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Evangelistic Endeavor -- 17 (Tues, 9/26)

NOTE: I’m not going to write much about anything but the meeting unless it’s really important. I also am not going to separate the commentary section but just put it all together. I’m basically just doing commentary now so it’s not worth the separation. I also want to apologize for the writing. I’m basically writing and posting so I know the writing is choppy and scattered but bear with me.

TUESDAY, 9/26

FOURTEENTH NIGHT

One of the features we do every few nights is answer questions from the “Question Box.” The question for the night asked why the pastor was so condemning of other Christians. He asked Moses and I before the program if we felt he was too hard. I told him that I thought he had been very hard on pastors and other Christians and should tone it down some. He took it well and said he would try to do so. Of course, he said that he had to tell the truth but he would try to do it in a more loving way.

The topic tonight was on speaking in tongues. He actually was very respectful of people and repeatedly said he wasn’t trying to condemn them. He never said you couldn’t speak in tongues but talked about how the churches today aren’t doing it correctly. He never told people not to do it but simply implied that we shouldn’t. I was glad he did this because there isn’t Biblical support to completely prohibit speaking in tongues.

One of the major problems with the A.F. approach is that the sermons are mostly AGAINST everything and FOR nothing. We spent the whole night talking against tongues. Then, for a minute we talked about the fruits of the Spirit. Why not just present what the Holy Spirit does in our lives and how to receive it? I want to do positive theological reflection and not focus on what isn’t true.

The teens were back. He always talks to them for a little while. The problem is that he always talks about drugs and gangs and prison with them. These are all good kids and he is basically implying that they are all smoking and in gangs which simply isn’t true. We need to empower them to do good and not just tell them what NOT to do. At the end he also praised God because the message was so clear even the teens understood it. This just belittles the teens and tells them that they aren’t smart and this was a miracle they understood the message.

Comments

Anonymous said…
This evangelist doesn't know the difference between potheads and not?
Anonymous said…
Because you are at least a fifth generation Adventist, Tevan (I don't know your history back further than that.) you will have a difficult time understanding how adult converts perceive Adventist faith. Most of them have gone through the trauma of turning their backs on the faith traditions of their parents and grandparents, so they have to think that Adventist faith is better and/or the major Christian traditions are wrong. We have not yet really moved from the insurgent, sectarian roots of Adventist faith so far as converts are concerned. I do not mean that all converts have this perception; I see a number who do not, but most do. Those who came from an unchurched background are less likely to have this perception, or have it in a modified way.

Contemporary Adventists need to find a way to make Adventist faith attractive based on its strengths rather than the weaknesses of the alternatives. [An asset-based appeal.] So far, no one has really move such an approach from prototype to wide use. There is good evidence that we are increasingly running out of gas on the negative approach.
trevan said…
I think you bring up a very good point about how we don't have a prototype to use that is more positive in nature. It feels like we have gotten lazy and allow Amazing Facts and Faulkenburg to do all the work for us and we just preach these canned sermons.

We need more pastors who are looking at their local situations and tailor-making evangelism that works. Different communities are dealing with different issues and asking different questions and the local pastor has a responsibility to understand those issues and address them in meaningful ways.

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