the law and the gospel

I sat in on an evangelism course again yesterday, and I'm working through my angst from yesterday's lesson. In a synopsis, the two speakers on the video talked about how, when we go to share Christ with someone, we first need to present the law and help a person see their own sinfulness, the holiness of God, and their need for a Savior to save their lives from the deserved judgment of Hell. The men used an analogy of two guys on a plane. The first one was given a parachute and told that it would enhance his flight. Upon wearing it, he found it bulky, heavy, and disappointing to his flight, not at all an improvement to his flying experience. The second guy was told to put it on, as he would be needing it at any moment to save his life in a freefall that was imminent from 25,000 ft. This man put the parachute on, and didn't even think about it being uncomfortable or annoying. He found security and joy in it, as he knew it was going to save his life. The argument was that modern evangelism basically talks about the good news as being "Jesus for life enhancement" and doesn't deal with sin/repentance and being saved from Hell. When people put on "Jesus for life enhancement" they end up disappointed that they did not experience joy and peace largely because they haven't dealt with their sinfulness and the atoning death of Christ for them.


I'm in agreement that people need to recognize their brokenness, sin, and need for a Savior. I would also even add that we generally lack humility, repentance, and dependence in American Christianity.


Here's the but. But, I think that if our evangelism efforts take us to the streets to help people see they've broken the law of God and to then try to share the good news that Christ will save them from Hell, I think we will end up largely in the same place that got us where we seem to be these days. With people surveyed finding the Bible less than credible, and saying that Christians are largely unloving and judgmental, and with many proclaimed Christians living basically like everyone else except that they claim to have "fire insurance" when they die.


The course used the analogy that a seed thrown on hard ground cannot take root, but that when the soil is tilled and broken up, it can. This week's topic was about how we have to prepare the heart to hear the good news by helping a person see their brokenness and God's holiness. I would say that in today's America, demonstration is needed to help prepare the heart, as many are sick of seeing Christians being about talk and not walk. They want living proof of a true and powerful gospel that changes lives. Christians loving and serving sacrificially, passionately loving Jesus and people, and walking increasingly godly lives...now that might increase the credibility of the Word and prepare a heart to hear about God, about self, and about God's provision in Christ.

I'd love to hear thoughts from you about evangelism.