Bread, Combines, & Coca-Cola, Oh My!
I know I’ve told some of you this joke before. What do you get when you cross a Jehovah’s Witness with a Presbyterian? Someone who stands at the door and knocks but doesn’t say anything. They say Baptists are “running to the Lord”, while the Presbyterians are “walking, single file, decently and in order”.
When we speak of evangelism what thoughts run through your mind? It’s the pastor’s job? Street corner Bible thumpers? Door to door salesman type people? Pushy people who are trying to get us to see things their way or convert to their belief system? How about guilt for not saying enough about the Lord? People swarming down the aisle at a revival or other type “religious” rally? Or is it friends sharing the excitement of good news with each other? One of my favorite thoughts is this: “Evangelism is one beggar telling another where to find bread.”
Today is Evangelism Sunday. Yes. That’s right. Evangelism. Witnessing. Sharing your story. The thing that people say Presbyterians don’t do. The thing you yourselves say you can’t do. You say, “We’ll leave that evangelism stuff to the Baptists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Pentecostals.”
Well, we’re going to look at evangelism and see if those statements are true. There are many barriers, real and perceived, to evangelizing. We’ll look at those, too.
The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful and costly tombs ever built, but there is something fascinating about its beginnings. In 1629, when the favorite wife of Indian ruler Shah Jahan died, he ordered that a magnificent tomb be built as a memorial for her. The shah placed his wife’s casket in the middle of a parcel of land, and construction of the temple literally began around it. But several years into the venture, the Shah’s grief gave way to a passion for the project. One day while he was surveying the sight, he reportedly stumbled over a wooden box, and he had some workers throw it out. It was months before he realized that his wife’s casket had been destroyed. The original purpose for the memorial became lost in the details of construction.
Dr. James Dobson, Coming Home, Timeless Wisdom for Families, (Tynadale House Pub., Wheaton; 1998), 122.
The same thing can happen to us. We can get so busy doing churchy things that we forget our purpose, why we’re here. There are 5 specific purposes given to the church and each individual believer. They are:
WORSHIP (Enjoying God’s presence)
FELLOWSHIP (Joining God’s team)
DISCIPLESHIP (Growing in God’s grace)
MINISTRY (Serving in God’s world)
EVANGELISM (Sharing God’s good news)
Evangelism is a big word with a simple meaning. It literally means "to announce good news." Of course we have the best news of all to announce, that there’s forgiveness and reconciliation and healing in Jesus Christ.
Another barrier is fear. Here are some of the fears that have been mentioned to me:
- "I am afraid I might do more harm than good."
- "I don’t know what to say."
- "I may not be able to give snappy answers to tricky questions."
- "I am afraid I might fail."
Another major barrier is resistance to change. The pastor one Sunday is preaching to his flock about evangelism. He’s trying to get them excited about sharing God with the lost. “We need this church to grow! We need to seek and save the lost! We need to reap the harvest!” And he went on and on. You can hear the frustration in his voice as he pleads with them to get involved and do something.
Then he finally asked them “Do you want the church to grow?” There was silence for about 1 min. that seemed like an eternity, then one of the men spoke up and said, "I want the church to grow, but I don’t want any more people." To that kind of attitude I would say, “Church is not a country club that we go to be comfortable in, but it is a hospital for those who are dying!”
But you know, I can relate to that sentiment some-what. I’ve often said that I wouldn’t want to serve a large church. I just like the family atmosphere of a small church and it feels more comfortable. Maybe you feel that way, too. Therein lies the problem. I said “I like”. It doesn’t really matter what I like or you like. Think about it. Do we REALLY mean it when we say in our Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done…”?
God wants people saved. That is His will. What is the most quoted verse in the Bible? Anybody? Right, John 3:16. What does it say? The next verse, John 3:17 says, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. What is 750,000 miles long? It could wrap itself around the earth 30 times and it grows an additional 20 miles longer with each passing day? It is the line of people on earth who do not know Jesus. God wants those people saved.
Another barrier is recognized in the old business adage, “Location. Location. Location.” Where are we? We’re in church. I can talk to you for hours, days, months, years. I’m just preachin’ to the choir. You’re here, you know you’re supposed to be here.
Christ realized what many of us today still don’t seem to understand. He met unbelievers where they were. According to one count, the gospels record 132 contacts that Jesus had with people. Six were in the Temple, four in the synagogues and 122 were out with the people in the mainstream of life.
Let me ask the farmers a question now. Your corn is ready to harvest. The moisture is down to about 16%, the ground is dry, the weather is cool and sunny, optimum conditions for combining. Your combine in the barn is all greased, oiled, chains checked, corn head is on. You’re ready to go. Now what’s the first thing you need to do to begin your harvest?
Well, is the corn going to say, “Hey we’re ready to be picked. Let’s just head up to the barn and jump into the wagons. And they start marching across the fields. Come on boys, we’re headin’ to the shed.” Of course not! To begin the harvest you’ve got to get the combine OUT OF THE SHED AND TAKE IT TO THE FIELD! The corn isn’t coming to the barn and the unchurched aren’t coming to church on their own.
Another barrier is lack of confidence. “I am a nobody, I have nothing to offer”. Write that down. “I am a nobody, I have nothing to offer”. Now under it write God’s answer, “I know”. I hope you will never forget this, “God is not looking for extraordinary people, God is looking for ordinary people that will trust an extraordinary God”. “God is not looking for extraordinary people, God is looking for ordinary people that will trust an extraordinary God”.
Byron, if you went home tonight, went to your bedroom and suddenly the dresser begins to burn. It’s burning but nothing else is. The dresser keeps burning and but it doesn’t burn up. Suddenly God says, “Byron, I want you to go next door and share my Son with them. Don’t be afraid, I’ll go with you.” Would you go? God is looking for ordinary people that will trust an extraordinary God.
Coca-cola was introduced in 1886, by Dr. John Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The pharmacist concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard. He first "distributed" Coca-Cola by carrying it in a jug down the street to Jacobs Pharmacy.
After little more than 100 years, surveys show that 97% of the world has heard of Coca-Cola. 72% of the world has seen a can of Coca-Cola. 51% of the world has tasted a can of Coca-Cola. All due to the fact that the company made a commitment years ago that every one on the planet would have a taste of their soft drink.
We should stand up and take note here...97% of the world has heard of this sugar and water concoction while it is estimated that 17 million people die every year without having heard the name of Jesus!
For any Christian evangelism is not an option: IT is a command! It is like when you tell your children, “We are going to the store,” and they respond, “But I don’t want to go,” and to that you reply, “I didn’t ask you if you wanted to go, you are going!” God wants you to. God needs you to.
So going back to those statements that “Presbyterians don’t evangelize” and “I can’t do that”, all I can do is quote Lee Parsons. “Oh, Baloney”.
D.L. Moody and once spoke with a woman who didn’t like his method of evangelism. "I don’t really like mine all that much either. What’s yours?" She replied that she didn’t have one. Moody said, "Then I like mine better than yours."
Maybe you don’t go door-to-door. Maybe you don’t stand on the street and shout Hallelujah and Testify.
Maybe you don’t go to stranger’s houses and ask them, “Are you saved?” So what? But, believe it or not, you DO evangelize. I have seen evidence of it.
I can’t remember how many times I’ve had people in this community who are NOT members of this church tell me about all the good things I’m doing and how things are going so well in the church. To those who are saying these things – you are this close to evangelizing. You’re just talking about the wrong guy. You need to be talking about all the wonderful things JESUS is doing in this church AND in YOUR life.
So how do you, let’s call it “share your story”? Pray about it first. Focus on what God has done in your life. Just be yourself. Let others see the difference that Christianity has made in your life. Let the person you’re sharing with know that you really care about them and not just trying to “save” them.
Share with your friends, neighbors, co-workers, people at school, people you know. Our God is a relational God. Don’t make sharing your faith such a big deal. Offer them some bread, a coke, and have the combine ready.
