"The Unlikely Prophet" part 2

There is a fine line between edgy witnessing practices and crossing the line. Emergent believes that it doesn't matter how you witness and long as you are witnessing. But the problem comes when there is no difference between the lives of those doing the witnessing and those hearing the Gospel. That's if what the person is sharing is actually the Gospel. In a lot of emergent circles the message turns from a salvation based on faith into an unbiblical salvation by works.

If we are to be changed after we receive Christ, that's what repent means, then we should change. Getting hammered or smoking out or whatever the method to reach people that directly goes against what the Word teaches is not an acceptable way to impact people with the Gospel. The problem is people are throwing out the second half of the quote "In the world not of it".  If there is nothing different than what is the point of changing? A good majority of Emergent doesn't believe in Hell anyway let alone teach it so there is really no repercussions for not receiving Christ.

With that being said, I now return to my purpose of writing this post. Coolio.

"If they can't understand me how can they reach me?"

In the climate of post modern and post post modern thinking that we are affronted with today, confrontational evangelism seems to quickly become the less used and trusted form. Not to say that is does not work, if the Holy Spirit wants to use it He will, so we should continue. It seems relational evangelism is the leader now, only because those getting to hear the Good News either say truth is subjective or that there is no truth. I don't know why but an additive to the outright defying of confrontational style by the witnessee could be cults. There are some places that if you walk up to someone to share the Gospel they automatically think you are either Mormon or part of the Watchtower Society (they are not witnesses of Jehovah so I try not to call them by that name). It could be "Bullhorn Guy" or any other contributing factor.

My point is, after a little rambling, the mindset of today demands there to be a relationship, to see if your faith is real, it would be rather difficult for someone like, Dr. Bowman (a dear professor here at Piedmont and as old as Noah) to just waltz into downtown Baltimore and began to share the Gospel. Same as if the pastor of Beulah Baptist Church in Atlanta would walk into Martha's Vineyard, same effect. People need to know that you genuinely care for them, and understand them. This does not mean we are to join in on, at best questionable activities, but we are to be the light. We may be the only Jesus someone ever sees. I know the only job we have in witnessing is to do it and plant the seed, but if no one is listening, we need to examine our approach.

We need to understand the culture of the people we are trying to reach. It is going to be much easier for me to reach a metal head than a classical only because I understand the metal scene. Missionaries do this all the time. They have to understand the culture and where the people are coming from, but still are able to reach them whilst abstaining from certain practices, because they go against what the Bible teaches.

In summation, to effectively witness especially on a relational level, but it also goes with confrontational style, we need to see where people are coming from and be able to meet them where they are and "be all things to all people" without defying God's Word.