Over my lifetime in the Church, I’ve seen churches that go out and try to bring people in. I’ve done it myself (pretty effectively at that). Don’t think that I’m going to speak against this practice; I’m not. However, there is an aspect to this that I’d like to address.
It’s All About the Heart
Motives are always relevant. It doesn’t matter what the topic is, how you feel about it and why you are doing what you’re doing are paramount. Time after time, Jesus confronted people with this one, simple fact: He cares about the heart.
Why are we trying to get more people into our church? Is it to improve the coffers? Is it to have more hands to accomplish the work? Which is more important, growing the church’s attendance, or growing the members’ maturity in the Lord? Is it all about the Church? What about those we are approaching? Isn’t it really about them?
Discipleship, Not Evangelism
We are not commanded to evangelize; we are commanded to make disciples. This means that the focus is on learning and growing in our faith. Such a focus allows for “recruiting” new believers, but it also demands our own personal growth. It says that we are to continue to shine the light of the Word into peoples’ lives before and after their conversion into the faith.
Paul had people in his life that we would be good to notice. Barnabas was a mentor to Paul. He looked out for his spiritual growth and helped shape him into a leader of the faith. Silas was a good friend (a peer) who came along side Paul and worked with him in their collaborative efforts. And Paul had many younger people whom he mentored. When we pour ourselves into younger believers, we also grow in our own faith and maturity. Look for a mentor, a partner, and a prodigy in your own life.
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
Relationships
What I’m really trying to get you to see is that sharing your faith is all about relationships. If all we do is go from door to door (or person to person) and speak TO people with a monologue, rather than speaking WITH people in an effort to get to know them and show concern for their spiritual health, we have missed the point of it all and are just spinning our wheels (at best) and maybe even doing harm (at worst). And these relationships don’t end with some kind of quick prayer with the person. They should continue for as long as the person is in our life.
34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
John 13: 34-35 (NLT)
No Pressure
If you are feeling some kind of pressure about your discipling efforts, your hearer will pick up on it. If you are unable to remain calm and personable, your hearer will know it. If you are trying to get some kind of immediate commitment out of your listener, you are pressuring them and they will push back on that.
Remember that some are called to plant the seed, others are called to water it, and still others are called to harvest.
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
1st Corinthians 3:5-9 (NLT)
Further, it isn’t your place to ensure that they receive the Word. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job. All you can do is present it in gentleness and love.
If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.
Matthew 10:14 (NLT)
Don’t take it personally and don’t get mad about it. Just quietly lift up your cares to the Lord. Be gentle and let go.
And when [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.
John 16:8 (NLT)
Let the Holy Spirit do His job and you do yours, with gentleness and respect (see 1 Peter 3:15).
In all of this, we should be focusing on the relationships, and not the numbers. We should keep a calm demeanor, without any attempt to change anyone, as we share the love of Christ and the message of His atonement on the cross.
Don’t be pushy, controlling, or condescending; be sweet and gentle, showing genuine care and love. If things get heated, just quietly walk away and don’t let it escalate.
Conclusion
Again, I’m not saying to NOT go out and share the Gospel (that would be ridiculous), I’m saying that we must do it the right way:
- With gentleness and respect
- Making that connection with the other person
- Don’t rush them or pressure them to commit
- Don’t try to “fix” them
- Disciple (teach) them in the way of truth
- Encourage them to go and do the same
Be blessed and go make disciples.
Gary
