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Over the past several Sundays, we have been taking our church through a series emphasizing our core values as a church. Particularly, the past three Sundays have been dedicated to cultivating a missional mindset. No matter what you think about this term, whether it is over used or sounds too "trendy", the word has deep biblical roots. The pattern of Scripture for personal evangelistic witness was that of going to where the people are and connecting to their mindset with the hopes of bringing them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This means that "evangelism" is just living the Gospel and sharing the truth of it transformational power through our lives and witness. Particularly, this past Sunday I shared the necessity of living among the people and doing life with them before we make them our "conversion project." There is nothing that gets me more convicted than some misguided efforts or programs to bring people to the Gospel. Let me try to explain.

There are several ways Christians have been taught to "evangelize" their friends, neighbors and family. One way is the "cold call." This type of effort is based purely on the masses. One may walk up and down a street and engage people with the Gospel. A church may have a neighborhood outreach and knock on doors to share the Gospel. Let me make sure I am clear about this, there is nothing inheritly wrong with this model. I have participated in it myself. The challenge I see is that the personality of the emerging genertion that stands before us. Over the past two generations (the generation X, millenials and who knows what names are coming next), there has been a trend of a large scale abandonment of the church and its message. As a student pastor, I recognize that a large part of this exodus is due to a lack of a cohesive parental discipleship model that should be fostered in churches. I am convinced that this is the big culprit in the exodus. The challenge is "what do we do now?" We have generation of jaded 20-35 year olds who have left the church because they saw a lack of consistency between what they heard in church and what they saw in real life whether at home or otherwise. This generation will largely reject such methods like the "cold call" because it lacks a sense of care and authenticity. They see it as a manipulation ploy to fill the church pews (or chairs is you are more progressive).

Another way is the "invite them to church" method. I am all for people inviting others to church. I am a pastor and love to see new faces on Sunday mornings, but what I love more is the story that are told by our members as they faithfully loved their friends and neighbors as they built collateral with them to bring them to church. The challenge with this method is that we assume people have a positive view of the church. We assume that "getting them to church" will fix them. We assume that if we can get hooked and cleaned, they will be ok. What we have just done is treated them like a freshly caught trout! Even in the Bible Belt where I serve, the culture is changing. The transiant nature of our culture brings new faces with new cultures to Nashville all the time. Many of those cultures have a reserved view (at best) towards institutionalism, particularly the church. But there is another problem with this method. Bringing people to church is not really evangelism. Some how the idea has been spread that "if I can just get them there, everything will be alright." The pastors will pick up the ball and "get em saved." That is sad in my mind. People get invited all the time to churches only to be dropped by the person(s) who invited them shortly after that.

I believe with all my heart a truly worshipful service can be one of the most missional environments we can involve people in, but that is secondary to the real purpose of corporate worship which is to adore Christ! The body of Christ adores Christ meaning that the worship service on Sunday is more about the believer than the unbeliever. The response time is also more about the believer than the unbeliever. Walking an isle and praying a prayer is not what salvation is all about. Salvation is about saving the "whole" man. Yes, people must make the initial decision, that is the just the tip of iceberg. That decision does not, and maybe should not, happen in an emotional environment like a worship service. [NO HE DIDN'T JUST GO THERE!] I can't tell you how many people have told me that they made an emotional decision not a "head and heart" transaction! If we recieve a new convert during a worship service, that is fantastic, but I try not to present them until he/she has had some time to internalize their decision. [head and heart transaction]

Living as a missionary and committing to love our friends and neighbors is not pretty. It is often messy. It often puts us in uncomfortable positions where unbelievers can see our scratches and scars. It takes time! Some may say that we risk them dying and going to hell with your methodology. I say that risk is there either way because if all we do is call for people to "make a decision" with out letting them see it in our lives first, they may make a pseudo-decision which could be more detrimental in the long run! My God is in control of every footstep that I make. It is not our jobs to "get em saved" or "get em down isle", it merely to be a glorious reflection of the glory of God for the purposes of the Gospel! If I am willing to love at all costs and sacrifice with out seeking personal gain, my God will anoint my steps!

To God be all the glory!