Jesus Manifesto - Latest Comments in A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

Van S — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:02:37 -0000

fargo john...intervarsity is great. However, my role within intervarsity is in limbo. Fundraising is slow-going. It is hard to force myself to stay on top of that. I have an artist's temperment; I approach ministry fluidly and ride the waves of inspiration as I do so. Fundraising takes a regimented mind, and it is VERY difficult more me to find the motivation to plug away at it.

I too struggle with the standard seeker-church approach to evangelism. And I'm all for challenging those approaches. It simply doesn't help when folks like the ones commenting on the blog in question respond with such bitterness and anger. It isn't the way brothers and sisters are supposed to talk to other brothers and sisters.

Jeff...we are due for a cold frosty beverage. When are you gonna be in the cities again?

JVD...I agree. I think what Grace is doing is perhaps a bit tacky and isn't at all what I'd do. I even think it has some negative effects. But I can say that and still be respectful and loving. I know Grace Fellowship and can disagree even as I love them. Why is this such a hard idea for some folks to grasp?

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

JVD — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 09:12:32 -0000

That post is sadly the reason people are repelled from Christianity. I have more sympathy for those who will do all things to try and win people to Christ. JVD

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

Jeff — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 05:44:55 -0000

Mark, thanks for sharing this entertaining, but sad post. I really don't have any tolerance for such pathetic debates anymore. Interestingly, we have both "Ingrids" and "Graces" in our small little church. It makes doing any sort of outreach a "war."

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

fargo john — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 17:42:00 -0000

i've been struggling with the idea of 'entertaining evangelism' and similar ideas lately as i continue to figure out my ever changing role in the kingdom. i do fear that we(i) are(am) busier growing my church than we are introducing people to Christ and growing His kingdom. i have a strong feelings against event evangelism (harvest events) and i really vibed with one of the comments that urged people to question what they as individuals are doing to spread the gospel. isn't evangelism something that should occur throughout the week? not just on sunday morning or at a friday/saturday night event? ...just some thoughts from the excommunicated one.

by the way, how is intervarsity?

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

Van S — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 16:02:28 -0000

Funny!

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

Brother Tadhg — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:42:44 -0000

Hi.
I think those that carry over that anger would do well to read something I cam across recently. A great story:

'I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump.

I ran over and said: ?Stop. Don't do it.?
?Why shouldn't I?? he asked.

?Well, there's so much to live for!?
?Like what??

?Are you religious??
He said, ?Yes.?

I said, ?Me too.? Are you Christian or Buddhist??
?Christian.?

?Me too. Are you Catholic or Protestant??
?Protestant.?

?Me too. Are you Episcopalian or Baptist??
?Baptist.?

?Wow. Me too. Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord??
?Baptist Church of God.?

?Me too. Are you original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God??
?Reformed Baptist Church of God.?

?Me too. Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915??
He said: ?Reformed Baptist Church of God, Reformation of 1915.?

?Die, heretic scum,? I said as I pushed him off the bridge'.

Yours, Brother Tadhg

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

fernando — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 05:02:40 -0000

This sort of thing has been on my mind a lot lately. I'm just not sure how to best address these patterns of "debate." Often there is a closed loop thing in play, so if we try to converse, if just confirms the negative claims.

Re: A Fundamentalist Rebuke of Entertaining Evangelism

Surly Dave — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 18:14:49 -0000

Whoa. This gal is just bitter. I got some flack from people like this over a post regarding the treatment of people who have left the Church. They just nit pick at every aspect of your beliefs, then make personal attacks.