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Pre-evangelism
Pre-evangelism by Dr. Bruce M. Bumgardner 자료출처 http://chafer-cstn.org/BaseT/SOTER/Preevangelism_76D4_VV.htm When that jailer at Philippi asked the Apostle Paul, “What do I need to do to be saved?” Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.” Yet, when he is in Athens a few weeks later and is interacting with the philosophers on Mars Hill, although He is alluded to, the name of Jesus never comes up. Why? In Athens, Paul was engaging in pre-evangelism. Pre-evangelism is meeting people where they are. It is giving honest answers to honest questions. It has been my observation that too much of the time we do not follow the pattern of Paul on Mars Hill. We assume that the only model for evangelistic activity is the one we see in Philippi. Instead of giving honest answers to honest questions we are not answering the questions being asked at all. The philosophers on Mars hill did not share the same presuppositions that the Philippian jailer had. The jailer was ready for, “believe on the Lord Jesus.” The philosophers were not. With them, Paul began by arguing for the existence of an infinite personal God. This is pre-evangelism. Our society today is full of people who, like the Athenian philosophers, are willfully suppressing the knowledge of the truth. They refuse to acknowledge that God even exists. They believe in moral relativism and reject the idea of a Moral Lawgiver. The individual is the source of his own law. In their search for happiness they have made themselves the center of their own universe and rather than finding the happiness they seek are plunged deeper into despair the more they consider their philosophy. The honest atheist is the most unhappy being on the planet. The atheistic French novelist and philosopher Albert Camus (1913-1960) said, “Death is philosophy’s only problem and now the biggest question is, ‘Why not suicide?’” It doesn’t look to me like Camus’ atheistic philosophy led him to the fulfillment he sought. It is the responsibility of every Christian to be in a state of readiness to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15). This includes a recognition of the situation we find ourselves in when it comes to evangelism. Are we in Philippi or Athens? Remember, both are important to God. Before answering questions that are not being asked, listen. Find out where people are. Then give honest answers to honest questions. And don’t be intimidated. Christianity doesn’t just have the best answers to the questions, we have the only answers. If atheism is right, then Camus’ question regarding suicide was reasonable. But his presupposition was wrong. The answer to Camus’ philosophical problem is that an infinite, personal God does exist. And He desires to have a relationship with you through His Son Jesus Christ. |
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