The internet is a wonderful thing if it is used properly. I confess that I love Ebay and frequently buy gifts for others from that blessed site. In fact, I do a lot of my shopping over the internet because the options are limitless. There seems to be nothing you can’t buy on the internet. You can even purchase a wife. Check out this article by Newsweek. Things aren’t always what they seem but often there is a lesson to be learned.
The thought of evangelism has been consuming my thoughts lately. What am I doing to bear witness to the gospel of Jesus? When was the last time I told someone about Jesus? I keep running questions like these through my head. I don’t want to be the type of person who spends more time talking about evangelism than doing it. My friend Josh said the other night that his fear was that he enjoys arguing with other Christians about doctrine more than telling non-believers the gospel. I completely resonate with his fear. What he is saying is that we are bold to debate and discuss the scriptures amongst each other but we fail to simply mention the name of Jesus to a guy sitting at the table next to us who started a conversation with us in the first place. How can this be? Is it a lack of knowledge or preparation? Do we simply lack courage or faith? Are we ashamed or embarrassed? Is there just not enough time in a day to evangelize effectively considering all the other things we must do?
I have probably asked each one of these questions to myself multiple times. At any one time the answer could’ve been yes to any of these. I find that time is one of the most consistently daunting issues for me personally. It seems that by the time I get home, fix dinner, and do everything else there is only an hour or two to do anything before its time to hit the sack. This issue isn’t just confined to the average lay person. It extends to ministers as well. They can cram their days so full of activities, meetings, and administrative duties that personal evangelism seems to be squeezed right out of the picture. An article by Joe McKeever, Director of Missions of the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans, addresses the issue of pastors finding time for personal evangelism. As he says,
“Every pastor knows the problem. Between sermon studies, staff leadership, office responsibilities, weddings and funerals, outside speaking opportunities, hospital and nursing home visits, and denominational duties, the poor minister can feel overwhelmed. Finding time for his family can be a challenge; finding time to relate to his neighbors and bear a witness for Christ in the community can almost be impossible.”
Though it was written primarily for pastors, I found the article to be helpful in suggesting multiple ways we can see and make opportunities for evangelism in the midst of our every day lives. In the article, one pastor says, “Witnessing opportunities for the pastor is just like good sermon illustrations. They’re all around; you just have to pay attention.” This is good advice for all of us. We should be prepared at all times and mindful of our surroundings. Not more than an hour after praying that the Lord would make me aware of such opportunities I found myself in the midst of a conversation with a guy at a sports bar while watching Monday Night Football last night. Opportunities are everywhere.
However, we also need to be intentional about creating opportunities to share the gospel with others. As another pastor mentioned, “But sometimes you need to be more intentional. Create a situation where you will have opportunities to share your faith.” Sometimes it requires us to step out into an uncomfortable position to a place that is ripe for sharing the gospel. I’ve found downtown Nashville to be that sort of place. I don’t know how many times I’ve been approached by a homeless person downtown. Sometimes you know that a certain location is a prime target for the homeless. So you place yourself in that situation knowing that the opportunity will present itself in a matter of time.
I would encourage you to read the entire article. Consider the challenge it presents to your own life whether you are a pastor or not. If you are willing, share some of the struggles you face in sharing your faith. Also, leave some thoughts on how you have shared the gospel with others and what you have found helpful in doing so. May we all be encouraged to share the gospel more often as opportunities are made and presented to us.
My wife and I went to a concert with some friends last night that featured two amazing bands: The Fundamental Elements and Scratch Track. Let me first go on record as saying that this show was quite possibly one of the best indie concerts around. In fact, I will go so far as to say that it is one of the best shows I may have ever seen. What this show lacked in big budget sets, pyrotechnics, and video screens it more than made up for in showmanship, creativity, and top notch musicianship. I was not familiar with The Fundamental Elements prior to this show. They fuse elements of blues, jazz, pop, and hip hop into a style that is accessible to all types of people. On multiple songs frontman Russ Mohr will go from rapping to singing to showing off his chops on the trumpet. Of course no great show is complete without a drum solo. Top it off with a bass showcase like you’ve never seen and you have the makings of a fantastic, seasoned band.
However, let’s not forget about the headliners. Scratch Track is comprised of two guys, Jason Hamlin and DJ Lee. Jason is a guitar mastermind who knows no limits when holding an axe. DJ is the voice of the band. He not only sings and raps but he also beatboxes. Still, how big of a sound can two men and a guitar make? Well, add in effects, a loop station, and plenty of creativity and you have something that sounds like a full band with the unique offerings of two men. Both men showcase their talents with solo sessions. DJ begins with a beatboxing display that has him playing the role of a DJ who is scratching his way through tracks and beats. Then Jason steps up to show the variety of his skills with the guitar. He switches gears from the acoustic hip hop sound and shows the crowd a little of his classical side. He then lets loose by turning the guitar over on his lap and playing it with pencils. I am a firm believer that he can do whatever he wants to do with an acoustic guitar much in the same manner as Phil Keaggy (though I say that with a little hesitation and much respect for Keaggy). Watching Scratch Track perform is an experience.
The show ended with The Fundamental Elements coming on stage to join Scratch Track for a super band performance. I would like to add that I thought the venue, 12th and Porter, did an outstanding job with the light sequencing. The light sequences transformed this venue from a small club into the feel of an auditorium.
So go listen to their music online. If they are coming to your town, be sure to go check them out live. I promise you will not be disappointed.
A couple weekends ago my wife and I watched a movie called The Fountain. If I had to describe this movie in one word it would be “interesting.” There is no denying that The Fountain is a movie of great intelligence. It was uniquely developed whether you believe it was ahead of its time or just too complicated to be enjoyed. The story consists of three accounts in time making up the past, present, and future. Hugh Jackman plays the main character in each time period. In the past, Jackman plays Tomas, a conquistador in the service of Queen Isabella. In the present, he plays the research oncologist Tommy Creo. In the future, he is an astronaut named Tom. Though they exist in drastically different time periods, each character is connected by a common quest. That quest is the search for immortality and the defeat of death. They have their reasons for such a quest but a recurring factor amongst them all is their love for a woman. And so it is that love drives these men to pursue immortality.
Here is where the water gets pretty muddy though. It is hard to tell where the direct intersection between these characters exists. All three time periods revolve around a particular Mayan story of the cycle of life. However, the movie begins by quoting Genesis 3:24 which sets the foundation for this pursuit of immortality. According to legend, the Tree of Life from the time of creation is said to be hidden in the jungles of New Spain or the New World (Americas). If a person drinks of the sap of this tree, he/she shall live forever. So Tomas the conquistador is sent to find this tree, drink of the sap while wearing the ring of the queen in order that they may experience immortality together as the new Adam and Eve. However, the story drifts from a “biblical” basis to the Mayan belief of death and rebirth. According to Maya mythology, when a person dies they enter into Xibalba or the Mayan underworld. In the Mayan underworld the dead live under the Lords of Xibalba where they may be rebirthed to carry out duties on the earth. So any time there is a nebula in the sky, it is a glimpse of Xibalba.
One of the glaring issues with this movie is the melding of different religions and worldviews into one “cohesive” story. The movie begins with a biblical text that leads to the story of the Tree of Life (or the pursuit of the Fountain of Youth). The story of creation is then phased into a Mayan legend about the afterlife which contains the cycle of life (Hinduism) and the idea of reincarnation (Buddhism). All of these religions and worldviews combine to make an emotionally compelling story of eternity. In fact Tommy Creo’s wife Izzi, who is dying of cancer, finds a sense of peace and wonder in this belief. The problem is the fact that it is a designer religion at best. It is a combination of many beliefs into a man-made story that fits into a person’s desire of what eternity should be according to that person. Nevermind the competing truth claims of each religion that contradict one another. It is simply a melting pot of the “best” elements of each religion made to fit the desired need of the individual. What is “best” is relative to the particular individual. What is “best” for one person may not be “best” for another. This approach to religion and worldview destroys the meaning of life. How can it be determined when all things can be mixed and matched to fit each individual person and their needs? And who is to say that one particular view is right or wrong or better than the others? There can be no means of evaluating such claims thus truth loses all meaning and so does life.
All in all I think this movie is very thought provoking and a great source of discussion across many lines. Though I firmly disagree with the worldview and designer spirituality presented in the movie, I would recommend this movie to small groups for critical discussion. It can also be a great starting point for an engaging spiritual conversation with a non-believer.
Timmy Brister at Provocations & Paintings recently posted a three-part series on engaging spiritual conversations written by Gary Rohrmayer. I believe it is appropriate to first begin with a few challenging questions before outlining this series. How many conversations do you have on a weekly basis concerning things of eternal value? Are you seeking these type of conversations out? Is evangelism a dirty word in your vocabulary? Does the mere mention of the word make you nervous and uncomfortable? These are tough questions but we must be honest with ourselves in answering them if we are to rightly evaluate our hearts and lives concerning evangelism. If I’m honest with myself about this area, I would have to admit that those questions sting a little bit. Evangelism is an area that needs much growth in my life.
What is evangelism? We know the Great Commission that our Lord Jesus Christ gave to his disciples. ”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matt. 28:18-20) These words are oft quoted in churches. Many Christians have this verse memorized. But what does it look like to go and make disciples? If you are like me, you have tried a few different methods. There is everything from friendship evangelism to service evangelism to the dreaded door-to-door. Honestly I think sometimes all these “correct” methods can be a bit overwhelming and confusing. I also think that methods can change and there is nothing wrong with that. But are we doing it? And how do we do it?
Personally, I think conversations built through relationships is one of the best ways to share your faith with others. Through conversation you can feel out a person’s beliefs and encourage them to consider what they believe about the world and life. Where does it begin? Where does it end? Is there more after life? Why are things so messed up in the world? In all of this you are not just throwing some verses at a person or handing him or her a track, but you can truly begin to love this person and care for his or her needs. It becomes less of a sales pitch and more about expressing love toward that person. The root of this love is Jesus Christ and so it is to be shared and made apparent not only in your conversation but how you conduct yourself as a Christian.
So how do we make these spiritual conversations more frequent in our lives? The key is being intentional. But don’t take my word for it, go read Gary’s series for yourself. I found it practically helpful. He shows us how evangelism is a part of who we are and so it can come out naturally throughout our day. Here are four ways Gary suggests increasing spiritual conversations:
So go read it then come back and share some thoughts.
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