evangelism.

I've been waiting for quite some time to write this post. I do possess quite a sense of urgency regarding the topic upon whose waters I am about to navigate, despite its delay in reaching your computer screen. Just know that its postponement has no correlation with the level of importance it has recently begun to occupy in my mind.

First, allow me to preface my discourse.

As I reflect upon the very recent closure of my freshman year of college, I can’t help but remember the way it began, and how far I’ve come since then. In August of 2009, I returned from a month-long excursion on the great continent of Africa. If you’ve been following my writing for a while, you may recall the extensive impact that journey had on my life. My return to the United States was a rather tumultuous one. Though I refused to have the “typical Africa experience” and attempted to steer clear of having to admit to experiencing culture shock, it inevitably took place.

In a matter of two weeks, I was forced to not only adjust to life back in America but also say goodbye to everything I’ve ever known and move across the country to the complete unknown. It was a struggle, to say the very least. I sank into loneliness, and I began questioning my purpose. My daily life, which consisted of writing papers and reading a bunch of books written by men who died centuries ago, seemed so mundane and meaningless. I felt like those things had little relevance and made no contribution to eternity. All I wanted to do was go back to Africa, where I felt like I had found meaning and purpose.

However, as the months went on, I learned a great deal and found that purpose was slowly being infused back into my life.

Enter the concept of evangelism.

In my mind, evangelism has always been secondary, or better: controversial. I didn’t really know what it looked like because I’d never really seen it practiced. It seemed like some icky thing that really prideful Christians did to “force their beliefs down others’ throats”.

In my mind, evangelists were the people who walked around at the Rose Parade with signs screaming, “Turn or burn!” to the innocent bystanders trying to enjoy the New Years’ festivities. (“Fire and brimstone” approach? Not very effective, just saying.)

In my mind, if evangelism looked like that, I didn’t want to be a part of it.

In my mind, evangelism was sharing the Gospel through my actions. I considered mission work helping people out of the unjust oppression of poverty, equipping people with practical skills to enable them to become more competent members of society, restoring hope, bringing love, and the like.

And while being a doer of the Word certainly has a place in our faith—after all, God tells the Israelites in Isaiah:

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:6-7)

and James urges believers to

“be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22)—

our doing the Word does not mean we are exempt from a duty to also be preachers of the Word.

For far too long I shrunk back in fear, preferring the “preach the Gospel, use words if necessary” approach mostly because it meant that I never had to get out of my comfort zone and tell people about Jesus (that of course, would be much too risky!). For me, this approach was a “cop-out”. I was too concerned with how I would be perceived and with offending people who may already be disgusted with the church.

But if I say that I want people to have what I have, why am I not shouting it from the rooftops? Because it’s inconvenient? Because that would be shoving it down people’s throats? Because it might hurt their feelings? Because it might put my reputation at risk?

Our Savior calls us to preach the Word. How can I ignore his call? The last command he gives the disciples,

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

ought to be reason enough to share the Gospel.

In 1 Corinthians 9:16, Paul even says, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” Conversely, Isaiah 52:7 says, “Blessed are the feet of him who brings good news!” Oh, how much more I prefer blessing than woe!

People are the currency of heaven. The lives touched by the way I live will be the proof I present for my faith at heaven’s gates.

In coming to face all of this, I have had my own value system completely upset. And I’ve learned a thing or two in the process. So to the ones in doubt—a group of which I was a part for far too long—I would like to share with you what I’ve learned along the way.

1. Jesus is what this world needs.

Jean Danielou said, “The world today does not need greater social organization but a Savior: man today needs someone who will answer the fundamental problems of his existence, which no social structure has ever been able to answer.”

While mission work does need to address people’s physical needs, it must address the soul’s needs. Lives are not transformed unless bodies and souls are restored. I am not a missionary if my work looks like the humanitarian efforts of the secular society around me. As a Christian, I must be doing it differently; I must be sharing the Gospel!

And because Jesus is what the world needs, I can’t believe the lie that people don’t want to hear this good news. This is what all creation is groaning for (see Romans 8). Assuming that people don’t want to hear what I have to share with them is silly—especially given that my friends and I saw people on our very own Christian university’s campus come to know Jesus! The proof makes it an undeniable necessity.

2. It’s not about me.

One fear I had before this realization was the fear of rejection. But I’ve learned that when people reject my words, they’re not rejecting me, they’re rejecting the Gospel: “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16).

Ultimately, when I choose to shrink back, when I don’t step out in faith, when I don’t share the Gospel, I’m denying God the opportunity to work through me, and I’m denying someone a chance at salvation and eternal life.

Something is terribly wrong when I begin putting my own personal comfort above God’s purposes for the world.

3. Salvation is a process.

I’m merely a cog in the machine. I’m simply sowing seeds to be reaped later.

Not everyone accepts the Gospel the first time they hear it. When I share with someone and they choose to make Jesus the Lord of their life, it’s highly possible that ten people have shared with them before me. Other times, I may be the very first one to share with them and because it’s so new, they may choose not to accept it. Nevertheless, I need to remain faithful and obedient, realizing that I my efforts are a relevant part of the process.

4. It’s fun!

Share with people their one and only opportunity for a chance at eternal life? What better thing could I ever want to do? Seeing people come to Jesus is a blast! Call me crazy. Call me foolish. I don’t care. My God uses “what is foolish in the world to shame the wise…what is weak in the world to shame the strong…what is low and despised in the world…to bring to nothing things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). I can’t believe Jesus chooses to use me and you in this process of redeeming creation!

So back to the main point…

Understanding all of this has not only revolutionized my perception of mission work, but also my feeling about my purpose at this time in my life. Though I may not be able to go to the nations, there is a nation at my fingertips thirsty for good news! There are practical things I can do everyday to contribute to eternity!

So go. Go share the Gospel. Make it a part of your daily life: at the gas station, with your waiter at a restaurant, with the man on the corner, with your professor. Ask people how you can pray for them. Ask people if they know Jesus. Share your testimony. No one can take your story from you. Besides, Revelation 12:11 says that we will overcome by “the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony”! Your testimony is powerful!

Try it once this week. I promise that any “pain” you experience is incomparable to the potential pain in hell the other person’s soul will be spared in heaven!

What post is complete without some song lyrics?

So it’s with everything I am, I reach out for your hand

The hope that changed the second chance I’ve gained

On you I throw my life, casting all my fears aside

How could greater love than this ever possibly exist?

…

So I wait upon you now with my hands released to you

Where a little faith’s enough to see mountains lift and move

And I wait upon you now dedicated to your will

To this love that will remain a love that never fails

“Second Chance” (Hillsong United)

how he loves.

I wouldn't recommend watching this while you're in the library studying for finals. I'm sure my tears distracted a few people.

But I suggest you watch it regardless. You've got to know the story behind the song.

Jesus is alive. He's moving. Can you feel it?

video.

Remember that song I told you to buy a few weeks ago? Well, here it is...in video format! (Which, I must say, more accurately captures it's greatness. Or rather, the greatness of our God!)

This was taken at my church's annual missions conference that will pretty much rock your face off!

Please watch.

faithful.

This is a miracle.

My Great Texts' essay is due on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 12:00 PM. It is Tuesday, April 27, 2010 at 9:00 PM, and I haven't started. I should have started last week. But I didn't. (Don't ask me why.)

I have just rushed to the library and claimed a spot in the most isolated study carrell I could find, which is pretty hard to do this week seeing as everyone and their mom decided to come here all at once to finish last-minute papers, projects, and the like. My humble desk of choice is by an electrical outlet, of course. I anticipate that it's going to be a long night, which means lots of electricity will be needed to keep the technology running.

I turn on my computer, dreading the next 36 hours' duration, which will mostly be full of desperation, frustration, and illogical articulation. In a final effort of procrastination, I check my email. (Enjoying the end rhyme yet? I'm easily amused in states of exhaustion-ation.)

Lo and behold, an email from my professor titled "Papers Papers Papers! (Did I hear extension?)" is sitting in my inbox. My heart skipped a beat. And I wished my hands would move faster. I just couldn't seem to open it fast enough.

Yes, 'tis true! Now my paper - nay, (essentially) the crowning achievement of my career in Great Texts - is due on Monday, May 3, 2010 at 3:00 PM.

I've been praying that God would multiply my time. It's sort of an odd prayer if you think about it. I mean, really: How will my time be multiplied? What does that even look like? Will hours move slower? Will some days have 36 hours instead of 24?

Alas, I will never know because

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:9

I'm so glad he's in control.

He's faithful to the end.

He's faithful to my heart.

question.

For once in a really long time, I have time to kill on a weekday.

I've been keeping a list of questions that I've had lately, and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. How are we to love other selflessly and yet not let ourselves be mercilessly trampled upon?

2. Given what Matthew 24:14, is Jesus' return really contingent on an action we as humans complete?

3. If God is for us and his will is to make people whole, why aren't our prayers for healing always answered?

4. What does speaking the honest truth with gentleness look like?

5. How do you reconcile restoring people's souls (evangelism) with restoring people's lives (social work)?

6. Why do I get to live like this when they have to live like that?

7. When did it all of a sudden become the government's responsibility to care for the poor? Why didn't the church step up?

8. What does taking up our cross practically look like in our society today?

9. How do we reconcile faith and reason about faith?

10. What's the point of theology if we can never fully know God?

Feel free to leave a comment. I'd be interested to hear what you say.

(Also, yes. The cartoon has nothing to do with this post. Thanks, Google!)

when heaven meets earth.

And just think: I almost didn't go.

For the past seven days, I have been heavily occupied watching heaven meet earth. And let me be the first to say that when this takes place, crazy things happen. Here's the tale...

Each Spring Break, my church takes about 600 college students on a mission trip. In the past, they traveled to Juarez, Mexico, but due to political complications in recent years, they have taken everyone to a town on the border of Texas called Edinburg. The term town, however, is probably a little misleading. I was under the impression that all 600 of us would overwhelmingly descend upon this "town", and everyone living there would hear the Gospel at least 5 times. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately), I was wrong. Edinburg is quite large, certainly as large as, if not larger, than Waco.

My life up until this trip has been incredibly. busy. Not the kind of busy in which you feel like you don't get to see your friends enough or don't have enough time to walk your dog, but in which you are battling exhaustion constantly, never getting a moment to yourself, and totally consumed by one thing (in my case, school). So to be quite frank, my excitement for the trip was rather minimal. All I wanted was to take a week off to sleep and just "be".

But God had different plans.

And if I've learned one thing about God recently, it's that his plans for us are good. Not good like a hamburger good, but good like something-that-just-happened-resonated-with-something-really-deep-inside-my-soul good. Yeah. That good.

So the trip...

Last Saturday morning, 600 college students piled into a bunch of buses and embarked on an 8-hour journey to the land of Edinburg, Texas. In the coming days, they proceeded to share the Gospel with various neighborhoods and witness heaven meeting earth. What that looks like is hard to describe. All I know is that when the glory of the Almighty God's infinitude meets human's depravity and finitude, things get shaken up, the church in Acts comes alive.

This week, I saw the blind receive sight, the lame walk, and the poor hear the good news (Matthew 11:5). All my skepticism went out the window. There's no room for doubt when you pray for a lady's foot and it's healed.

That's what happened the first day we went out on an outreach. Our team was dropped off in a very poor neighborhood known called the "Alamo", but more fondly referred to as "Little Mexico". Most houses were shanties. Undernourished dogs walked the streets. And trash decorated most front yards. We split up into groups of three and four and knocked on doors around the neighborhood to ask people if they needed help around the house or if we could pray for healing in some way.

The third house at which we stopped was where we met Marta. She was cordial but rather disinterested. We asked her if there was anything we could pray for and after a moment of silence, she said we could pray for her niece Desiree, whom she held in her arms. We prayed for Desiree, nothing very specific, and went on our way.

As we were talking to an older couple down the street, Marta rushed up and asked us to come back to her house. A bit perplexed, we finished up what we were doing down the street and headed back to Marta's. She invited us on to the porch and asked us to pray for her mother Maria whose foot had been hurting her for the past four or five months. I looked down and cringed. Her ankle was swollen and quite deformed; it was obvious that walking was quite painful and probably pretty unbearable.

We proceeded to lay hands upon Maria and pray for her foot. We did this three times. Each time we did, the pain subsided a little, and by the third time it was completely gone. To be sure, Maria got up and walked around a bit only to sit back down and assure us that there wasn't any more pain. Marta even pressed on a part of Maria's arch, which just five minutes before had made her flinch in pain, but now it didn't hurt at all.

I was shocked. I was in disbelief. Though I'd heard of this kind of stuff happening, I'd never actually been a part of it. My disbelief was finally shot down when we went back two days later and Maria said the pain was still gone. It was crazy! That's the only way to describe it.

And that's just one of the healings we were a part of throughout the trip. Each day, our team of about 90 people came back with testimonies of healings. And on one day alone we counted that there were over twenty-seven!

Even better though was the incredible number of salvations we saw. As we walked around the neighborhood, we also made it a point to share the Gospel with people. When it comes to this kind of stuff, I'm usually very timid. There's a part of me that assumes that people will say no. There's a part of me that figures everyone's already heard the Gospel because this is America, and if they're not Christians already, it's probably because they don't want to be. As a result, I miss out on helping people receive the greatest gift they could ever receive. (Needless to say, that was convicting, and I'm going to change some things.)

Anyway, back to the neighborhood. As we went around, we found so many people who were hungry and lost spiritually, and a countless number of them accepted the Lord! Plus, we found lots of others who were already believers and were very interested in starting a house church, of sorts. One in particular, named Maria, agreed to host of fiesta at her house on Thursday night. Over thirty of the people we'd interacted with that week came to the event and were eager to maintain community among each other. We have a small team staying back to do follow-up stuff in that area, so in the most basic sense, we planted a church in that neighborhood! If that's not cool, I don't know what is!

On the way home, I found myself chuckling at how different I'm coming back to school than most people. Most will probably have crazy stories, but of a different sort. They'll be returning with a nice tan and with lots of hours of sleep under their belt. And then there's me. I'll have some crazy stories to tell, that's for sure. And I'll be coming back just as pale as I left and with less hours of sleep under my belt than ever.

But I wouldn't trade that for anything because I've learned that

This is what I'm made for. This is what we're all made for. This is life. This is living. This is the kingdom. This is real. This is reality. This is an adventure. This is the adventure.

All of this is just a fraction of what happened while we were there. And all that happened while we were there is just a fraction of what can happen when we call heaven down to earth.

And just think: I almost didn't go.

song.

Please purchase the song "Above Every Other Name" by Justin Rizzo.

And prepare to dance.

The end.