Confessions of a Failed Evangelist
It has been quite some time since I have had the privilege of leading someone to Christ. You can count me in with the majority of evangelistic Christians in America. But I’m a pastor. Evangelism is supposed to be second nature to me. So this is my confession: I’m a failed evangelist.For a couple years it didn’t bother me, but lately I’ve felt unsatisfied in my journey. I work for my church. I do “ministry” all day long. I’m involved in a lot of things through our church. I have tons of great Christian friends. I believe I’m in the right place at the right time. But something has been missing.
In the past I’ve had a lot of friends that aren’t Christians that would challenge me. They would ask questions. They would make fun of my faith. They would question my morals. But now I work for/with Christians, my family is Christians, and my friends are Christians. I have very few friends that aren’t Christian and it’s not right. I can really feel it.
I’m taking small steps to overcome this disease of mine. I’m in a rut and I need to get out of it.
posted by Tim Oas @ 10:23 PM
6 Comments:
Let me know how you get out of that rut.
Steven.
I think you should just get like 5 bumper stickers that say..."need Jesus?" ...or maybe get on craigslist and list "looking for unspiritual...non God loving friend." Or maybe you could hang out in a bar with your Bible open and a "Vote for Jesus" shirt on. :) not to make light of your blog....I agree with you. I just couldn't help myself :)
Forget about evangelism. Play Jazz. Your bass playing has brought me closer to God than you evangelism ever has--or will. You make me mad when you don't play. Play it dirty, play it good, play it in the clubs.
If I stopped writing (or just wrote church newsletters), I imagine that you might punch me in the face. Well, I'll be seeing you soon.
I agree with bmk and add, quit your job.
quit your job and do jazz full time that is.
Tim, your shameless plug got you one more visitor :-)
I feel your pain only on the other side. Most of my "friends (the people I spend most of my time with)" are christians. But I spend 40+ hours a week in the business world where christians are a definite minority and anything more than admitting you go to church is considered pushing the limits of mixing your faith in your job. When we became more active at church I started having a recurring dream where I was being swept away by a flood and my "full time ministry" friends celebrated in safety on a dry island. The grass is always greener.
Put on that "Vote for Jesus" shirt (or better yet the craiglist "looking for unspiritual...non God loving friend" t-shirt) that Jenny talked about and come on down to the WaMu center for lunch. . . bring your bible.
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