Reformed Evangelism
Random Arminian Friend: So you're a Calvinist?
You (hopefully): Well, I believe that God predestines who will and will not be saved. Calvin also taught that so I am in agreement with, if that's what you mean.
RAF: Yeah, whatever (Clearly confused). Well, does that mean we don't have to evangelize? Like, if God's already decided all that, we don't have to do anything right?
You (hopefully): No, because God tells us to spread the Gospel. We give the message and leave the results to God.
RAF: Oh, Okay (Clearly still skeptical and confused)
Isn't it awesome? God has charged us with the task of proclaiming His Gospel to "every creature" and promises to bring to Himself those who are His elect! Reformed Christians should be the most enthusiastic, determined and confident evangelist on the globe. After all, poor brother Bill the Arminian evangelist constantly worries about making the message more effective and more "appealing". We know that God will use us as He pleases. So, Reformed Christian like myself are best evangelist- in theory at least.
Let's face it. We may be adept at debating the Five points of Calvinism but when we meet a non believer who doesn't know about John Calvin or Jacob Arminius we freeze up. Why is this?
Part of the reason we aren't good evangelist is because we're super awesome at discipling. There is an old saying which observes that "The Baptist save them and the Presbyterians educate them." And there is a ring of truth to this. You see, due to the prevalence of Arminianism for the last hundred or so years in America, the Reformed Christian considers his Reformed views as very much a part of his identity. It's what makes him stand out from the rest of the Christian crowd. Arminians don't really think a lot about doctrine or Church History and are more able to engage in Evangelism.When you think about, the Reformation for its initial hundred years didn't do much evangelism. Calvin, Luther, Zwingli and others were more concerned with Reforming the Church as it stood. Of course, the fact that they were under heavy persecution does show why Evangelism took time to develop. But my point is our mentality is about converting the unreformed- not converting the unregenerate.
The other reason though is that we simply don't know how to go about it. I honestly think we're afraid for some reason that we might accidentally "save" someone that God didn't predestine. I know I have had that feeling.
After all, I am preaching at myself a lot here. For the past few summers I've been a part of Child Evangelism Fellowship's Summer missions, working as a Christian Youth In Action (CYIA). While technically non-denominational, in Alabama at least we have a (free-will) Baptist majority. At the state training the last two years I have a self-conscious Presbyterian. Everything I heard in class was mentally weighed against my beloved Reformed Theology. I literally ground my teeth when we were told to say Christ died to "make a way for us to be saved." Of course, I never said that way and I never will. The Calvinist in me rolled his eyes throughout the entire "How to give the Invitation" class.
What we need to realize it that God doesn't save with lighting (usually). God accomplishes His purposes through the actions of human agents. God said Christ would be born in Bethlehem. He predestined where Christ would be born and to bring it about He caused Caesar Augustus to order the 4 b.c. Census. We cannot "save" someone whom God is not going to save.
But the fact remains that we are often clueless about sharing the Gospel. How do we present this Blessed Message? Well, like the good Reformed folk we are, let's look at the Scriptures.
In Acts alone we have an example of both mass and personal evangelism. Peter speaks to Cornelius and his house while Philip speaks to the Ethiopian Eunuch. In both cases no one is asked, "Will you believe in Jesus?" In Peter's case, he begins giving the Gospel and they respond, being filled with the spirit Philip uses Scripture. Thus, we see that Biblical evangelism is basically a declaration of the Gospel, that "Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that He was buried and the rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures." (I Cor 15:3-4). Let us boldly preach this Gospel.
And the leave the results in God's hands.
You (hopefully): Well, I believe that God predestines who will and will not be saved. Calvin also taught that so I am in agreement with, if that's what you mean.
RAF: Yeah, whatever (Clearly confused). Well, does that mean we don't have to evangelize? Like, if God's already decided all that, we don't have to do anything right?
You (hopefully): No, because God tells us to spread the Gospel. We give the message and leave the results to God.
RAF: Oh, Okay (Clearly still skeptical and confused)
Isn't it awesome? God has charged us with the task of proclaiming His Gospel to "every creature" and promises to bring to Himself those who are His elect! Reformed Christians should be the most enthusiastic, determined and confident evangelist on the globe. After all, poor brother Bill the Arminian evangelist constantly worries about making the message more effective and more "appealing". We know that God will use us as He pleases. So, Reformed Christian like myself are best evangelist- in theory at least.
Let's face it. We may be adept at debating the Five points of Calvinism but when we meet a non believer who doesn't know about John Calvin or Jacob Arminius we freeze up. Why is this?
Part of the reason we aren't good evangelist is because we're super awesome at discipling. There is an old saying which observes that "The Baptist save them and the Presbyterians educate them." And there is a ring of truth to this. You see, due to the prevalence of Arminianism for the last hundred or so years in America, the Reformed Christian considers his Reformed views as very much a part of his identity. It's what makes him stand out from the rest of the Christian crowd. Arminians don't really think a lot about doctrine or Church History and are more able to engage in Evangelism.When you think about, the Reformation for its initial hundred years didn't do much evangelism. Calvin, Luther, Zwingli and others were more concerned with Reforming the Church as it stood. Of course, the fact that they were under heavy persecution does show why Evangelism took time to develop. But my point is our mentality is about converting the unreformed- not converting the unregenerate.
The other reason though is that we simply don't know how to go about it. I honestly think we're afraid for some reason that we might accidentally "save" someone that God didn't predestine. I know I have had that feeling.
After all, I am preaching at myself a lot here. For the past few summers I've been a part of Child Evangelism Fellowship's Summer missions, working as a Christian Youth In Action (CYIA). While technically non-denominational, in Alabama at least we have a (free-will) Baptist majority. At the state training the last two years I have a self-conscious Presbyterian. Everything I heard in class was mentally weighed against my beloved Reformed Theology. I literally ground my teeth when we were told to say Christ died to "make a way for us to be saved." Of course, I never said that way and I never will. The Calvinist in me rolled his eyes throughout the entire "How to give the Invitation" class.
What we need to realize it that God doesn't save with lighting (usually). God accomplishes His purposes through the actions of human agents. God said Christ would be born in Bethlehem. He predestined where Christ would be born and to bring it about He caused Caesar Augustus to order the 4 b.c. Census. We cannot "save" someone whom God is not going to save.
But the fact remains that we are often clueless about sharing the Gospel. How do we present this Blessed Message? Well, like the good Reformed folk we are, let's look at the Scriptures.
In Acts alone we have an example of both mass and personal evangelism. Peter speaks to Cornelius and his house while Philip speaks to the Ethiopian Eunuch. In both cases no one is asked, "Will you believe in Jesus?" In Peter's case, he begins giving the Gospel and they respond, being filled with the spirit Philip uses Scripture. Thus, we see that Biblical evangelism is basically a declaration of the Gospel, that "Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that He was buried and the rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures." (I Cor 15:3-4). Let us boldly preach this Gospel.
And the leave the results in God's hands.
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