Courtesy Photo.
Evangelism doesn’t come easy for many Christians. The idea that the gospel belongs to a private sphere of personal values instead of being an announcement of public truth may be a reason why, in Western societies, evangelism feels strange or distasteful for many—believers and unbelievers alike.
Not surprisingly, some Christians feel more comfortable with inviting neighbors to church than with sharing the gospel. But even a church invitation is a big deal: Come with me to church. Give up hours of your time on a weekend to come to an unfamiliar place and . . . you’re just going to have to trust me. It’s going to be great!
I’ve been wondering in recent weeks how the COVID-19 pandemic will affect Christians who want to be faithful in sharing the gospel and inviting others to church. We’re called to go and make disciples; how do we do this when we’re forced to stay? What will disciple-making look like after the crisis passes?
Online Church as an Entry Point
Here’s some good news. Inviting someone to church by recommending they tap into a live stream (anonymously) is a much smaller hurdle than asking them to attend a church service with you in person.
That’s why, all across the country, regular churchgoers sense that everyone feels isolated because they are unable to gather in public places. And since more pastors have made their church services available through livestream or video, more churchgoers are circulating invitations online through Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You see it every weekend: “Hey friends, click on and watch our church’s livestream!” or “Check out this video from our pastor’s sermon on Easter; it will bless you!” Social media and video technology, in this case, has created an easier entry point for hearing the gospel.
The average unchurched person who wouldn’t normally take the step of going into church with a friend, now might—out of curiosity—jump on a livestream and get a taste of what worship is like or hear part of a sermon. The good news is, if in the future, a Christian invites that friend to church, the level of familiarity will make that barrier of entry into a church a little easier. The friend already knows what to expect; they’ve seen what worship is like and what a sermon is about; they may be more likely to accept the invitation.
Ministering to New Seekers during Crisis
Likewise, I’ve been encouraged to see many Christians more open online about their faith during this pandemic. As some people wrestle with big questions of life and purpose, this is the time to bring the Bible’s wisdom to bear on the challenges we face. People are looking for answers and for hope. (It’s interesting to see how Bible sales have increased since the pandemic broke out.)
The Great Commission is not quarantined. Rather than look at the limitations to traditional evangelism or churchgoing we have in this moment, we can look for new opportunities to share the hope of Christ through online connection.
After the pandemic is over, will there be a new surge of people hungry for the answers only Christianity can provide? Only the Lord knows. But surely church leaders must start planning now on how to make the most of this moment, to help church members use newly-found points of connection online to keep sharing the gospel and inviting others to experience the community of faith.
Training Disciples to Make Disciples
The basics don’t change. We must be clear on what the gospel is and confident in how to communicate it. The manner and method may change (online or in person), but the message does not. It’s our calling to help church members understand and communicate the gospel in a way that relates the longings and yearnings of friends and neighbors.
Can we multiply and make disciples in quarantine? Yes. But that won’t happen if only pastors see themselves as responsible for evangelism and discipleship. The Great Commission is for the church, not just church leaders. This pandemic can be a clarifying process to help us re-envision and re-launch new ways of getting the gospel out, both now and after the crisis is over.
As in every generation, as through every global crisis, the harvest is plentiful, and the time is now. What if COVID-19 gives the world a wake-up call? Everyone needs the Bread of Life. What if COVID-19 gives the church a wake-up call? We’re the beggars telling other beggars where to find Bread. The early church was scattered, yet grew in numbers. Could that happen to us, if we are faithful to make God’s story of redemption known to a world searching for the hope found only in Jesus?
This piece was adapted from The Gospel Coalition. Trevin Wax is senior vice president of Theology and Communications at LifeWay Christian Resources and a visiting professor at Wheaton College. He is the general editor of The Gospel Project, and the author of multiple books, including This Is Our Time, Eschatological Discipleship, and Gospel Centered Teaching. You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, or receive his columns via email.
