tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post5873437325351810032..comments2023-06-15T09:41:19.355-05:00Comments on NT/History Blog: Evangelical, Non-EvangelisticBill Heromanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-27982512385021669142009-06-04T18:27:08.156-05:002009-06-04T18:27:08.156-05:00No need to feel embarassed, Bill. I'm glad you...No need to feel embarassed, Bill. I'm glad you mentioned your quandary.<br /><br />Personally, I'd say you are barking up the wrong tree. Read the works of folk like Luke and Paul and you quickly get a taste of the church in its earliest years. Did outreach depend on having a local gathering to take people to? No! <br /><br />How about Peter at the house of Cornelius? Cornelius and his entire household believed and received the Holy Spirit. They were baptised and, in fact, <i>became</i> a local gathering.<br /><br />A pre-existing community of believers is not a prerequisite for evangelism to take place. If you share the good news and someone believes, try meeting with them in their own home for a meal and suggest that they invite friends and family along. Meet with them regularly for Bible study, prayer, and questions until they're established and then visit them from time to time.<br /><br />It's a natural process. Plant a seed - water it - tend it - and when it's strong enough leave it to do what comes naturally, grow, flower, and produce more seeds for planting.<br /><br />Over the centuries we have been taught to bring people to the church. Don't do it! Instead, take church to the people. Christ doesn't reside in particular physical locations, he lives in the hearts of his people wherever they happen to be :-)<br /><br />Besides, I'm glad you've been granted the time, skill, and inclination to pursue church history in a new and refreshing way. That too is valuable!Chris Jefferieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07024046243018838005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-79730537147884869732009-06-01T22:06:25.903-05:002009-06-01T22:06:25.903-05:00You're not afraid to hold different perspectives o...You're not afraid to hold different perspectives on theological (I know you probably don't like the term "theological") matters, even if you are to stand alone:)<br /><br />Honestly, I like that about you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-21348712584310369752009-05-31T18:53:05.507-05:002009-05-31T18:53:05.507-05:00I'm a bit embarrassed I even posted this, actu...I'm a bit embarrassed I even posted this, actually. But since you asked.<br /><br />Sure, individuals can lead people to the Lord. I simply believe we best do that by leading them to the Lord in his body. If I knew how to locate the corporate Christ in my part of town, nobody would be more eager than I to point it out to people.<br /><br />Of course, no church is ever ideal. Half my point was that I admit it's a bit perfectionistic, but it gave me an interesting perspective.<br /><br />Still embarrassed...Bill Heromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283809456471966882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12543231.post-37068626922853140542009-05-31T18:11:43.760-05:002009-05-31T18:11:43.760-05:00Hi Bill,
What I understand from what this post is...Hi Bill,<br /> What I understand from what this post is that you conceive evangelism as the task of a "healthy church" and not the responsibility of individual believers, outside of the corporate body (?). And in your former experiences with churches, you have yet to encounter a healthy church, therefore you're always postponing your evangelistic task. Am I correct? <br /><br />In conclusion (again If I'm reading you correctly), evangelism should not be done by individual believers in Christ, rather in concert with the church they belong to. Therefore, engaging in "personal evangelism" endeavor is a false proposition or statement . What you're advocating is "corporate evangelism," with the "sending church" as its fountainhead. <br /><br />Please clarify further...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com