Evangelism

A recent discussion has alerted me to some of my erroneous attitudes about Evangelism. How can I tell people that they aren't going to find fulfillment in that job or that relationship, but only in Christ? How do I tell a hurting soul that there is a God out there who sent His only Son to die; and whosoever shall believe in him shall have everlasting life? How do I reveal the source of joy in my own life, my source of strength when my own life seems just as frazzled as the next? How can I preach the Good News?

I am evanglistic about everything in my life. I preach the good news of organics. I entusiastically share with everyone I know the wonders of a new face lotion. I tell strangers about the dangers of the Pill and why NFP/FAM is a wiser choice. How is it that I can talk empassionately about architecture and city planning, but I cannot seem to apply this same level of enthusiam to sharing the Source of Life?

I have believed that people don't really want to hear the Gospel. I have been annoyed by street preachers and thumping evangelicals. I have been frusterated by condemning words from "loving Christians." They have all heard it before: "Jesus loves you." "Jesus saves." "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." Who is this Jesus anyway? Everyone has seen the "Passion," everyone knows who Jesus is, but it seems that very few people really know Him. What does it mean that "Jesus saves?" What does he save? What do we need to be saved from? Is this just all to win points with God to get into heaven?

It seems that it is harder to share the Gospel with a culture all too familiar with the Christian catch-prases and clever slogans than it is to share the Gospel with cultures hungry for spiritual food. Perhaps this is why Christianity is growing most quickly in Africa and Asia. They haven't heard that "Jesus saves" a million times over. For them, they are keenly aware of their own need for salvation and if this Jesus guy has it then they want a part of it. We are just as spiritually bankrupt in the US, but our ears are deaf to the Gospel. We have seen it in the hands of selfish leaders. We have seen it in the hands of those weilding power and controling others. The Gospel has not lost its power, certainly no, but can we talk about it in the same way?

My life has been radically altered since I started getting into health foods, it has blossomed since I started sculpting, it has radiated since I fell in love, but nothing has changed me, impacted me, healed me, satisfied me, raised me up, strengthened me, humbled me, served me, taught me, or loved me like the Gospel, the Word itself.