How I have copped out of evangelism...

In the last weeks, months and year I have been thinking a lot about "Evangelism". First being in Erin has brought about more of a passion within me for the "unchurched". Secondly my parents have been involved with "Evangelism Explosion" through my church in Chatham, and the Sr Pastor here is very passionate about evangelism.

However, it has led me to think a lot about WHAT is evangelism exactly? HOW necessary is it for Christian's today? And do most Christian's today understand evangelism even in the slightest...and if so, do they act on what they know?

I am mostly still working through the formerly listed questions, but here are some thoughts that have come out of some conversations I have had with my parents, as well as my best friend in the last week.

a) Evangelism is CRITICAL to "the Church" ... and always has been.

Without some form of evangelism, the Church most definately would have became a stagnant pocket of religious people. (sound familiar?) Rather than this happening, we are instead told that thousands were added to their number...daily people were being 'saved'.

(Acts 2) If Christians cease to "actively" evangelize, our plight is surely to become stagnant and religious; and of little relevance to those around us.

b) Is "Living your Faith" a true and effective form of Evangelism?

I so often hear people say "I live my Faith, that's how I evangelize". Now at risk of offending those who I love and respect deeply, and others I may not know who read this, I am going to say this: Living your Faith is perhaps the greatest cop out used by Christian to get out of taking an active role in reaching out to those around them who do not yet know Christ.

I can say this, because I myself have struggled with this very thing. Now understand, I do not completely disagree with the idea of "living your faith"--in fact I agree with it, and promote it wholeheartedly; however, I think that what I mean by "living my faith" NOW, is quite different from how I formerly thought of it.

WHAT "LIVING YOUR FAITH" DOES NOT MEAN (in my opinion):

Simply going on with your regular routine, and claiming because you are a 'Christian' and your neighbours see you go to Church that you are "living your faith". A little side note: The fact that your neighbours know that you are part of an "organized religion" is probably not an "attractive" thing to them. Which is why "Living your Faith" calls for more than showing people that you are "religious".

WHAT "LIVING YOUR FAITH" DOES MEAN (in my opinion):

"Living your Faith" means getting out of a regular, religious routine, and living a life that is bold and intentional in purpose. When I took a group of students to Mississippi we had an impact because we were "bold and intentional" with all our actions. We didn't go knocking door to door asking "do you know where you are going when you die?"..but we did offer our help, and ourselves to serve those around us in whatever way we could. We were intentional in the way we lived that week, and because we had a purpose, and intention, our actions were bold.

St Francis of Assisi said: "Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary use words"

This calls for an intentional way of living, so that everything we do preaches the gospel. Not a religious routine that proves nothing more to those around us other than that we are selfish religious pricks. I myself have come to the realization that this is in fact what I portray when I use the cop out that I am "living my faith", when in fact I am just more comfortable "being selfish with my faith". I have found I need to stop SAYING that I "live my faith" and instead DO it, in a bold, intention, unwaivering manner.

My thoughts on this subject continue to become more clear to myself, I hope that this "blog" has portrayed a bit of the journey that my mind is on right now.