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The apostle Paul faced a pre-Christian Europe that was pagan, relativistic and pluralistic, much like the culture we live in now. We often think that our culture is the hardest culture that anyone has ever witnessed to, and so we assume that the Bible will not have much to say in terms of witnessing today because it was simply easier back then. But our present post-Christian Western culture is actually closer to what Paul experienced in his pre-Christian society than was the age of “Christendom”— for instance, the Victorian era in the UK or the time of the Revolution in America.
Helps Christians to share their faith in today's world confidently and effectively.
Paul knew the difference between proclaiming truth to those who were brought up with a biblical worldview and those who were not. When he was defending the gospel to Thessalonian Jews, for instance, he piqued their interest with his fierce logic and rational argument, and argued on their own grounds from the Old Testament (Acts 17 v 1-8). In pagan Athens, however, his approach was quite different. Paul cited their own pagan prophets to capture their interest: “As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring’” (Acts 17 v 28, NILV).
We need to learn to do the same. We often approach those with no Christian background and try to engage them with arguments that work only in a shared biblical framework—and then wonder why people rarely respond with comprehension or interest.
We also need to keep learning from Jesus. He usually asked questions instead of giving answers, and tended to tell stories instead of preaching sermons. Thus, he could surprise skeptics in ways that caused them to rethink and re-evaluate their position. For example, when an “expert on the law” spoke with Jesus in order to “put him to the test”—to test Jesus’ orthodoxy and to show Jesus that he, not Jesus, had the superior grasp of Scripture — Jesus did not “give him the gospel” (Luke 10 v 25-37) First, Jesus did what he always did—he asked questions. Then Jesus told a story—the famous parable of the Good Samaritan—and so, without a hint of condemnation, he revealed to this “expert on the law” his failure to live according to his own standard of truth, the law.
God’s purpose in a conversation may simply be to cause them to reconsider their unbelief.
Questions and stories are more subversive than statements because they can puncture those who feel self-satisfied and proud, as in the case of this expert. Good questions also cause people to become engaged and to think. It puts the onus on them and prevents us (and them, hopefully) from becoming defensive or entangled in arguments, while allowing us to understand the other person’s beliefs. Jesus’ question to this man was a classic example of pre-evangelism. For us, it is an effective way to discern who is open to thinking about Jesus, and also to plant a provocative seed of doubt in those who are spiritually closed. It may mean that our conversation flows, or that the other person opens up about something nagging away at them, or they simply change the topic—but regardless, we can pray that they will be more open with the next Christian they talk to.
How else can we tell if someone is spiritually open or closed? Here are three steps that may prove helpful.
When trying to determine whether the person we are talking to is spiritually closed or open, we need to ask ourselves, “Do they seem satisfied with their lives and if so, why? Do they resist faith because of something they already believe (another religion, atheism, Marxism, and so on)? Do they consider faith impossible due to particular objections that they have about Christianity: that there is no rational evidence for faith, that being a Christian means being unintelligent, a racist, or homophobic, and so on?” In other words, we need to ask questions to understand where they are coming from.
Once we have an idea of who we are talking to, we are better able to spark their curiosity in faith. To rouse curiosity in faith is a very neglected aspect of evangelism, but it is enormously helpful. One way is through the art of intrigue—as when Jesus said to the Samaritan woman that if she accepted the “living water” he was offering, then she would never thirst again because the water that he offered would become “a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4 v 14).
Another way to rouse curiosity is by offering evidence to a particular concern. If a skeptic tells you there is no rational evidence to support the Christian faith, then knowing some historical or philosophical apologetics—some ways to defend your faith—will be essential in rousing their curiosity in faith. If a person is more interested in questions of meaning and how faith can make a difference in coping with life, then sharing your own journey of faith may be helpful. In short, we need to use evidence that speaks to that particular person—which means we need to start on their turf, not ours.
Investigating and stimulating are often the necessary pre-evangelistic steps that will enable us to communicate Christ and his message more effectively. That does not mean that we will always have the opportunity to share the gospel in every conversation. Much depends on the openness of the person we’re speaking to and the nature of our relationship, and even how much time we have to talk.
Remember that, especially with the spiritually closed, God’s purpose in a conversation may simply be to cause them to reconsider their unbelief, or to realize that there is more evidence to support faith than they previously thought, or to leave with a more positive view of Christians than they had before, meaning they will be more open to the next believer God brings their way!
This is an extract from Stay Salt by renowned evangelist, Becky Pippert. In her new book, Becky Pippert draws on decades of conversations about Christianity around the world to call and equip ordinary Christians to share Jesus through their ordinary day-to-day conversations. She shows that by leaning on our extraordinary God, such conversations can, and often do, have extraordinary results. Stay Salt is available to buy here.
Rebecca Manley Pippert regularly speaks on spiritual renewal, evangelism and character formation for church conferences, at schools and colleges and in pastoral training seminars. Becky has written several books on evangelism and Christian living, including the best-selling Out of the Saltshaker and Stay Salt.
