While out at iGo, the speaker, Mark Cahill, challenged us like I had never been challenged before about personal evangelism. I was definitely affected by his speaking, though some of the people I was with weren’t as enthusiastic. At first blush, it felt like he was proposing the “Way of the Master” type challenge evangelism. And to a certain extent, I believe he was. He does believe that it is important to explain what sin is when shearing the gospel now. That term, correctly defined, is no longer part of our cultural vernacular. Relativism, once a concept of physics, has now been applied so thoroughly to everything that the concept of sin is distant at best from people’s minds.

Now, I don’t subscribe to “confrontational” evangelism as illustrated in most “Way of the Master” type videos. And even many of Mark’s examples could be characterized this way. But I believe that it is possible to start spiritual conversations and have them lead to a presentation of the gospel. I believe this even though I have not practiced it.

But I want to and I plan to.

I finished reading Cahill’s “One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven”, and I am more convinced than ever that this is something I have to do. And this is something that all Christians should be capable of, no matter their own personality or limitations. Because everyone does communicate differently, and everyone has their own story. It is a willingness to be used by God that must characterize us as Christians. Even if we think “I’m not a talker” or something else, maybe you will wind up talking to someone else who is “not a talker”. It doesn’t matter.

What I came away with is a conviction that even if I have relationships that will not bear the strain of me walking up to them with a “let me tell you about my saviour” type conversation, what I need to do is make clear to those around me that I want them to ask me, that I welcome their questions about my faith, and that I am there for them whenever they have a spiritual question. Maybe in the simple act of communicating this it will open up a door. Who knows? But I want to be ready, in season and out of season.

I cracked open Mark Cahill’s One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven (the link is to Amazon but you can buy it from his site for just a donation) yesterday during a moment’s respite from the mad cleaning we undertook to get our house in a sembalnce of order before our community group came over to plan the picnic in the park (August 17th if you want to pray for good weather and contacts in the community for us!)  The first chapter pointed out to me a big reason why I find witnessing so intimidating - lack of practice!  I don’t do it because I haven’t practiced, but I don’t practice because I don’t know know how to do it… stupid circle eh?

Reconciling the message of relational evangelism with straightforward sharing the gospel message is like a fishing line snarl to me.  It looks impossible and I’d rather just cut it off and throw it out.  My stubborn nature when it comes to fishing usually leads to me spending 30 minutes unravelling the snarl to save the hook, while my friends outfish me.  I think I am reaching this place now.  I am becoming more and more determined to unravel this snarl and figure out how to sharer my faith effectively and well.  I do remember last year the co-worker who I carpooled with at the time served me up a softball, so gently tossed my infant son could have hit it out of the park.  She actually asked the question that everyone thinks nobody asks.  She asked me “So, what is it you believe anyway?”  I completely fumbled it.  I said some nice things about Jesus, and about how good it is to follow Christ, but I did not give a clear gospel presentation at all.

But I am going to figure it out.  If I can talk about politics with strangers all the time, I can talk about the next most offensive topic of discussion: religion.

First, let me just say that I have NEVER seen a rainstorm like the one that greeted us on the drive from the Orlando Airport to Innisbrook on the day of our arrival.  I’ve never actually seen the heavens fall like that before.  It was coming down so hard and fast that at points the traffic stopped.  The rain was hitting the windshield so fast that you couldn’t see the car 10 feet in front of you.

Innisbrook Golf Resort and Conference Center was a lovely place to visit.  They were excellent hosts, and their facilities were quite nice.  The grounds, with the golf courses were pretty, but not a lot of room for walking.  If they’d had more sidewalks we might not have driven our car around as much.  They did have shuttles, but it was hit-and-miss getting one during busy times.  A little frustrating that their only clear “family” restaurant on resort was closed for renovations.

We weren’t really sure what to expect when we went down there.  In retrospect, it is clear that what this was meant to be about was fellowship.    It was about reconnecting with all those people from other areas of the country, celebrating what is going on in the many organizations that the Grace Brethren cooperate with, and being encouraged with messages to keep on doing what Jesus wants us to be about.  Jim Brown was the lead person and spoke briefly at the beginning of each major session.  He is a really neat individual.  We got to see all sides of him that week: from his self-concious, but nonetheless brave foray onto the streets of Tampa to find out what people believe about life and the afterlife, to his huge heart to reach lost people and encourage others to do the same, to the crescendo of his message, pointing out humanity’s needs in all corners of the world at the top of his lungs and at the edge of heartbreak.  You can definitely see why his ministry in Goshen, IN has been blessed.

He wasn’t the only character there either.  It was a pleasure meeting many of the faces of the Grace Brethren, and I was honoured to have some great conversations and learn more from many of them.  Sometimes they weren’t necessarily speaking to me, but their words showed me a passion for people and for Jesus.  I think of Tim Boal’s moving talk about Go2 Church Planting, the new arm to encourage and equip new leaders to plant new churches.  I think of Jim Laird and his wife, who blessed us with interest in what we are doing in Canada, and with prayer for us at our table.  I think of Terry White, who invited me to sit next to him at the BMH breakfast and helped me get the inside track on publishing and how they work.  I think of Mark Cahill and his two challenges to take seriously the Christian job of sharing the gospel as much as you possibly can, planting seeds, watering, weeding and so on to help create the harvest.  I think of my own pastor, Philip Bryant, who stirred the pot of the fellowship everywhere he went.  I think of Tom Avey, who despite having a billion things to think about and do as far as organizing, still had time for us and remembered who we were, despite having only ever exchanged one or two emails.  I think of Glen Sykes, a man who likes his sushi, but was gentleman enough to help my feisty boys while we were out at the Kobe Steak and Sushi.  His story was one that moved me in the few minutes we had for intelligent conversation around my sons’ silliness.

There is something rich in being a member of a fellowship (not a denomination) where the people are intent on Christ and intent on not telling you what to do but walking beside you, and encouraging you, and being encouraged by that fellowship.  I really felt that while we were at iGo.  We are both really excited and plan already to go to next year’s event, Equip ‘09 which will be in Columbus, OH.  I understand it is much more focused on training, seminars and teaching which is fine by us.  The speaker list already looks very exciting.  But more, the opportunity to be with these men and women again is anticipated most of all.

Between Jim Brown and Mark Cahill at iGo, and now me reading Organic Church by Neil Cole I am really being gutted emotionally.  I am finding myself so convicted that I am not bearing fruit in terms of a harvest of souls.  Well, God, I hope you’re happy, you’ve got me on my knees begging for fruit.  I just want to be the good soil so badly.

So last night a song popped into my head, and all I could remember was “Praise the Lord… o my soul… praise the Lord!”  Then “As far as the east is from the west… that’s how far he has removed our transgressions from us!”  But for the life of me I couldn’t remember the song’s title.

Then I get up this morning and read the book of Jonah.  What’s right there in front of me?  Jonah complaining about God’s personality.  “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 3:2b)

Don’t you just hate people who abound in love and compassion?  How much more annoying is it when it is your God?  O for a God of Justice!

Oh, wait.  I’m me.  Little old sinful me who doesn’t deserve the dust from the heel of God.  Yeah God whose love has purchased me from facing his justice!

By the way, the song is called “The Lord is Gracious and Compassionate”.

The Lord Is Gracious and Compassionate

(Graham Ord)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger and rich in love
The Lord is gracious and compassionate
Slow to anger and rich in love

Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord, oh my soul
Praise the Lord

And the Lord is good to all
He has compassion in all that He has made
As far as the east is from the west
That’s how far He has removed our transgressions from us
(repeat)

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