Talked with a friend about evangelism, specifically the question of proclamation vs. relational. He told me that he found the recent emphasis on relational evangelism frustrating. In some instances, he felt that the relational evangelism holds people back from proclaiming the gospel. It tends to make us dependent on ourselves to be winsome, charming. Almost as if we need to cozy up to someone before we can tell them about Jesus.
In a way I agree. I don't much like an emphasis on any particular approach. The reason I don't like it is that an emphasis on any form tends to be concerned with the bearer of the good news. Evangelism isn't some activity that stands alone. It is part of a broader call to love. The good news begins with God loving the world, loving us. We are set free to love others. The heights of this love is demonstrated when we love those who do not, cannot love us in return.
Evangelism is the sharing of this good news in love. Love is concerned with the other, and so in evangelism, love ought to be concerned with the recipient. The bearer of the good news ought to set aside comfort, preferences, self fulfillment. Love presses us to try to figure out what would be best for the recipient. Let's not get hung up with effective evangelism or our particular gifts. With evangelism like all else, let us be ruled by the law of love.
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