Considering Evangelism and Discipleship
(Conversations in Spain)
“Dress for action like a man;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Will you even put me in the wrong?
Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
Have you an arm like God,
and can you thunder with a voice like his?
Job 40:7-9
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
Galatians 6:1
The Camino is one of my favorite kinds of places. The kind of place where the nations flock to. That’s one of the biggest reasons that I loved Wingate University and my trip to Canada. You could be in one place and touch the world.
Along the Camino there are so many conversations that come up. Some for fun and of not much importance but to laugh and enjoy company, and some are about the search that people have while on the Camino. Whether they’re here to get over a break up, to hear from God, to figure out what their next step in life is, or just for holiday, this is a place where people are searching for peace and rest.
There are two conversations this month where I really saw Holy Spirit pursuing people. I think I find these two conversations significant because in the midst of them it was revealed to me that the things that keep people back from God, and keep them back from community, all lie within the same questions I’ve heard over and over again. They’re the same excuses every time and I hardly hear anything different. However, what that tells me, is we have done a rather poor job as the church in actively answering those questions or addressing those topics with those who really need it, and outside of seminary walls.
I write this blog because I think it would be helpful for all Christians to have a worthy response to the topics. I give these to you to ponder.
Alias Man 1
The first of the two conversations I had with a man from Denmark. He was agnostic at least, but probably more verging on atheist. He was kind and moral and I really enjoyed talking to him and how his mind worked. We really bonded because he felt sorry for us because we were eating plain noodles. He offered us some black pepper and then gave us pears for dessert expressing his concern for us. Later he entertained a conversation with Jezie and I into the night. Unfortunately it was cut short by the lights out/quiet hours of the albergue.
The biggest thing holding him back from God is the million dollar question to nearly every human.
One to consider, and to land on a satisfactory answer or place in wrestling with it.
“IF GOD IS GOOD WHY DOES HE ALLOW BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN?”
Otherwise known as the “problem of evil”.
Alias Man 2
The second conversation I had was with a man from Germany with a giant dog. His dog and He camped outside of albergues or on the beach along the Camino, and we happened to be at the same one one night. The next day we walked together and had a 4 hour long conversation. Some of it about lighter things and about our lives in the US and Germany and family and sorts. Then we got to the topic of church. His position in religion was “Protestant”, and his mother was devoted to the choir at church. He said “sure” he was Christian. Having issues with organized/institutional religion He practices his faith personally and separately from the local body.
“[PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH, ESPECIALLY THE LEADERS, ARE HYPOCRITICAL AND DO DIFFERENTLY THAN WHAT THEY SAY]”
He’s not wrong. So you can’t accuse him or be mad at him. The Lord has gifted him with the ability to see what’s wrong and what needs to be fixed.
What you can pray
For Alias Man 1:
That Holy Spirit would pursue him. That he would realize he doesn’t have to make things happen, God does. Pray that the Lord would move in miraculous ways in his life that it would be undeniable who God is and that He is real. Pray that he would see in order to see God’s true, good, and perfect character that he wouldn’t separate the Old and New Testament but that it’s really together that he’ll see goodness and perfection.
Pray for other Christians to come into his life. I would say pray that this question would be answered satisfactorily for him, but He needs more than apologetics. In the words of Stephen Eccher, both my church history and favorite teacher, “[You’ll never be able to argue someone into salvation (with apologetics), it’s only the work of the Holy Spirit that can save someone.]”
For Alias Man 2:
That His life would be set on fire for Christ. He’s heard the gospel, He knows who Jesus is. Pray that he would put action to the gift that the Lord has given him, namely in shepherding and teaching. He has the ability influence and wisdom to speak life to people. Also, pray that he would extend grace to humans and the human condition of sin. Pray that He would see that Jesus is the answer to everything: unity and peace.
Finally, pray that the spark would be lit in them for further conversations with believers and that one day they will bring that light to their countries.
Now for you…
So what do you do with these thoughts and questions. They are definitely two that I’ve seen as the biggest discussion points in evangelism and discipleship. Find theologians that you trust, talk to a trusted pastor, study the word. Don’t just be satisfied with the first answer you come to. Dig! Look at a plethora of trusted sources (also, be warned trusted sources may have slightly different answers). Below are the very beginnings of articles I would consider in my early research on the topics.
On the problem of evil
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/confronting-the-problems-of-evil
https://www.str.org/articles/augustine-on-evil#.XVO49qSxXYU
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/job-the-revelation-of-god-in-suffering
On the church and hypocrisy
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/why-should-i-go-to-church
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/sinners-saints-or-hypocrites
