FIRST IN A SERIES ON ENGAGING EVANGELISM IN THE MODERN WORLD
CONNECTING WITH CULTURE, CURRENT EVENTS KEY TO ENGAGING EVANGELISM
BY BRYAN MURRAY
It was the Monday after Kobe Bryant died. At work, my colleagues and I shared memories and thoughts throughout the workday, and by the end of the day, I was emotionally exhausted. I arrived home and parked under a streetlamp in the dark. I exited my car and was hit with the strong smell of marijuana. It was coming from a young man’s car two spaces away. Do I ignore him? Call the police? Tell him to leave? Realizing that would’ve been me 30 years ago, I did what I wished someone had done while I was in high school—I approached his car and kindly introduced myself.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT Kobe Bryant’s death?” I asked.
“I can’t get it out of my mind,” Hunter (not his real name) replied. Hunter was so afraid of dying, he said, “I pray each time I get in my car.”
I’m ashamed to say that often events in society become no more than news and information to me. When stories appeared about Kobe and GiGi Bryant, the coronavirus, stock market fluctuations, floods, wildfires, and mass shootings, some stories caused me to pause, but not for long. It was just more information for an informationaddicted culture. But what if the information became more than that? What if I applied a different filter and a different lens to the information?
That night when I spoke to Hunter, I wanted the tragedy of nine people killed in a helicopter to be more than another news story. More than just information. More than, “Did you hear…?” and “Can you believe…?” I wanted it to be an opportunity to engage someone in meaningful conversation, and nothing, ultimately, is more meaningful than the Gospel.
THE APOSTLE PAUL WAS SKILLED AT USING CULTURE CUES and events to open spiritual conversations. In Acts 17:16–34, Paul demonstrates how he observed and understood the worldview of those around him. Furthermore, he intentionally used cultural cues to invite people to consider the reasonableness of their worldview in light of one rooted in Scripture. Perhaps most importantly, Paul and Mid-America founder Dr. B. Gray Allison believed strongly in providing an opportunity for people to believe in Jesus. The result was that “some men joined him and believed.”
In talking with Hunter, it became clear his worldview was that death is random, something to be feared, and that prayer would tip the odds in his favor. I told him, “There’s no guarantee you’ll arrive anywhere safely. Even if you pray, there’s no guarantee. Kobe’s daughter was only 13, and now she’s gone,” I continued. “Kobe even went to church that morning. If you were to drive away, get struck and die, how sure are you that you’d go to be with the Lord and not to hell?” I asked him.
“I’m not right. I won’t even lie to you. I’m not sure,” he said. I shared how I came to Christ, explained that Jesus conquered death and offers everyone eternal life, and that Hunter doesn’t have to live in fear of death. As we talked further, I asked Hunter if he would like to put his faith in Christ for salvation. He said yes and prayed right there in his car to receive Jesus.
EVANGELISM IN THE 21ST CENTURY still requires the Holy Spirit. It still requires Christians to intentionally and humbly introduce a biblical worldview into the cultural discourse. It focuses on winning people to Christ more than winning arguments. Lastly, it must be grounded in Scripture, not clever ideas, because only God’s Word is true and able to convict someone of his or her rebellion against Him.
Our culture provides daily opportunities to engage in spiritual conversations. Perhaps today you will engage in one and share the Gospel, so someone might consider the claims of Christ and invite Him to save them.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
1. What is happening in the culture around you that might allow for engaging people in spiritual conversation (i.e., coronavirus, social injustice, etc.)? 2. What would prevent you from taking the initiative this week to try to share the Gospel? How can you overcome that barrier?
WATCH
Watch a video of Bryan Murray explaining more about engaging evangelism in the 21st Century. Go to mabts.edu/videos.
