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Your Thoughts? My Thoughts!

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Last week I said that a certain author’s article bugged me. Here’s what I wrote: Mike Bechtle, author of “Evangelism for the Rest of Us: Sharing Christ Within Your Personality Style,” has written an article that I’d like you to read and comment on. I’ll let you know my thoughts next week but here’s a hint: I’m totally bugged by the title, “Evangelism for the Rest of Us…” Why? Click here to read the article.

Now here are my comments— First the title: “Evangelism for the Rest of Us.” If you read the back cover of his book, it says, “Witnessing to strangers is fine for extroverts. But what about the rest of us?” This suggests that strangers can only be witnessed to by extroverts! Baloney! With 150,000 people a day dying, there are not enough extroverts to make a difference. Were all the people who shared their faith in the early church extroverts? I can’t say for certain either way, but I suspect not. It boils down to obedience and training. A well-trained introvert can share their faith with strangers when they understand Biblical principles and the power of God.

The problem with the Modern Church these days is that we have lowered the bar so much—we have become Christianity Correct—and are afraid to challenge believers to “walk by faith” for fear of being insensitive, brash, arrogant or prideful (of which I have been called on occasion). People need to let their love for the lost swallow their fears. Compassion and obedience to God’s command to preach the good news to all creation must drive us to trust God when witnessing.

His comments on guilt are rather interesting. I say that if you continue to wax your car while the house next door is on fire and people die because you were too selfish to help, then guilt is the result. How much more if a person’s eternal destiny is at stake.

The last comment I will make is in regards to this sentence: “Teach them how to have relationships, rather than just witnessing techniques.” I can start a relationship in three minutes and give the gospel in five. Others who are introverts have done the same. This goes back to that old relational evangelism approach. While we spend three years nurturing a relationship a person can die in their sins.

Okay. I have said enough…

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