To recap: One, we have been taught that “evangelism” is a method used to get results. Secondly, we are tempted to think that only those with a special gifting can be used to see others find Jesus as their Lord. Lastly, many of us struggle with deep spiritual “insecurities”: "God wouldn't use me to see someone come to find eternal redemption in Christ!".
The truth is that the season of Advent helps us find the genuine starting places for effective outreach to the world; a world that so desperately needs to know the saving love of Jesus. Although humanity was given over to selfishness, pride, and emptiness, the Father sent His son to break into our world shrouded in guilt, shame, and self-destruction. He did not wait in His heavenly court for us to somehow figure it out ourselves (we were incapable of this). He in His mercy and love sent His willing and loving Son to break into our world that we might have hope.
Thus, as we will investigate in the future from Holy Scripture, the starting places for a grounded and lasting form of church growth does NOT start with our desire to see our institution survive that we might not suffer loss (this is about US).
The below two questions can reveal if we truly desire a future taught by Jesus about the Kingdom of God in our own hearts: Do we truly want to love our neighbor (whether they join our church or not), and do we truly want to love one another with the authentic love of Jesus? Without these two foundational pillars, any evangelism, outreach, and “do-gooding” in which we involve ourselves will be extremely limited in nature. Why? Because when we choose our own ways and machinations, we limit the power of the Holy Spirit among us and hinder the transformation that our Savior wants to accomplish in us...and through us.
More to come.
Father Tom
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