Evangelism Misconceptions By Aleena Denison At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

God gives each of His children unique gifts, so approaches in evangelism are numerous. Since cultures vary so greatly, it's exciting to see how God fits certain people into certain places. It is necessary for believers to follow God's leading in where they should minister, yet when the Gospel is shared, should believers have a "my way" vs. "your way" mentality? Should we really say, "Well, to each his own?" A short time ago I didn't consider the possibility that differences in approach could be more than just a matter of personalities showing themselves in different ways. I thought, "As long as the heart is sincere when the Gospel is given, it doesn't matter too much how it's given." Then someone challenged me to think about a few things: What is my motivation or focus? What words do I use? What do they convey? Many people have never heard the Gospel, so words are very important. I even stepped back and looked at my presentation, re-evaluating it to make sure it wasn't a hindrance to the Gospel's message.

Here are some of the things I discovered. I don't demand that you agree, but ask that you read the following with an open mind. Let's begin by looking at word choices-- common clichés used in evangelism. Think through them and weigh them against the Bible.

• Two phrases seem to be used more than any others-- "Give your heart to Jesus" and "Invite Jesus into your heart." These phrases propose that I do something in order to receive salvation. Revelation 3:20 is often the verse used to support these phrases, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me." Here's the difficulty: when the whole context is read, this verse is speaking to the believers of a specific church. It has been used to challenge churches today to make sure that God is present among them, but it doesn't refer to unbelievers. Unbelievers must simply believe in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection as the only way for salvation from sin and its penalty. I'm not saying that everyone who has used this approach is unsaved, for God knows and accepts the heart of belief. But be cautious, because the security of salvation doesn't rest in inviting Jesus into your heart, but in believing that He has provided the way of salvation.

• I John 1:9, "If we say openly that we have done wrong, He is upright and true to His word, giving us forgiveness of sins and making us clean from all evil," is often used to support phrases used in evangelism such as, "Confess your sins" and "feel sorry for sin." Here's my question: If you feel sorry for sin, or even confess your sin, will you be saved? Using this verse for an unbeliever is taking it out of its original context. This verse is meant to encourage believers to maintain a proper relationship with God by continually confessing sins. Salvation must go beyond recognition and confession of sins, or feeling sorry for sins. All unbelievers will one day stand before a holy God and recognize and feel sorry for sin, but they will not be saved. One man states this clearly, "It is not our contrition or sorrow for our sin, it is not our repentance, it is not even the passing of a certain number of hours during which we feel we are on some kind of probation that cleanses us. It is the blood of Christ, shed once for all on Calvary two thousand years ago…that cleanses." (Jerry Bridges, The Discipline of Grace)

• "Pray this prayer for salvation" is nearly always used when a person says he wants to be saved. The Scripture used to support this? "If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:9-10,13) Confessing with one's mouth is given just as much emphasis (sometimes more) as believing with the heart, and this allows for the performance of an act for salvation through prayer. Ephesians 2:8-9 clearly states, "By grace you have salvation through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is given by God: Not by works, so that no man may take glory to himself." There is nothing wrong with someone praying and confessing their sins to God, or asking Jesus to save him, but the significance must not be placed on the prayer, but on the work of Jesus and His power to save. This must be especially clear for children, who often pray a prayer for salvation over and over, hoping that at some point it will stick. They can also be given a false sense of security if they're taught to pray a prayer for salvation if they do not yet fully understand the Gospel. It is only through belief in Jesus Christ that one can be saved.

I pray that this will help you in your own study of the Gospel and evangelism.

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