One of the reasons we felt the Lord leading us to Morningstar was the hands-on ministry experience that they require of students. I didn't want to spend 2 years getting a master's degree in biblical studies, and still not know how to engage strangers in Wal-Mart to share the good news about Jesus. I think most Christians dread the thought of evangelism because the model we know requires a great deal of confrontation, and in many cases, hurt feelings for everyone involved. Here at Morningstar, they are taking a very new approach to evangelism which provides a much greater dignity and respect to the unsaved person. It is not confrontational or high pressure. It doesn't even require me to have a Bible in hand when I am talking with someone. What they have discovered is that many people want a relationship with Jesus, but they are offended by religiosity and christian jargon. People are desperately hungry for God, and for experiencing his supernatural miracles in their lives, but if they are offended in the process of sharing the good news, they become defensive to protect themselves from being hurt again. We aren't learning a formula for presenting the good news, but moreso a philosophy of understanding what causes a person to be fearful or angry when we share the gospel. In most cases, it isn't that they are offended with the truth. They are offended as the past hurts by well-meaning christians are brought to mind while we are sharing. They are offended when we ignore their personal dignity and right to figure it out their relationship with God for themselves.
I am out of time for writing at the moment, as it's time for our chaplain class. But I will testify that I've led a person to the Lord both times that I've been out on the streets to evangelize here by understanding people better. Did they have perfect theology when I finished? NO. But then again, neither do I. Thank God that he isn't judging me by that! I would like to point you to a profound website on this subject. One of the guys pioneering this new way is Doug Addison. Check out his website (http://www.dougaddison.com/cms/index.php), especially the blog. More on this later, but for now I better zoom. Traffic is killer in Charlotte...
Blessings,
Ashley
wow-that is so true. i read a bunch of doug's articles on his website and they were awesome! this really ministers to me and i thinking loving others and hearing the Lord is the key, not pressuring them to make a decision or be all preachy. i know i am so guilty of using christianese. we don't even realize how much we do it, but the Lord can give us relative words!
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