Faith in Contemporary Life

Angry Evangelism?

By Pastor Chris Cahill · 3 minute read · First published 2024-04-25

If the good news sounds like we are furious at the listener, what are they hearing? Examine evangelism from the receiving end, where our tone has consequences.

Good news should sound like good news

Does evangelism on the corner truly reflect the Spirit of the Lord? It depends. Now, I can only really speak to the Christian tradition and acknowledge that in my tradition, the mandate to spread the Gospel is unequivocal. This is known as the Great Commission, where Jesus charged his disciples, saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19, ESV). This commission, often understood as a call to evangelize and persuade others of the truth of Christianity, forms a central pillar of Christian mission work for most denominations.

Christian evangelism begins with a desire to share Christ’s love, hope, and salvation. That purpose should be recognizable in the way we speak. If people can hear our anger but cannot find our care, we have something to examine before reaching for a louder microphone.

However, within the Christian framework, the approach to sharing one's faith and convincing others of its legitimacy must also be viewed through a theological lens. The apostle Paul encapsulates this belief succinctly in 1 Corinthians 1:23, stating, "But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles" (ESV). This proclamation, however, begins to highlight the focal point of Christian evangelism: Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. Not argument. Paul underscores that the essence of sharing the Christian message lies NOT in persuasive rhetoric or intellectual argument but in simply pointing to the redemptive work of Jesus.

Passion does not excuse contempt

A street corner can hold a compassionate conversation or an ugly argument. The location does not decide which. Listen, understand the person’s question, and speak with respect. Inviting someone toward Christ should not require cornering them, shaming them, or treating them as a point on our scoreboard.

What appears to be often undervalued in Christian evangelism is how the Bible emphasizes the role of love in sharing the Gospel. In John 13:35, Jesus tells his disciples, "By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another" (ESV). Love, as demonstrated in both word and deed, should be the hallmark of authentic Christian witness, not debate. Rather than coercion or manipulation, Christians are called to embody the love of Christ, which alone has the power to transform hearts and lives.

Moreover, the Bible clearly teaches that it is the Holy Spirit, not mankind, who convicts individuals of sin and leads them to faith. Jesus himself assures his disciples of the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will "convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8, ESV). This recognition highlights the limited role of humans in the process of conversion. While Christians are called to faithfully proclaim the Gospel, which should be “good news,” as the word Gospel means, it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who works in the hearts of individuals, granting them the gift of faith and spiritual insight.

Tell the truth. Leave room for the Spirit.

We are responsible for speaking faithfully and loving the person in front of us. We are not responsible for manufacturing a conversion by pressure. Share the hope of Christ, answer honestly, and trust the Holy Spirit’s work. The invitation can be clear without becoming a contest nobody asked to enter.