Originally written by Angela Bleier:
I recently read the Tweet of a famous Christian leader stating that before we share the Gospel, we must “earn the right” and “earn their trust like Jesus did.” This “friendship evangelism” approach insists that we must take our time building a relationship with the prospective convert, then at some point God might open a door for us to share our faith. At the very least, they’ll see how much we care, and thus, they’ll see Jesus in our actions without us ever having to verbalize our faith in Him. The priority seems to be the relationship with evangelism being secondary.
So, is friendship evangelism what Jesus practiced? What is the Biblical model for evangelism? Certainly Jesus was very relational; I’m thinking of the twelve disciples, and Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus in particular. Indeed, the Trinity itself is the prototype of relationship. However, there is no mandate in scripture, neither stated nor implied, which indicates that a relationship is a prerequisite for sharing our faith in Christ. For example, Jesus did not have a prior relationship with the Samaritan woman at the well to whom He revealed Himself (John 4:7-26). Such a relationship between a Samaritan and a Jew, especially between a man and a woman, would have been unconscionable. Likewise, there were untold numbers of people to whom Jesus revealed Himself through the forgiveness of their sins and through healing with whom He had no prior relationship (see examples Mat 9:1-8, 15:30, Mark 8:22-26).
Not only was having a prior relationship not necessary for Jesus, other examples in the New Testament clearly illustrate this point. For example, Prisoners Paul and Silas were not friends with the Philippian Jailer when they explained to him how to be saved (Acts 16:30-33). Phillip was a complete stranger to the Ethiopian eunuch when he pointed him to Christ and baptized him (Acts 8:26-39). There are many other examples, but I think we get the point. While God does work through our relationships, there’s no limit to whom He can reach when our actions and words continually exude Him.
So, if friendship is not the scriptural mandate for evangelism, then what IS the Biblical model? Scripture reveals to us that as the children of God were living, working, and even suffering, the love of Christ and passion for living in Him overflowed into the mediocrity of their everyday lives. As they stayed in step with the Spirit, He guided their steps to those divine encounters where total strangers encountered Jesus. When our joy is found in God alone, our words and deeds provoke a deluge of His love and His glory into the everyday mundane, and we become salt and light (Mat 5:13-14). God never wastes our efforts to share the Gospel, including but never limited to our relationships. He can use any situation and wants us to make the most of EVERY opportunity to share Him with others (Col 4:5-6). Scripture commands us to ALWAYS be prepared to give the reason for the Hope that we have and to do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Not to mention, speaking is ultimately involved.
Why would we limit the saving power of the Gospel by placing self-imposed restrictions and prerequisites on evangelism when eternity is at stake? Why do we put so much faith in the power of our relationships and so little faith in the saving power of a Holy God? What if, in the process of developing a relationship, that person dies without Christ? Think about it. If you knew the cure for cancer would you only tell your friends, or would you shout it from the mountaintops? Why, then, would sharing man’s only Hope for eternal salvation be any less urgent or less important!
