I only recently listened to the TAL broadcast with your segment. I’m an avid TAL fan and am a Christian so that topics you talked about really resonated with me. I hated the outreach missions that I was required to do as part of the institute of Christianity that I joined when I was younger. This made me leave the church because I detested how fake and superficial the connections in the church were.
The past five years have led to many conclusions that were similar to yours in regards to being (and making) disciples rather than converts; however, (and perhaps this was not reflected well in the broadcast) it seemed as though your stance was that once the relationship reached an impasse and neither party were willing to be influenced by the other, that the hope for making a disciple was over and the relationship ended.
I really hope I misunderstood that part of the broadcast because I believe that the relationship continues regardless of whether I am making a disciple of the other or not. Isn’t that true, unconditional love? To continue in relationship even though I am not getting exactly what I want out of it?
To love someone regardless of how much the other conforms to my belief is what I see to be as truly loving another person. To continue in persevering in that relationship without the expectation that they will adopt my beliefs is real love. Otherwise, the relationship is just a really long, drawn-out bait whereas true love has no bait, no end goal in mind but continues to be unconditional regardless of circumstance.
You’re right; numbers and results should not be the focus of Christians. I really am grateful that you are such a positive representation of Christians who are wanting to make disciples instead of converts; thank you for your continuing endurance in this mission.

And thanks to my Homey Pam (check out her blog http://www.godmessedmeup.blogspot.com)for more of her killer insights

But most of all I want to thank GMB (name please?) who killed the love fest with a dose of his reality at least.

GMB – I think it is a great thing that you quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I have also quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I decided to become a follower of Jesus- which is both harder and easier.

Harder because he calls us out of religion ( the best place to hide real sin) and into reality – a much more fun environment to play in.

Not all Christians suffered all the time- Even Jesus avoided it from time to time – (John 7/ John 10)

He suffered when it counted for something (the cross)

And one thing you probably never heard about in Evangelist school is that Jesus spent the first 30 years of his life essentially doing nothing – living the life of an ordinary schmuck (forgive my yiddish)

Why? Well so ordinary shmucks like you and me could have some hope in this life..

And as far as what the future holds I am willing to place my bet on Jesus even if it turns out that I am wrong, deluded or following Snow White and the 7 Dwarves because at the very least I will have been delivered from my anger in this life – if that rings a bell

And thanks to my Homey Pam (check out her blog http://www.howgodmessedupmyreligion.com)for more of her killer insights

But most of all I want to thank GMB (name please?) who killed the love fest with a dose of his reality at least.

GMB – I think it is a great thing that you quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I have also quit being a Christian and an Evangelist. I decided to become a follower of Jesus- which is both harder and easier.

Harder because he calls us out of religion ( the best place to hide real sin) and into reality – a much more fun environment to play in.

Not all Christians suffered all the time- Even Jesus avoided it from time to time – (John 7/ John 10)

He suffered when it counted for something (the cross)

And one thing you probably never heard about in Evangelist school is that Jesus spent the first 30 years of his life essentially doing nothing – living the life of an ordinary schmuck (fogive my yiddish)

Why? Well so ordinary shmucks like you and me could have some hope in this life..

And as far as what the future holds I am willing to place my bet on Jesus even if it turns out that I am wrong, deluded or following Snow White and the 7 Dwarves because at the very least I will have been delivered from my anger in this life – if that rings a bell

I am to be most pitied of all people in my prosperity-drenched, success-driven contemporary American religiosity, for I am neither prosperous nor successful in spiritual matters. Yet for some insane reason I still hold on to the idea that honest communication with others about what I know about the love of God is the most authentic way to communicate this weak gospel I treasure. I give it away, over and over again, no longer looking for an outcome. And often I do not see an outcome, at least not one that could be storied into a made-for-tv movie.

I get the cynicism. Really. I do. I have to break the cynical crust off my soul every now and then. I recommend it.

Did Jesus insist on an outcome when he lived his life? Did he do more preaching or relating? Can the act of relating be a message on it’s own?

Some famous Irish mystic said, Preach the gospel often. When necessary, use words.

Ever since I let go of the pressure to be an outcome-based Christ follower I have actually been freer to talk with friends and acquaintances about friendship with a loving God. It’s amazing how everyone’s defenses come down when there is no sales pitch or gimmick or angst to get someone to cross an invisible line. What if salvation is a process and not an event? Can everyday moments and conversations and relationships lend themselves to the work of the Holy Spirit on the human heart? Are Damascus Road experiences the exception rather than the norm?

These are the kinds of things I think about when my pitiful Christian mind goes wandering around the vast fields of humanity. I like to think that Jesus is much more accessible than we realize through the natural everyday exchanges between people. It’s not glamorous, or dramatic, but it is the common life of most people the world over. And I think it does matter in the grand scheme of it all.

That’s just what I think….thanks for making me think about this, GMB. Happy Holidays……….!

Verily, the shift of your approach on evangelism may have something to do with a change in your theology; do you believe that the real work of salvation has more to do with God’s calling and the Holy Spirit’s quickening than your speaking?

Sadly, to me, it only illustrates a real change in the PR-requirements to keep Christians looking good. A 3-minute testimony or a 4 Spiritual Laws booklet simply doesn’t seem to work anymore, and as you’ve correctly observed, it makes Christians look idiotic and disrespectful. Apparently, what Paul could accomplish with a divisive speech in a Roman forum now seems to take — “on average” — four years.

More accurately, today’s Christians aren’t up for suffering for the gospel; they’d like to stay comfy and popular — something that none of the NT’s writers seemed to encourage. And naturally, no one wants to join the ‘suffering’ club of unpopular people. It’s best to change the culture, by making Christianity itself not such a sign-up sheet for the after-school Loser Club. Your relational evangelism model certainly isn’t biblical, but it may be practical.

Naturally, it only reveals what a deception Christianity actually is. If you were really becoming God-inspired fishers of men, you’d probably find that your mustard seed of faith would be bringing in a much bigger catch now that you’ve thrown your nets to the other side of the boat. No. Your hope in Christ is clearly in this life only, and you are of all men most to be pitied.

- GMB