Evangelism, manifestly, is the work of the Church; discipleship, manifestly, is the process of sanctification worked out by loving God with all one’s heart, mind, soul, and strength…and loving people as oneself (Lk. 10:27 ESV). Yet, much of modern American Christianity finds itself marginalized as a place of well-being, where “getting right with God” is a means of becoming a better person. “Self-Help” books make millions of dollars at the expense of well-meaning Christians pursuing personal discipleship. The culprit? Removing evangelism from discipleship methods. In many ways, American Christianity has overemphasized discipleship while underemphasizing evangelism-investing in the house, while the city burns around it.
The modern American Church exist at the price of selfless men and women who labored tirelessly for the expansion of the Gospel of Christ. Reformers, Puritans, Moravian Missionaries, both American Great Awakening’s, the Student Volunteer Missions Movement, whose brave souls sold themselves to the Gospel work-force at the expense of their own well-being. Historically, wherever the Ecclesia (Church, or better stated, gathering of God’s children) gather, there too is a mutual sending.
In present day, Saints alike find themselves taking sides on the proverbial ditch-local Church on the left, and evangelism/mission to the right. When someone qualifies themselves a local Church person, they are communicating their passion for discipleship. I have dear friends whom advocate local Church, over evangelism/mission. These friends have a great desire to see change in their local communities, to which some advocate local evangelism. Yet, many people spend their time in personal discipleship, believing their own personal changes will attract unbelievers to Church. This approach advertently and inadvertently opposes Romans Chapter 10:17: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (ESV).
Discipleship, being one of the great mantras of the 21st Century American Church, through many avenues of opinion, left evangelism for dead in its “discipleship.” “How?” One might ask. When discipleship methods produce awkward, introverted, and yes, narcissistic persons who harbor disdain toward humanity…it proves to foster unconscious humanism within its walls.
The American Church has unhealthily overemphasized “wholeness,” and “maturity,” at the expense of proclaiming the good news. Stunting evangelism in our discipleship methods, stunts maturity. Evangelism is not meant to be something one does once reaching an ethereal level of Christian maturity, rather, an act of overflowing love in reaction to Jesus’ great mercy upon one’s soul; thereby, advancing discipleship, diminishing fear, and promoting love.
As one who has served nearly twelve-years to advance the Gospel on foreign and domestic soil, segregation between discipleship and evangelism saddens my heart. One can see this segregation by viewing those who only want discipleship stay in a discipleship context, while those who are motivated to evangelize, find an evangelistic context. Yet, how can one truly be a disciple without practicing evangelism; and how can one be effective in evangelism without purposeful discipleship? The two are inseparable. The Church must again empower evangelism within its discipleship context, if her purpose is to be sure, and her discipleship be effective.