Taking it to the Streets

A few days ago I had lunch with a couple of friends and we spent a good part of the time talking about evangelism. One of them made the remark that believers spend a fair amount of time discussing the need to share our faith and strategizing about how to “connect with people” but at the end of the day there is still an awkward disconnect between our intention and follow-through. The other friend weighed in with a few comments on approaches we’ve taken in the last twenty five years, i.e., soup kitchens, friend days, giving away clothes, seminars on various topics, etceteras. But then he said, “We are doing some really good things but I often wonder how much “message” is actually getting through to the people in the streets.” Perhaps you have had similar thoughts.

The early church was a people with a message. And, they knew their message. Scripture doesn’t say anything about gallop polls in the first century. In one street episode after another the Book of Acts shows the early church actually engaging people with the gospel message. And, whether it was – to borrow from Paul – “in season or out of season”, they shared the good news about Jesus Christ and His kingdom. To be sure, the message was packaged in different ways depending on who was being addressed (Acts 17:1-6; 22-32). Nonetheless, the message was “in the streets” to the point that they got slammed with the indictment/compliment: “These men have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6).

Cultural advancement aside, I think the brokenness in human experience that the gospel addressed in the first century hasn’t changed, at least in its basic nature. I think what Jesus said about human beings and, what Paul, or other apostolic writers said about the gospel as truth and our need of it as broken people is as true today as it was when the gospel was first preached.

Each time I read the book of Acts I see the early church “in the streets.” It was a deliberate effort on their part. They talked with people. They asked questions. They reasoned with people (Acts 17:2; 19:8). They presented the story about what God had done in Jesus Christ as not only good news but the best news a person could hear. It was God’s call to them. The way they talked about God's actions in Christ brought people to decision. A decision, after all, was the point of the conversation. Early Christian preaching was delivered with an eye toward “doing something” with the message (Acts 13:44-48; 18:6; 22:18; 26:24-29).

That luncheon a few days ago got me to thinking. I wonder if we spend too much time trying to “figure out” people instead of simply engaging them in conversation about such things as what they believe about what it means to be human, or to live well, or what they think about Jesus?

I’m reminded of Paul’s words to the Corinthians urging them to drop the cultural sandpaper and calm the anxiety that was driving them to put a “high buff and polish” on the gospel. He says, “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). He reminds them that some people understand the message and some people don’t (1 Cor. 2:14-16). In fact, the word of the cross is to those who are perishing, foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18). But, God is well-pleased with the foolishness of the gospel as story (1 Cor. 1:21).

Congregationally, we’ve had some great conversations about everything from worship assemblies to women’s role to what we put on pew cards. We’ve fine-tuned welcome committees and snappy advertising slogans (which are everywhere nowadays). We’ve done demographic studies, completed surveys ad infinitum, embraced small groups and put annual baptismal goals before congregations. The reality is our congregations are shrinking. We have shown maturity in a number of areas, but are we really “on message?” Do we know it? Do we really care about it? And, do we have the courage to speak it?

I have mixed emotions as I think about that lunch conversation. It thrilled me and bothered me. I was encouraged by new ideas and new possibilities but, equally as much, it reminded me of something that we dare not out grow as a people, namely, being people who know the story about Jesus and who are willing to take it into the streets every day.

What do you think? Acts 8:5 says “And they went everywhere preaching the word.” I pray that text becomes characteristic of us soon.

Gracious Father, open our eyes to see the cracks in conversations that provide us opportunity to share your love, mercy and calling with someone. Give us courage to say simply and gracefully what you would have us say so that the power of your gospel can have the opportunity to bring someone to Christ. Thank you for allowing us to be your ambassadors every day. Through Jesus who makes all things new….Amen

Randy Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas