One of the scariest words in Christendom is ‘Evangelism’-

Tainted as it is with notions of slick salesmanship, in which, the innocent and unsuspecting are hoodwinked by glad-handed, overly reassuring, questionably motivated Christians with seemingly permanent smiles plastered on their faces.

Evangelism has become a word with such creepy overtones that even many Christians don’t like to use it.  But just as the remedy for bad theology is not no theology – it is good theology.  The same is true for evangelism.  And we get no better lesson in good evangelism than by this Sunday’s reading from John’s Gospel when Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well.

‘Give me a drink’ says Jesus, as he strikes up a conversation with a woman who will soon begin following Him.  This conversation goes on for some time, becoming one of the longest dialogs in the Gospels.  This is done on purpose: Jesus is building a relationship, making a friend, and will end up spending a few days in this woman’s village laying the foundation for a new community and winning an entire town over to follow Him.

Not long ago the United Bible Societies polled 500 Christian converts – asking how they came to faith.  Researchers concluded that in most cases it wasn’t done overnight - that “belonging comes before believing.”  Establishing friendships, building community, is where faith takes root and grows.  The still-popular model of ‘Presentation, Decision, then Fellowship’ does not hold a candle to the format presented here by Jesus of ‘Fellowship, Conversation, then Commitment.’

‘Belonging comes before believing.’  That’s why many churches baptize babies, welcoming them into the fellowship of God’s people, nurturing them into community, believing that a time will come for adult commitment.

People aren’t projects that serve as tallies on some TV preacher’s tote board.  People are a crown of creation, of inestimable worth, and value to God.  In what ways are we seeing our churches as sacred communities to show forth this love, compassion, and hospitality for those around us to come to know Jesus more deeply?  When was the last time we invited someone to experience our faith community?  Who might we bring to church, and deeper into relationship with Jesus, this weekend?

Reading
The Celtic Way of Evangelism – George Hunter

Faith of the Future – Harvey Cox

Radical – David Pratt