What Some Pastors Have Taught Me About Evangelism

As some of you may know, there are two lectionaries (scheduled assignments of Scripture to be read in church through the church year) in use in the church today: a three year series of readings and a one year series. The three year series is newer (in use for approximately the last 50 years or so). The one year series is more historic and been in use for a much longer time. The majority of churches (that I know of) use the three year lectionary, though the minority that uses the one year is very dedicated to it and very vocal about it. Recently I read another blog post written by someone who “converted” from the three year to the one year series. I skimmed through the article and heard pretty much the same arguments I had heard before. (Note: I am not married to or devoted to either one.)

But a thought came to me this time: if they want me to care (much less convert!), they have to come up with better arguments and show me why it matters. This is NOT an invitation to do that here, in the comments! Here’s the point: this is what I think is the reaction of many people to the efforts of the church at outreach and evangelism. They listen to what we have to say, maybe what they’ve already heard before, but remain unconvinced. Why? Because we haven’t convinced them why it matters. I am happy for those who have switched from the three year to the one year, and glad they have come to that conclusion. And maybe unbelievers are happy for those who have become Christians and glad that they have come to that conclusion. But for those who remain unbelievers, it doesn’t matter. For them, they need a better reason to “convert.”

Now, this isn’t a perfect analogy because when we’re talking about faith, that is the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of those who hear the Word. But this was the first time I think I understood where those folks we reach out to are and what (perhaps) many of them think. Some are hostile to Christianity, yes, but for many, it just doesn’t matter. We need to show them it does.

66 Devotions!

For a couple of years now, I have tried to send out a weekly devotional note via e-mail that I call "In Touch." During special times in the Church Year I may send more than one a week, but there have also been times where I have been "dry" and void of ideas and didn't send one out for weeks. I am amazed at my brother Dr. Scott Murray in Houston, who sends out a devotion every day! (And ones of great substance.)

Well, today I decided to try something: I am going to write 66 devotions, one for each book of the Bible. Each will be about the book's general focus, and emphasize how this book shows us Christ and the good news of His work for us. So that's a devotion each week for the next 15 months! Hopefully that, and a bit of inspiration sprinkled in between, will keep me going for a while and help me be more consistent with these. We'll see! And if you're interested, go here to sign-up for yourself and receive them. The first one goes out tomorrow morning.

How Do We Know God?

One of the classes I am taking this semester is Trinitarian Catechesis and the Baptismal Creed. The professor is using his own book in which he asserts that we should try to teach folks about God on the basis of the "economic trinity" rather than the "immanent trinity." Now, you're asking, what the heck do those things mean? The immanent trinity refers to God as He is in Himself; the Godhead; three persons in one God and one God in three persons. Which is a mystery for us to understand fully. The economic trinity is how God is outside of Himself, or how He deals with and interacts with man and creation. And so we know God as Creator, and as our Redeemer, for that is how He is working outside of Himself for us.

Therefore, I called my professor (at The *Catholic* University of America) very Lutheran! For this is how the Small Catechism teaches God, and Luther taught to begin with how God has revealed Himself to us through Christ and His cross, and not to try to see into the "hidden" God, or God as He is in heaven. And actually, my professor said: "I've been called that before!"

However, we continued our conversation, and I sort of cornered him. He began talking about a time he spoke to a Muslim man in a hotel, and how he believed that with a Muslim, you *need* to start with the immanent trinity. So I asked him: How come you are teaching us (and have written) to teach the economic trinity, and yet here you say start with the immanent? A bit inconsistent, yes? He thought a bit but stuck to his point: With a Muslim, have to start with the immanent.

No, I said. My good friend Pastor Josh Hollmann taught me that there is a way to begin economically. For Muslims believe that the Koran is the living word of God that came down from heaven. Well, we believe that yes, the living word of God came down from heaven, but not in a book, but in a man! In Jesus, the Word made flesh. How come, I asked him, we can't start there, economically, rather than immanently? He thought, but really gave no answer. I still think his book (and I, and Luther, and the Small Catechism) are right. Start with Jesus, God as He has come into this world and revealed His love and mercy for us on the cross. That is how and where we know God and how and where He wants to be known. For as Jesus said, "No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

So I'll keep working on my professor. Maybe he'll come around . . . :-)

Never Again?

Each year the Rotarians of the Town of Vienna (where my church is) hold a street festival named “Viva Vienna.” My church has a booth at this festival where we give out information about our church, homemade baked treats, lemonade, and prizes for kids, as a way of getting the name of our church before people and inviting them to come hear the Word of God. It makes for a very long and difficult weekend for me, getting everything together and helping man the booth and meet people. And every year I come home exhausted and with a headache and say “Never again!”

And then each year, we do it again.

Why? Where else can you meet thousands of people in just two days? Where else can people see (and ask!) about the name of your church and you get to talk about Christianity and the Nicene Creed? Where else can you tell so many people so quickly about what Lutherans believe and what makes us different? Where else could we give away so many Good News magazines, pro-life information, books, Portals of Prayers, devotionals, and talk to people from ages 2 to 82?

I just wish it was on a different weekend. For on Memorial Day weekend businesses are busy, folks travel, many have family plans, and it makes recruiting workers for the booth harder. I also wish I could have the day to go to a Memorial Day parade and picnic again. And relax. Maybe someday my church will be big enough to allow me to do that. In the meantime, yes, I will be grumpy at the end of another long day, and yes, I will probably say “never again!” And yes, we will do it again. And I remember Paul’s admonition to Timothy: “Do the work of an evangelist.” (2 Tim 4:5)

You were right Paul. It is hard work.