gifted at sharing their faith with other people (73%).
Despite this, many Millennials are unsure about the actual practice of evangelism. Almost half of Millennials (47%) agree at least somewhat that it is wrong to share one’s personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in hopes that they will one day share the same faith.
In summary, while almost all professing Christian millennials claim to be ready to share their faith, but nearly half believe that sharing one’s faith hoping that the hearer will embrace that faith (evangelism) is wrong! It’s perfectly OK to share your faith, but wrong to share your faith and hope that a listener of another faith become a Christian!
Well, it’s just a survey, you might say – the ‘47%’ figure might be wrong, and you might be right. But regardless of the actual percentage, and using an old cliché (that dates me), “Houston, we have a problem.”
WHY would any practicing Christian think it wrong to hope that a person without Christ, with whom we share the gospel, embrace Christianity? After all, Jesus clearly told his disciples:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)
I’ve been trying to answer the why question for a couple of weeks now. I came up with a list of possible reasons, but they all seemed hollow. So rather than speculate further what others might be thinking, I’ll just share my personal thoughts and passages of scripture that drive those thoughts. I believe the Bible is correct is all it says to me, and scripture says:
First of all, there is one true God:
“See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.” (Deut 32:39)
Therefore, the god(s) of other faiths are false gods. How can I not hope that my friend who is worshipping a false god(s), embrace the true God?
Secondly, Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, the one true God:
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)\
Jesus also said, at the beginning of his earthly ministry:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;[a] repent and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
Therefore, individual repentance from sin and believing that Christ died for the sins of men is required to ‘come to the father’. How could I possibly share that message with someone of a faith apart from Christ and not hope he/she would find Christ?
Lastly, anyone and everyone who has not embraced Christ as savior, whether of another faith, or professing no faith at all, is by nature a ‘child of wrath’ and already condemned!
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Eph 2:1-3)
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” (John 3:18)
So I ask “Is it even possible that I could claim Christ and not hope the one with whom I share Him also receive Him?
That’s a rhetorical question. I rest my case.
Dan, your rhetorical question is a good one. I actually asked my mother that very question. Actually, I asked her why she never told me about Jesus when she had me all of those years raising me. Her answer told me what her situation was because her answer was that she knew I was a good boy and would be okay. Clearly, she did not understand the Gospel of grace. Thankfully, that opened a door, and she did come to understand, and I believe will be awaiting me in heaven some day. It’s a good question to ask people, particularly parents who claim to be saved, yet never share Jesus with their own children.
Wally,
I imagine there a lot of similar stories out there……thanks for your kind commnt.
This is a great post, Jim
Reblogged this on Lee Duigon.
True.:))
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Amazing that this article should show up for me just now. I have just agreed to lead a series of classes at my church that are aimed at evangelism training. I see (and have been prompted in prayer) the need for our people to become equipped to fulfill the great commission.
May God bless your endeavors for Him!
Good post! I like what John 3: 18 says in the amplified bible:
Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him [as personal Savior and Lord] is not judged [for this one, there is no judgment, no rejection, no condemnation]; but the one who does not believe [and has decided to reject Him as personal Savior and Lord] is judged already [that one has been convicted and sentenced], because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the [One and] only begotten Son of God [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, the One who alone can save him].
Interesting ‘amplification’. ‘Decision’ language not in the text. Does it somehow change the meaning of the actual text?
Reblogged this on RG's 2 Cents Studios and commented:
Christ is The Only Way To Salvation.
[…] via Guest Post: “Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong” — The Do… […]
Look no further than the typical government school. The are reeducation camps. They are indoctrination camps. They deny the validity of logic and reason. they deny absolute truth. They promote pluralism and diversity and tolerance of sin and false beliefs. When no theism is taught by definition they teach atheism. They teach that absolutism is hate. Truth changes according to societal changes.
They know that the hand that rocks the cradle rocks the nation. They make the students practice mindfulness which in truth is eastern mystical trance inducing seduction of the devil. They deny the existence of hell for sinners and unbelievers.
They do not teach american history of government or the Constitution or patriotism They teach victim-ology and social justice.
Need I go on?
Good one!
Reblogged this on The Battle Cry.