By almost any metric, the churches in our nation are much less evangelistic today than they were in the recent past. In my own denomination, we are reaching non-Christians only half as effectively as we were 50 years ago (we measure membership to annual baptisms). The trend is disturbing.
We certainly see the pattern in the early church where “every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). In too many of our churches today, the congregations are reaching no one for Christ in the course of an entire year.
The Poll
I conducted an unscientific Twitter poll recently to see what church leaders and church members thought of this trend, My specific question was: “Why do you think many churches aren’t as evangelistic as they once were?”
The responses arrived quickly and in great numbers, both in public tweets and in direct messages to me. Indeed, I was still receiving responses four days after I sent my Twitter question.
The Results
The response was highly informative for me. Here are the top fifteen responses listed in order of frequency:
- Christians have no sense of urgency to reach lost people.
- Many Christians and church members do not befriend and spend time with lost persons.
- Many Christians and church members are lazy and apathetic.
- We are more known for what we are against than what we are for.
- Our churches have an ineffective evangelistic strategy of “you come” rather than “we go.”
- Many church members think that evangelism is the role of the pastor and paid staff.
- Church membership today is more about getting my needs met rather than reaching the lost.
- Church members are in a retreat mode as culture becomes more worldly and unbiblical.
- Many church members don’t really believe that Christ is the only way of salvation.
- Our churches are no longer houses of prayer equipped to reach the lost.
- Churches have lost their focus on making disciples who will thus be equipped and motivated to reach the lost.
- Christians do not want to share the truth of the gospel for fear they will offend others. Political correctness is too commonplace even among Christians.
- Most churches have unregenerate members who have not received Christ themselves.
- Some churches have theological systems that do not encourage evangelism.
- Our churches have too many activities; they are too busy to do the things that really matter.
So What Is the Solution?
I received hundreds of responses to this poll. There is obviously widespread concern about the lack of evangelism in our churches and among Christians.
First, let me hear what you think of these responses. Second, and more importantly, offer some solutions to the challenges. Make certain those solutions include what you can do as much as what they should do. I look forward to hearing from you.
photo credit: people talking in paris via photopin (license)
Posted on February 23, 2015
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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325 Comments
My solution is FOOD, back in my early salvation days, we had Monday Night visitation, and I suggested a food fellowship during visitation, and of course everyone reported back how their visits went good or bad. That was one of the greatest evangelistic churches at that time (Westside Baptist Church w Dr. Harold Hudson, during the 1980’s (I got saved 1983)). Our singles program went from 8 to 200+ in 3 years because of Friday Night Bible Preaching (they called it Friday Night Bible Study, but was more like worship and preaching service with band and all) and singing and FOOD and VISITING (evangelism). Fellowship is a very integral part that most churches don’t exploit for the name of Christ. Make visitation FUN and of course educational.
I believe J.P. Moreland brings clarity to this when he states: “In a 2003 revised edition of his magisterial work, Evangelism in the Early Church, a book that must be regarded as the single most authoritative treatment of the spread of the gospel, Michael Green highlights three factors central to the church’s explosive success in the church’s first four centuries: (1) the church’s ability to engage in persuasive apologetics and outthink her critics; (2) the transformed character and biblical compassion of believers; and (3) the manifest power of the Kingdom of God by the Spirit through healings, demonic deliverance, and prophetic ability clearly from another realm.” (J.P. Moreland, Kingdom Triangle, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530; pp 111-112.
B.B. Warfield seems to bring to the forefront the issue of Apologetics as a necessity and an imperative when he states: “…the business of apologetics is to establish the truth of Christianity as the absolute religion, directly and as a whole. Apologetics consequently takes its place at the head of the departments of theological science, and finds its task in the establishment of that knowledge of God which forms the subject-matter of these departments.”
Recent graduates of the Tulsa School of Apologetics testify that their Christian life and witness moves into a “Confident Christianity” (thank you, MJ), and into evangelism. When believers discover that the factuality of the Truth-claims of Christianity, their spiritual walk is impacted.
When you get a chance, check out “Apocity:The Greatest Omission.” It not only coins a words to talk about not evangelizing, but it diagnosis the problems of why it is committed, and provides a gospel centered remedy. You can find it on tractplanet.com.
Acts 2:42 tells us what the church was busy doing during the early days of rapid growth. These new converts had heard the Word of God preached (Acts 2:34-35) and for those that heard, by the working of the Holy Spirit, faith was given (Romans 10:17). This is still how it works today. People hear the truth of God’s Word, their hearts are pierced, they repent, and then they receive the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
However, something happened prior to Peter’s sermon and the mass conversions: PRAYER. Acts 2:14 tells us how everyone (not just the church leaders) prayed together. Acts 2:42 tells us that after the conversions, the early church continued in this manner of devoting themselves to prayer. The church, if she wants to see new converts, and if she wants to see “the Lord add to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47)and then to see those converts grow in faith, then she needs to be about the business of prayer. It really is just that simple.
I have heard Dr. Douglas F. Kelly of Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte make a startling comparison with the moral decline of our nation with the actual timing of our Methodist and Baptist and Presbyterian churches systematically doing away with the prayer meeting. There was a time in our nations history when churches faithfully gathered together once a week for the purpose of prayer. Dr. Kelly argues that the church needs to return to the weekly prayer meeting if she wants to see the tide turn.
I am convinced that the Lord will indeed add to the number of His church, and I also believe that He will do this through the prayers of His church. When tremendous conversions take place, it won’t be when just the leaders are praying, but like Acts 2:14, everyone in the church will be devoted to prayer.
James 4:2b “You have not because you ask not.”
Thom, this is thought provoking and heartbreaking. Thank you for what you share, it is motivating. But if I look in the mirror and try to be the person God calls me to be in sharing my faith, I just can’t connect with analyzing what is wrong with my church and her people. I can only love them and try to be a good example that others could follow.
Two problems. For several decades, we have not made disciples. We have told them what to do, but have not shown them or held them accountable for their obedience to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Then, anywhere from 50% to 80% of church members are lost. 1 John shows how we can know we have eternal life – righteousness, obedience and agape love. Those are the only evidences of true salvation.
Lost people don’t care that lost people are condemned to Hell.
#16 – Church members (and Christians) are trapped by the world. Greed, idolatry, porn has such a grip on many believers that they are uninterested in building the Kingdom, and are trapped by the lies of Satan.
Personally I think the way out of almost all these things is to be an infectious evangelist – do not try to change other people, do not try to fix others, but rather let the Holy Spirit work to change you, give yourself over to mission, and naturally that will bring others along with you.
I firmly believe that taking our eyes primarily off the church, off other believers, off problems within the church, off mission etc, even off ourselves and focusing primarily on Jesus is the only thing that can help to heal the church, other believers, problems within the church.
Too often reading an article like this I am tempted to think about strategies to put into place to fix all the symptoms, but the heart of the problem is my heart. And when that gets fixed, others see and want the same. May God give us grace to change.
As pastors and teachers we need to remember our role is to “equip the saints for works of service” and be training up our congregation to witness on the front line.
The average office worker will know the colleagues in her office way better than the church pastor, and yet all too often the church evangelism strategy consists of church members doing little or no evangelism all year but then having a big push to invite colleagues to an annual week of mission talks.
Let’s make sure we are all ready to make the most of every opportunity to share our own testimony and share some of the verses that have made a difference in or own life at the very least.
Its easy to sit back and judge others when I wonder how many unbelievers are brought into church by everyone who criticizes other Christians for not evangelizing. I am in my 50s and was raised in the Baptist church. I have also been attending church for most of my adult life. I have to say that it wasn’t until recently that I learned that being a Christian is more than just saying your a Christian. It means practicing kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, etc to everyone we meet. It’s about a relationship with Christ. We have been to many churches in our area and I always leave asking myself “how would I feel today about Christianity if I were a non- Christian visiting this church?” Sadly, I can’t say that I felt welcomed or that the message was intriguing to move me towards Christ. Churches are not friendly and very “cliquish”. They are more of a social environment then a ministry to the lost or an encouragement to the saved. I think nonbelievers see the multimillion dollar buildings and wonder exactly what we are worshiping. We used to “witness” to people in parks etc when I was in youth group. It always resulted in bragging rights of “this many were saved today!” But it didn’t include how to have a relationship with God or follow up – this isn’t evangelism. I think this is why we are seeing a decline in church attendance especially from people that were raised in church – because it didn’t mean anything. It was just something you did because your parents did it or you were told “you need to be saved”. We need to get back to discipling people on having a relationship with Christ and how to live out your faith when you are in the presence of unbelievers. Save the theological messages for Sunday school classes and get passed the tired cliche phrases that have been used for centuries but mean nothing to a nonbeliever. Every service should be presented as though the audience is full of nonbelievers or people uneducated in how to have a relationship with Christ. Above all – be Christ to everyone that comes through the door of the church and everyone you meet.
For me the main reason I am not going to church anymore is because I am a 21 st century person and can no longer turn my brain into a bretzel anymore
I am living in a time after Einstein,Darwin kopernikus etc and can no longer accept a gospel which guilts you into hell belief.
Where you have to accept creation stories,talking snakes and donkeys ,lots of discrepancies
.christians have to accept the fact that the bible is not the inerrant word of god
The bible is a book like any other book and has to be critically studied etc
God is mot a Christian,god cannot be put into human words ,the bible is a description of how people experienced god 3000 years ago etc
Humans are mot inherently bad, and it’s time for a new idea
Christianity hasn’t had one for 2000 years
Let’s study morals in scientific terms,what it means to have purpose and forgiveness and being accepted by an all powerful god
Let’s be critical and use our brain which god has given us to bemused and let’s Jo longer turn it into a bretzel
Well, Hans! You’re just the person we’d like to evangelize. I’d love to have an opportunity to re-present the truth in love! You need a refresher on God’s truth, love, and free gift of salvation for you. If you’d like to continue a conversation, email me at [email protected] or [email protected]. We’ll chat science too.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
♡ I certainly hope that your invite for a chat was accepted! Nicely done 🙂
I think all 15 are great answers. The top 7 I would say are very accurate and scary. We must pray and pray a go out and go out not just be cookie cutter Christians.