Mircrowave Evangelism

One of the greatest cancers to Christendom is Microwave Evangelism. This form of evangelism believe the Great Commission, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," (Matthew 28:19) is so paramount that they go out and seek to proselytize people everywhere, weither en masse, or one on one. The effect is something akin to a used car's salesman, who wants to you to "make a deal" right now. These Microwaving evangelists approach people with a quota of souls in mind, and each candidate for evangelism is treated in a fashion that they should by the end of the conversation be confirmed in Christ, or Born Again, or Got Saved and if they aren't converted they are discarded as if yesterday's trah. The problem is that the cultural climate on the earth right now isn't at the moment like the days of Constantine the Great, Emperor Charlemagne, or even Billy Graham, where people convert en masse or in droves suddenly in a day. Many people are either skeptical, pan-religious (practicing elements of many faiths), or believe to some extent but not fully the Gospel. These people need love, patience, preaching, prayer and genuine friendship; not to be treated as another point on the salvation stock market. There are people who are fast to confess Christ, who are saved in a day (although in reality it was a long time coming, as it written, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:6-7), but there are many potential brothers and sisters in Christ who need time and nurturing to get there. 

How many of brothers and sisters in evangelism use Talking Points, that is the Roman Road and other devices such as the twelve points to Jesus, and if the person says they see it a different way or disagree, the evangelist has a melt down or walks away because the end result, the person becoming a Christian doesn't happen right in that very moment. The truth is that while evangelizing people en masse as the Apostle Paul and Peter did (see Acts 2) does happen, our Lord Jesus Christ actually said, "Go forth and make disciples." (Matthew 28:19). Disciple is much more than preaching a tract and then swooping out if the person is Born Again or a bust. To disciple is to as Jesus did for three years with His own disciples, painfully teach, instruct, and model in front of them the Truth. Microwaver Evangelists quickly forget that one of Jesus' own disciples, one of the Twelve, doubted and wasn't convinced tell the near end, "Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29). Sure it is ideal that person "believes without seeing Jesus," and responds quickly to God's love and salvation; but otherwise people do see Jesus in us (Colossians 2:17, 1 John 4:15) and we are witness to them. So many Microwavers are trying to in point of fact turn every potential convert into a Peter who proclaims, "Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," (Matthew 16:16), while neglecting the Thomases, who say, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25). We are called to disciple both Peters and Thomases, which requires us as evangelists to invest not only our time, but our hearts. Jesus cared as much about Thomas as He did John and Peter. 

I am disgusted how people can turn evangelism into a numbers game, and turn unsaved souls into projects and points on their evangelistic score. We are to love people, and even if they do not convert, we are to keep loving them the same. Our aim as Christians is not to treat people like cattle to be herded into God's Kingdom, but to be as in love with the lost as Jesus was, and is; that He carried a cross and died for them and us while we were sinners and enemies of God!, "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— ⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. ¹⁰ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ¹¹ More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:6-11). Jesus did not die saying, "I am doing this so the heavenly quota of righteous can be more than the hell quota, or I am only doing this for those who will quickly believe in me," on the contrary He did it because He loved us (Romans 5:6-11, John 3:16), and that love isn't conditional, but unconditional. That love is as a bridegroom is for bride, as a man and woman in love and on their honeymoon. It is a love beyond measure, beyond weight and estimation. God's love isn't that he wants people to believe in Him to be part of a religion and be perfect, but so that they will be with Him and know Him and His love; ("I just want to be with you.") God love all people, and desires none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), and His gospel and Way is open to everyone; anyone who believe in Him He will live in them and they in Him (1 John 4:15). But we aren't a number to God. No in Old Testament, God even was furious over census King David called, because David just was tallying up a number of people (1 Chronicles 21 whole chapter). The census which started with Moses, was actually a ritual where the leader looked each person in the face with love and write down their name, not a number (see ironically Numbers Chapters 1 thru 6). The Lord was angry with David because he had demoted people to a number, rather than be a unique individual with a  face, a name, and a soul. Microwave Evangelists do as King David did, they turn people into numbers, and they make God's love seem conditional, distorting Jesus into some collector of souls, rather than a loving God who wants so badly to be with us, with humans, that He became a human, and died for all humankind's sins, and rose from dead; and those who love Him back, and believe in Him are to be in His love and filled with His love, and to know a love that will die for even the most despicable and wretched person who doesn't deserve a second chance. God didn't intend the evangelion (gospel) to be turned into Industrial Revolution, where people are treated like pieces of gears to be collected and placed in the machine of a kingdom. On the contrary, God wants us to preach the Gospel of His love and salvic plan so people can remain, abide, and be in the love of God forever; to be reconciled and loved as a wife or husband, son and daughter, brother and sister wants to be loved. 

So turn off the microwave evangelism, and embrace discipleship, and love as Jesus Christ did, loving enemies of God wrapped in sin and enmity and reconciling them to Himself and the Father. Weither you get a Peter and Paul friend or a doubting Thomas who isn't there yet, be patient, pray, and preach not only with your words, but with actions: respect, forbearance, kindness, and loving them where they are at ; as Jesus loves them now and did then on the cross and at same time not compromising the Truth, "And you must show mercy to^[ those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others,^[i] but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." (Jude 1:22-23). For the truth is that all the disciples, all Twelve even doubted, and weren't there yet till after Pentecost, Jesus even said to them, "I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him. "You unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me," (Matthew 17:16-17), and "Now we understand that You know all things and that You have no need for anyone to question You. Because of this, we believe that You came from God. Do you finally believe?" Jesus replied." (John 16:30-31), If Christ's own flock of apostles didn't come around to full knowledge of the gospel the first time around but eventually got it (after the Resurrection and at Pentecost), then we can afford people in our lives some time, and patience. Amen.