Perhaps one of the most lamentable things about the church today is the state of evangelism. The steady decline of Christianity in the West is very noticeable as less and less people identify as Christians. This is a point easily proven to most people with just anecdotal evidence, but statistics also validate these claims. 1https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2019/10/17/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace/ A cursory glance at the world today provides the concerned Christian with all the proof necessary for making the statement, “We need more Christians.” But despite this recognition, Christianity still struggles. If the need is so obvious, and the church recognizes that need, why is Christianity in decline?
For some, the answer is in the question. Those that identify as Evangelicals are likely to rate proselytizing as a priority, structuring their church as a mission field. Other churches prioritize the discipleship aspect, ensuring that once Christians join the flock, they are well-equipped for the challenges of life. Some churches use these statistics as a sign; to update the church building, get new musicians, or label themselves as a seeker sensitive church. Despite these efforts, the answer seems just as distant. Christianity’s decline seems to spite every concerted evangelistic effort to draw in more believers.
The Pragmatic Solution
One solution to improving evangelism’s effectiveness has focused on a more utilitarian approach. Pragmatism says that the best solution to a problem is the solution that works. A pragmatic understanding of Matthew 28:19-20 would understand the great commission as a goal, rather than a command. The result of this approach should obvious. Those pastors and churches employing a pragmatic understanding of the great commission will likely be attempting to attract as many people as possible into their church building. John MacArthur noticed the pastoral shift over 20 years ago.
“Pastors are turning to books on marketing methods in search of new techniques to help churches grow. Many seminaries have shifted their pastoral training emphasis from Bible curriculum and theology to counseling technique and church-growth theory. All these trends reflect the church’s growing commitment to pragmatism.”
John MacArthur Jr, Ashamed of the Gospel – When the Church Becomes Like The World, 1993
Despite identifying this issue in churches, and encouraging them to return to the gospel, the pragmatic approach dominates evangelicalism. This utilitarian proselytizing way of thinking is just as strong as ever, but not in the apparent and straightforward way. As an example, we will examine a tweet2https://twitter.com/scottsauls/status/1566778285945749505from the pastor Scott Sauls. Sauls is a PCA pastor in Tennessee, and has written numerous books. While short, this question is perfectly clear.
While it is difficult to say exactly how Pastor Sauls would expound on this question, one can easily deduce the framework for it. What does the diversity of a church have to do with the hospitality of it? If we put the question another way:
Would the evangelical struggles of Christendom today be solved with diversity and hospitality?
Honestly, despite Sauls’s deleting the initial tweet and posting this corrected version, the question still has an incredibly myopic view of the issue. Does the world reject Christianity because evangelism has failed to be hospitable enough? Does lack of a heterogeneous community drive people away from the soul-saving work of the gospel?
Hospitality as a Tool
I very much appreciate the work of Rosaria Butterfield. Her story, as told in her book,3https://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Comes-House-Key-Post-Christian/dp/143355786X shows how Christian hospitality eventually led her to Christ, leaving behind a homosexual lifestyle. She has had numerous articles and podcast appearances, each encouraging Christians to be hospitable in their walk with Christ. Yet some people hear her story and message and run to the extreme. Scripture makes clear, that Christians are to be hospitable (Luke 10:25-37). It is also clear that inviting someone to your house can be a life-changing event. When Jesus invited himself over to Zacchaeus’ house, Zacchaeus was a changed man (Luke 19: 1-10). Despite this Christian emphasis on hospitality, the connection to evangelism seems vague. If more Christians were like the good Samaritan, would the world be different?
Similarly, the connection between diversity and evangelism seems even more stretched. Is there a connection between the racial profile of church members and the evangelical success of that church? Many people seem to think so. It is incredibly easy to find articles, videos, or podcasts discussing the need for diversity in the church.4https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/trevin-wax/pursuing-multi-ethnic-congregations-a-conversation-with-derwin-gray-and-juan-sanchez/ You can also theorize that Scott Sauls, as part of the PCA, likely knows of his denomination’s unity fund. After lamenting the fact that the denomination has only a 1% black representation, the unity fund page makes the claim that: “We need an intentional effort to accelerate the growth of minority leadership if we are going to be faithful to the scriptures, true to the reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission.“5https://pcamna.org/ministry/unity-fund/ 6https://unconscionable.life/slice/price-of-unity/
Keeping it Simple
The question posed in a tweet is easily answered. Look around, Pastor Scott. You are seeing it. For years, the church has appealed to social and political trends in order to attract the world. “Look at how hospitable Christians are!”, or, “Come to our diverse church!” the seeker sensitive church cries, as the world burns around them. Do you honestly think that the decline of Christianity is due to a lack of hospitable, multi-ethnic churches?
Perhaps it is better to ask the question another way. Suppose man was lost in the desert for days, dehydrated, weary, and parched. The man wanders endlessly for a drink, sometimes imagining it is on the horizon, waiting for him. Then imagine the lost man is finally found by another. Suppose this other traveler had an endless supply of water, and suppose it was offered freely to the lost man. Would that man take and drink the freely offered water?
Absolutely.
There is no question that the man in desperate need of water would bother to think twice of the other man’s offer. Would he first analyze it’s source? Would he ask the other man to drink from the bottle first, in case it is poisoned? Perhaps the man’s clothing would be a factor. Surely the man offering the water should dress in a way that showcases his diverse background, right?
Using extra-biblical evangelistic tools quickly becomes a disaster for obvious reasons. If a Christian is seeking to understand the state of evangelicalism, he will be much better off analyzing the Bible. Rather than attempting to complicate the evangelism question, a Christian should read the Bible, and follow the instructions. John MacArthur’s solution follows a similar pattern. In his book, MacArthur finds the instructions given in first and second Timothy very helpful for pastors and those seeking to evangelize. He starts by listing Paul’s instructions to Timothy, then following it up with this paragraph.
“Nothing in that list hints at a market-driven philosophy. In fact, most of those commands are impossible to harmonize with the theories that are so popular today. To sum it all up in five categories, Paul commanded Timothy: 1) to be faithful in his preaching of biblical truth; 2) to be bold in exposing and refuting errors; 3) to be an example of godliness to the flock; 4) to be diligent and work hard in the ministry; and 5) to be willing to suffer hardship and persecution in his service for the Lord.”
John MacArthur Jr, Ashamed of the Gospel, 1993
Final Thoughts
Despite the state of Christianity, I have no doubt that this simplistic approach to evangelism is far superior to the current pragmatic theory. I am sure that this Biblical understanding of proselytizing is ultimately more effective than the Christianity that attempts to “win” people over. Heed the great commission, invite the lost to your home, preach the gospel to all nations. Don’t worry about the “What If?”, instead, focus on the “Now.” Your gospel witness will go unheeded, your Christian lifestyle will be mocked, but honestly, the result is irrelevant. Every Christian is called to be a good and faithful servant (Matthew 25:23). By focusing on God’s commands, you show your love for Jesus (John 14:23). Your faithful witness will be pleasing to God, whether it changes the world or not.
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