Hello;

What exactly is lifestyle evangelism and friendship evangelism? And how do they rate Scripturally?

In Peter we are told always to be ready to give an answer... but is this answer really evangelism or merely a response when needed?


Also, is there anything fishy about the premise of friendship evangelism, making friends to evangelize. Seems deceptive. Isn't it easier for the Gospel to spread within a web of relations that already exists rather than try to make new friends to lead them to Jesus?

Any thoughts?

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

I think the type of "lifestyle evangelism" you are talking about is those who go out into all sorts of places with the specific intention of blending in so that they can have an opportunity to share the gospel with someone. EffectiveEvangelism.com suggests that people "Find a "fishing hole" and go there regularly. Don't wait for sinners to approach you; go to them."



14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Phil. 2:14, 15 esv)

Our pastor is preaching through Philippians, and he focused on these vereses this morning, particularly vs. 15 which I believe support the idea that we are to live in such a way that others come to Christ through our "blameless" and "innocent" lives. In other words, we are children of God who should live without blemish in world that is mared by sin. We are like shining lights to them simply because we are so different.

I am totally against making friends simply to convert them, that is deceptive and dishonest and would put a believer right back into the category of "crooked" and "perverse". However, when we love God and live holy lives before the world, they cannot help but see Christ in us. It is that which often which God uses to draw the lost to Him. That is really the only "lifestyle evangelism" that I can see in Scripture.

__________________
J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

If the New Testament has any say in the matter, evangelism takes place when an authorised preacher of the gospel officially proclaims what God has done in Christ for the reconciling of sinners and calls upon sinners to repent and believe in order to be saved. Upon profession of faith and repentance the same authorised preacher is warranted in administering baptism, as a sign and seal of salvation and entrance into the visible church, both to the professor and his household. Where there is no authority to publicly admit persons into the visible church by means of baptism, there is no evangelism in the biblical sense of the term. Besides this, all believers ought to maintain a good confession before the world by sharing their faith where opportunity presents and shining their light by good works adorning their Christian profession.

__________________
Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

So, all are to "share" and give a "good confession" but are not to evangelize because that is only the job of specialized people?

What is the difference in these technical terms then?

Can an evangelist ever "share his faith" then, or must he always just "evangelize"? I fail to see why some words are used for different people when similar activities are done.

Also, you mention that if baptism cannot happen then evangelism cannot happen. What happens then if you are passing through a city and are not staying? For it to be evangelims then, you would have to only count those cases where your efforts ended in baptism as 'Evangelism"... this seems like needless confusion.

Baptism and evangelism are connected, but not as connected as you would suppose.

For instance, what if your calling as an elder is to train others to become pastors and when "evangelism" occur it is not you that baptizes but one of these newly trained pastors.


Your answer is just a little too pat.

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

That's why I prefaced it with, "if the NT has any say in the matter."

Of course a preacher can share his faith. That doesn't mean those who share their faith can evangelise.

Concerning your question on baptism, please read carefully what was written. It wasn't stated that they *must* baptise, but merely that they must have the authority to baptise. Paul might choose to not baptise and concentrate on preaching, and leave the matter of baptism to others who were authorised to administer it. But the fact is he was possessed with the authority to baptise -- that is the point.

__________________
Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

Okay, that sounds better.


But...you did preface it with "if the NT has any say in the matter." However, from the NT I see Philip and Stephen preaching. And in Acts 8 it appears that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem and the others were scattered, preaching wherever they went.

What are the differences betwen evangelizing, sharing, witnessing and preaching?

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

First, "Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people," Acts 6:8. Hence he received an extraordinary call. Likewise Philip, Acts 21:8, 9, is called an "evangelist."

Secondly, Acts 8:4 makes a statement concerning "they that were scattered abroad," it doesn't say everyone who was scattered abroad preached the word. The following narrative gives us an example of this being done by specific people, and nowhere does the book of Acts lead us to believe this was done by any other than men set apart for the purpose. The book emphasises "setting apart," e.g., Acts 13:1-3, which would be to no effect if such setting apart was not necessary to the task of preaching.

Thirdly, "evangelising" in a limited sense is an activity which includes not only preaching the gospel but also the work of individuals in setting the house of God in order; but in an extended sense it is used in the NT for the official proclamation of the gospel by those set apart to it. "Sharing" is just that -- a private communication of one's personal beliefs to another. "Witnessing" is technically an apostolic function, and belongs to those who saw and heard Christ. But it might also have an extended meaning of testifying to what one has heard preached by others. At this point the witnessing is not to Christ as seen and heard, but as reported by others and believed personally. Finally, preaching is official proclamation of the truth as it is in Jesus, and is done by none other than those who are sent, Rom. 10:15.

__________________
Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

Matthew Henry on Acts 8.1:

__________________
Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

Based on what you just said, my conversion could not have happened when it did, because my older sister came home from a meeting at church one evening and told me about the Lord, and I responded and gave my heart to the Lord. Baptism did not happend until 5 years later.

__________________
J Baldwin
Keowee Presbyterian Church, PCA
Pickens, SC
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Check Out My Blog: http://reflectjoy.blogspot.com/

Andrew, if the warrents were taken up for them, then they were being targetted for arrest. But earlier in Acts 8 we see that women too were arrested. Does this mean that they too were preaching? Or maybe they were providing the hospitality in their homes for the preachers?

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

The NT doesn't view conversion in the revivalistic sense of a moment of decision. Your older sister telling you about the Lord is certainly valuable and commendable, and your "persuasion" might be owing in large part to her efforts; but your knowledge of Christianity would be owing more to the preaching of the Word than you are probably discerning. And I am guessing you were established in the truth of Christianity by the preaching of the Word prior to being baptised.

__________________
Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

Is this question for me? My name is Andrew. "Earlier in Acts 8"? My reference was to Acts 8.1. Are you referring to Acts 8.3 or something else? If Acts 8.3, I would venture to suppose that when Saul entered the houses where the worship of Jesus was being conducted, he arrested all those he found without regard to sex. I don't think from this passage it can be reasonably inferred that the women were preaching, merely that they were present at the worship services; in other words, I don't believe they were targeted by warrant as the (male) preachers were.

__________________
Andrew Myers
Husband of Jessica, Father of Jackson, Katie and Samuel
Member, Presbyterian Reformed Church of Northern Virginia
Warrenton, VA USA
Editor, The Matthew Poole Project

"Let your Morning Thoughts, and your last Evening Thoughts, be what shall become of you to all Eternity." -- Matthew Poole

Yep, Thanks Andrew. Sorry I just read Houseparent's thread and was still thinking Adam when I typed Andrew....

I am trying to flesh out the diferences between the terms we so often use, such as evangelism, witness, preach, proclaim, share, testify, confess, etc.

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone

Matthew, I suppose this strays into the arena of regeneration where it is possible to be regenerate but not yet saved. Still, allow me to pose a hypothetical just for the sake of discussion.

Let's say Bob (a Christian), enters into a discussion with Joe. Bob shares with Joe the gospel. For the sake of our discussion he shares with him "Romans Road": All are sinners (3:23), the wages of sin is death (6:23), the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (6:23), God's love is extended to us while still sinners (5:8), we are called to confess and believe (10:9,10). Conversation ensues and Joe is convicted of his sin. He recognizes he stands under God's judgment and places his faith in Christ. He truly repents and seeks out Bob's church in order to learn and grow in regards to his faith. No sinners prayer. No going forward at a altar call. Is it possible in this type of scenario for Joe to actually have come to faith in Christ? Even though Bob is not a licensed preacher, the word of God was proclaimed (shared, if you will) with Joe. It was the word, met with faith, that saved; not Bob. I agree that we should not approach salvation in the revivalist sense, but did not salvation come to the Philippian jailer and his household when they believed?

Thoughts?

__________________
Bill Brown
Elder
Grace Baptist Church
Anne Arundel County, Maryland

Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

Bill, certainly, yes; and he might even have come to faith in Christ despite saying a "sinner's prayer." But this is a matter which others have no way of ascertaining. A person can't say "I'm saved" and immediately expect everyone to say, "Hallelujah." What makes him saved? He must at least have a sound knowledge of the truth. How do Christians know when to receive him as a brother in Christ? When they see he at least has a sound knowledge of the truth.

It is at this point -- the point of the communion of saints -- where the ordinary means of grace are so important. Individually the person may know they are saved, but without the ordinary means of grace the church has no way of knowing it. So really, for the person's own good, it is necessary to submit to the ordinary means of grace, and to see one's salvation as budding and growing in submission thereto.

We can observe three points in this respect. (1.) Where is baptism? Upon conversion in the NT we find people being urged to, and subsequently complying with, baptism. Upon being baptised they are received as brethren. (2.) The person's experience is "individual," such that the church has no part in it and no way of encouraging it. OTOH, by a use of the ordinary means of salvation the individual's faith and repentance can be objectified in terms of what is preached and encouraged by administration of the sacraments. (3.) If something is amiss in profession or practice, then the use of admonition, censure, and deprivation can help to "restore" such an one; but if the person sees their salvation as solely a matter between themselves and the Lord then they are beyond correction and a law to themselves.

Blessings!

__________________
Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

This might be lifestyle evangelism;
Clearly they were converted by the word preached in power,and much assurance.
Just as clearly having become followers,they were examples and in verse 8 they verbally sounded out the word.

__________________
Anthony D'Arienzo
Sunday School Teacher
Hope Reformed Baptist Church:
Medford, N.Y.

Suppose further that Bob, being convicted of sin, wants to immediately confess, repent and believe, but does not know how. Suppose Bob asks you to show him how to pray.

Do you then say, "Well, that's not my job...wait for conversion until next Sunday morning between 9am and 10am by the qualified experts."


It would appear the prayer with the seeker (Bob) is the recommended activity.

While we should never guarantee that one is saved due to mouthing of words only, or that one is saved without regard to the Scripture (Joe just shared the Scriptures with him didn't he - from Romans) but Joe should certainly show Bob what a Christian prays like. Lord, I want truth, I want to truly believe and truly repent, give me a new heart to believe...grant me faith in your Son Jesus Christ for the remission of my sins...amen.

Of course, this rests upon Bob's new knowledge of Scripture - albeit scant - with the Romans Road. Of course, Bob isnever to trust his prayer as an activity that saves. But this IS the right thing to do, when occasions opens, never pass up an opportunity to ask for repentance and belief or encourage others to as well.

And when it is all said and done, is this then evangelism, sharing, testimonying, witnessing or preaching?

__________________
Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
-- David Livingstone