Leaving the Gospel Out of Gospel Presentations

A friend of mine and I were recently lamenting the abysmal statistics on evangelicals and how we seem to have lost the zeal for evangelism that we once had as a movement.  Don't get me wrong - I'm glad that some of that mis-placed zeal is gone.  We've all likely had examples where someone came up to us (or we went up to someone?) and force-fed a pre-fabricated gospel presentation (known politely as a tract) to an unwilling participant.  Perhaps in a healthy way some of our timidity is related to excesses in this category.  

But there is a deeper question that underlies this: when you are n conversation with someone about faith, what are the non-negotiable must-be-included components of a gospel presentation?  Is there a 'core' mixture of elements that you dare not leave out of the conversation or is there a freedom that might require adaptive listening to the individual and the Holy Spirit?

In Acts 24, we see Paul making a gospel presentation to Governor Felix and his Jewish wife, Drusilla.  This is a couple who knows the story.  They know of Jesus, the know about The Way, they are conversant with both ancient and recent Jewish history and customs.  So Paul emphasizes a unique mix of elements in his conversation with them that do not traditionally find their way into our gospel presentations: Paul "told them about faith in Christ Jesus... He reasoned with them about righteousness, and self-control and the coming day of judgement." (24:24b-25a).  This is a fascinating mix of elements - both highly personal, highly contextual and highly Christological.  However, none of them come up in the Four Spiritual Laws

So the question is this - how rigid or fixed are you in your presentation of the gospel?  Are you able to take a detour off the Romans Road if the conversation requries it?  Could you leave out or re-emphasize the 4 spiritual Laws if the person's situation warranted it?  Do you have the skills, the courage and the creativity necessary to adapt your style and your content to the audience's history, needs and experiences?  If not, you might be leaving the gospel out of your gospel presentation. 

Comments

[David Warkentin]

Hey Brad, thanks for the reflection. I think this question nails it: "Do you have the skills, the courage and the creativity necessary to adapt your style and your content to the audience's history, needs and experiences?"

[Deborah Groom]

No one likes feeling like they have been tricked into a conversation and finding out that they are only there as a recipient of a monologue. When it comes to something as authentic and meaningful as the meaning and purpose of life, we can't afford to have a script. As soon as we launch into patter we lose our connection. We are not listening to the other person and maybe not to the Holy Spirit. The gospel needs to be seen to be believed. St. Francis said, " At all times preach the gospel, and only, if necessary use words." No one is convicted with words alone. The gospel is a ridiculous story on purpose. The Holy Spirit has to open the eyes and heart for them to have meaning. I would say that the non-negotiable is openness to what God would have us share and where he'd have us listen. Thanks, Deb