Truth-based Discipleship & Evangelism

As I mentioned a few days ago, in our "three year plan" Willoughby Hills Friends Church will need to address greater effectiveness in the areas of discipleship and evangelism. I wonder if this will require a paradigm shift of sorts? A change is perspective?

Often times churches from the holiness tradition appear to be sin-based in perspective when undertaking these two key areas of ministry. Sometimes the reason for world evangelization is because people are inherently evil thus they need a crisis moment, "a confrontation," if you will, with personal sin and the Gospel. Likewise, discipleship can often become little more than sin avoidance through rigorous exercises in spiritual discipline.

Though I believe both of the above are important in proper context to the maturation process of a Christian, sin should not be the primary focal point of our evangelism or discipleship. Yes, people are sinners and need a Savior but sin based programming will not motive people long term to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to be "truth based" in our approach.

When I speak of a "truth based" approach to discipleship and evangelism I am thinking of the fact that all men are created in the image of God, and God is good. The fall of humanity in the garden of Eden did not eradicate the goodness of God that every human being inherently possesses. Instead of saying to others, "Your evil, deal with it, turn or burn" let's expose the good qualities in people and encourage them to "grow in those divinely manufactured properties."

This "truth-based" approach to discipleship and evangelism does not eliminate the need for a "crisis moment" with the claims of Jesus Christ, it simply changes the focus. Instead of telling someone they need to encounter Jesus before they can "be good," let's identify and celebrate the good "God like" qualities that already exist in people and share with them how through a relationship with Jesus they can experience the full manifestation of these divine properties. Let's "atta boy" the behaviors of man that reflect the imago dei, "the image of God" in man and then share how experiencing the fullness of Christ can loose one from the tethers of sin and provide the means to be the very embodiment of Christ in the world today.

What say you? Would this approach require a paradigm shift for WHFC? What might a "truth-based approach to discipleship and evangelism look like over the next three years? I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for stopping by!
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Adrian