The following memes regarding “Friendship Evangelism” represent things I have believed and said for many years.
Friendship Evangelism and Why I Oppose It
These memes are not intended to be provocative for provocation’s sake. With the help of my pastors, my church family, and others who love me, I have worked hard to not be “that guy” anymore. I confess I’m still working on it. But, honestly, my intent runs much deeper than merely “stirring the pot.”
I believe “friendship evangelism,” as it is most commonly practiced, is a far worse epidemic within the Church than any virus and it is a direct assault (although, I’m sure, unintended by most practitioners) against the proclamation and furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe “friendship evangelism” has been a tool of the enemy for longer than I’ve been a Christian (33 years). It has been a generational tool of Satan.
In 16+ years of full-time street evangelism ministry, I have had to deal with far more arrogant, discouraging evangelicals who despise open-air preaching and other forms of public evangelism than I have had to deal with angry atheists. Most of the discouraging evangelicals with whom I’ve had contact on the streets were proponents of one form or another of “friendship evangelism.”
Take for instance my experience on college and university campuses. Those who work hardest to undermine public, on-campus, evangelistic ministry are professing Christians who insist evangelism is living your Christian life (defined in many different ways and often not biblically) in front of unbelievers and establishing relationships with them. And the most frequently articulated fear of these students is that their unsaved friends might associate them with the public proclamation of the gospel taking place on their campus.
Professing Christians who are proponents of “friendship evangelism” often insist that open-air preaching and other forms of public evangelism (erroneously referred to as “cold evangelism”) is “unloving.”
Think about that. A Christian comes upon another Christian engaged in public evangelism and suggests such evangelism is unloving. They actually believe their work at establishing friendships, which may or may not ever lead to the proclamation of the gospel, is more loving than actually communicating the gospel to lost people.
What does that say?
It says that many Christians believe they are more loving than the gospel and that the gospel needs their help.
So, here are several memes on “Friendship Evangelism.”
Ronnette Adams says
Excellent memes! Hey, on another note, have you considered joining MeWe, the social platform alternative to Facebook? I watched a tutorial yesterday and then created an account with my profile. I’m finding it to be very similar to Facebook except that it’s a platform of free speech…you can express your Christian views and political views without censorship and they don’t “fact check” or manipulate your feed in any way. Just a thought.
Carmen Mollahsn says
Excellent Article. Thank you Tony.
Dinesh says
A great truth about Friendship Evangelism, I post these saying in my FB feed, Thanks Pastor Tony.
Tess says
Wow, America sure is a crazy place if Christian people can be so arrogant as to think their friendship is more needed than the gospel?! This must be an American phenomenon because here in London, UK, we don’t have a problem talking with strangers in public spaces or knocking door to door on doors in public housing evangelism nor making friends on my own street or at gym for friends’ lunch evangelism. The latter is not easier as the neighbour is always saying they are too busy for church,, etc.
What I mean is: Public [street/bus stop] evangelism and making friends to get more listening ears for the Gospel aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive – unless one is excuse for not doing the other, right?