Relational Evangelism

Recently I heard a bible teacher say:

If you’re someone’s friend and you show them love, you don’t even have to say the word Jesus. Because your life is the testimony.

That reminded me of other similar sayings like:

“You are the only Bible some unbelievers will ever read,” John MacArthur.

“The way you store up treasure in Heaven is by investing in getting people there.” Rick Warren

And most famously:

“Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.”

The latter is popularly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi.

Now, I’m not against relationships or loving your neighbor, including your enemy, as yourself. And it should be obvious that your New Covenant Christian life should be a testimony to this unbelieving world. As Paul says to the church at Corinth:

Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3.3)

But according to the NT, how are we to do Christian Evangelism?

First, let’s start with the man Jesus himself. At the start of his ministry the first words out of his mouth were:

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:15 ESV

That is, God’s kingdom is about to come to rule on earth. The Gospels go on to show that this is the primary purpose of Jesus and his Apostles.

And it came to pass afterwards, that he travelled through the cities and towns, preaching and evangelizing the kingdom of God; and the twelve with him. Luke 8.1 DRB

As a matter of fact, it’s so important that Luke says after his resurrection, Jesus spent a further 40 days to continue teaching things concerning the kingdom of God. (Acts 1.3) Hence, Jesus’ final Great Commission says to teach newly baptized converts to obey everything Jesus said; “even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

The Apostles go on to obey this order by preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, “baptizing both men and women.” Acts 8:12

My point is if you’re someone’s friend and you want to show them love, you have to say the words of Jesus to them. This is what Jesus himself commands and the Apostles showed by their actions. Otherwise, “how then will people call on him whom they have not believed? And how will they believe him unless they have heard him preaching the Gospel? And how will they hear without someone preaching the Gospel to them?  How can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel.” Romans 10:14-15