Question:
"What is friendship evangelism?"


Answer:
Friendship evangelism as a method of bringing people to Christ or sharing the gospel of Christ
has several meanings and connotations.


*<:0) Some people believe
that friendship evangelism requires Christians to become friends with unbelievers,
establishing a relationship before attempting to address their need for a Savior.


*<:^?] Some see
friendship evangelism as living a solid righteous life
—a living testimony—
before others so that they desire that kind of life and ask how to achieve it.

At that point, the gospel is shared.


*<:o) Still others believe
that living a righteous life in the world is evangelism enough and that no further efforts are necessary.

The theory is that unbelievers will be so convicted of his need for that kind of life that they will seek God on their own.


+++

What does the Bible say about friendship evangelism?

Each of the three above-named methods of friendship evangelism fall short
of the biblical method of evangelism.

The first method,
becoming friends with unbelievers in order to gain enough credibility
so they will listen to the gospel, fails to recognize several important biblical truths.

For one thing,
believers are not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14-17).
The essence of friendship is mutual respect and affection based on agreement on basic life principles.

But can a believer really have such a relationship with an unbeliever?

In light of James 4:4 and Ephesians 5:11, such a relationship is not biblical.

The unsaved person is part of the world which hates God and the people of God.

How can such a person have affection and respect for believers who are part of the kingdom of God?

Are we to be friendly towards unbelievers? Absolutely!

Are we to have intimate relationships with unbelievers? Biblically speaking, no.

Furthermore,
neither Jesus nor the disciples practiced this type of friendship evangelism.

Jesus didn’t limit His gospel presentations to His friends and relations.

He preached to complete strangers the message of repentance from sin and salvation through Him.

He sent His disciples out two by two and they “preached that people should repent” (Mark 6:12).

If they refused to listen to them,
Jesus instructed them to “shake the dust” off their feet and move on to the next town.

He never encouraged them to settle down for a few months and develop friendships
with those who rejected His message.

Nor did He tell them to avoid quoting Scriptures so that their hearers wouldn’t be offended
or turned off to the Gospel.

He knew that the “message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Corinthians 1:18),
and that most people will reject that message,

no matter how friendly the manner in which it is presented.

Christ was rejected by the world and He told us to expect the same reaction (John 15:18-20).

What about the method of “evangelizing” through our living testimony?

There is no doubt that we are to live righteous lives before the watching world,
and there certainly is power in the testimony of a life transformed by Christ.

A classic example of this is Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42).
Jesus was able to tell her everything about her life, including the life of sin she was living now.

Jesus, in His infallible way, gave her the gospel, and, of course, she believed.

John 4:39 picks up the story: “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him
because of the woman's testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’
So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.

And because of his words many more became believers” (John 4:39-41).

Everyone in that town knew this woman and the sordid life she lived.

What caused them to believe in Christ was not only her words about Jesus, but her transformed life.
She was a living testimony to the power of the gospel of Christ.

So impactful was the change in her life that they knew something miraculous had happened

and they asked Jesus to remain with them, which He did for two days,

preaching the same gospel of repentance and the offer of the living water of eternal life through Him.
“And many more believed because of his word” (John 4:41).

In this instance, both the preaching of the Word of God and the testimony of a life changed by that Word bore the fruit of repentance.

But was the woman’s changed life sufficient to bring others to the Savior?
No, but it was the impetus for them to seek more information.

Can we today expect that our lives will be sufficient testimony to convince unbelievers
of their need for Christ?

The problem that arises in this third type of friendship evangelism is

that too often the lives of Christians are not a good witness
of the Lord and Savior we profess to know and serve.

Too often the world sees in us more of a reflection of them than a reflection of Christ.

To rely exclusively on the “living testimony” by redeemed sinners who, while saved by grace,
still battle the flesh on a daily basis—

-without the testimony of the truth of Scripture—

is to handcuff ourselves in a way the Bible never bids us to do.

Not even the most perfect life can compare with the power of the Word of God.

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,
piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,
and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart"
(Hebrews 4:12).

"Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"
(Jeremiah 23:29).


Clearly the biblical method of evangelism is the faithful proclamation
of the truth of Scripture in conjunction with the living testimony
of those who have been changed by that truth.

When Jesus went about teaching the gospel message of salvation, He taught love and forgiveness,
being kind and compassionate.

But He went to sinners in order to convict them of their sins.

A case in point is the very Samaritan woman we’ve been talking about here.

Remember . . . the very first word Jesus said when He began His ministry was “Repent!”

“From that time on Jesus began to preach,

"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:17).

We are commissioned to bring that same message to the world, speaking the truth in love

from a heart changed by the Savior.



www.gotquestions.org

CeriseRose...let's get something straight here...

IF GOD LIVES IN OUR HEART, WE WILL LOVE ALL PEOPLE!!!!!!


PERIOD !!!!!!


JUST LIKE JESUS LOVES ALLLLLLL PEOPLE !!!!


PERIOD!!!!

AND NOT WITH SOME HIDDEN AGENDA , TO JUST WIN THEM TO

CHRIST !!!

THAT IS SICK!!!

THAT ARTICLE IS REFERRING TO CULTS WHO "ACT "

FRIENDLY IN ORDER TO ONLY WIN PEOPLE TO THEIR CULTS.

THE WAY INTERNATIONAL DID THIS...THEY WENT TO NIGHTCLUBS AND

ACTED FRIENDLY TO WIN PEOPLE TO THEIR CULT.


BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT GOD'S LOVE IS ALL ABOUT.....THAT IS JUST FAKERY !!!


GOD LOVES ALL PEOPLE !!!

GOD'S LOVE IS NOT FAKE!!!!

GOD'S LOVE HAS NO HIDDEN AGENDAS!!!

GOD'S LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL...AND LOVES AT ALL TIMES....AND LOVES

ALLL PEOPLE!!!!!!


ALLL PEOPLE!!!!

AND.....WHEN GOD LIVES IN US, WE WILL LOVE ALLLLL PEOPLE

TOO....BECAUSE WE CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE ALLLLL PEOPLE!!!!!



THIS SHOULD NOT EVEN HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED!!!

AND NO...JUST BECAUSE WE LOVE THE PEOPLE OF THE

WORLD ,DOES NOT MEAN WE PARTAKE IN THE WORLD'S

ACTIVITIES....OR BECOME UNEQUALLY YOKED IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH

PEOPLE STILL IN THE WORLD .


NO..THAT IS NOT WHAT IT MEANS.....


TO LOVE ALL PEOPLE DOES NOT MEAN WE HANG OUT AND DO THE SAME

THINGS THE WORLD DOES!!!

NO !!!!


THAT IS NOT WHAT LOVING ALL PEOPLE MEANS , AT ALL !!!



IT MEANS...WE CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE ALL PEOPLE!!!!!

WHY?


BECAUSE IT IS NOT US LOVING .....BUT IS ACTUALLY

GOD WHO NOW LIVES IN US ,WHO IS NOW LOVING IN US AND THRU

US...BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE BECOME NEW CREATURES IN CHRIST

JESUS!!!

AND HAVE THE HEART OF GOD BEATING IN US NOW!!!


IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS ACTUALLY GOD IN US WHO IS LOVING ALL

PEOPLE !!!!

BUT AGAIN...THIS SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE EXPLAINED .

AT ALL.

MorningSong!

I should assume you took the OP personal.

Well, since you've made this an "open" "discussion",

I'll just say this...

You have passed judgment on all believers who dare to stand stedfast on God's Word.

You have patience with non christians but you want to throw believers under the bus.

And all Christians must be called to YOUR carpet.

If their message doesn't fit your criteria you feel compelled to call them out. Shame on you.

You have your own "designer message" and all the while you want to give unbelievers the sense of well-being without telling them the the "full gospel message".

And why do you think you are the only Christian who is sharing God's love here?
Because you use terms of endearment like "sweetheart"?

In the first place you should not be attacking Christians trying to make a mockery of their efforts to share the gospel and other important facts?

You seem to have a bounty on the heads of all Christians that don't sugar-coat their message. As you do.

You are wrong to do that.

While you hold back, you condemn those who are forthright, those Christians who try to win souls according to what God has put on their hearts to do. According to the "Great Commission".

You seem to be in agreement with unbelievers.

But you are very impatient with believers who haven't quite gotten certain understanding yet. Calling them unsaved and such.

I wonder about that. That is a double standard.


..... + + + .....

"Must Jesus bare the cross alone and all the world go free?"

No, there's a cross for everyone and there's a cross for me.

I do not see Jesus in you.

I just see religioisity in you.

Nothing more.

I see more love among the unbeleivers on this forum ,then I

have ever seen in this forum in the whole year I have been back

on mingle2.


That is why I will not be coming back here to this forum anymore.

Maybe there's a beam in your eye.
As you try to remove specks from other's.

Just stop trying to size everyone up, MorningSong!

CeriseRose....

There is no beam.....I just SAW WHY you had posted your

friendship evengelism post.


I had told you via email that I love my atheists

friends...that is what this

whole thing is about.....and you had said you thought I was

compromising God's Word by doing so ....

and obviously you took what I said , to mean that I just hang

out in the world and do worldly things with the people of the

world...well...not so.

I just love all people period...as God loves.


And we ARE to love all people regardless...and we WILL love all

people regardles ,WHEN we are born again.


THAT is what I am trying to get across.



GOD IN US Is the One Who is loving all people THRU us anyway.

And no...no hidden agenda when we truly love as God loves.


And btw...I forgive you for making the incorrect comments about me.

what is happening among believer's? elect can't PERSECUTE FELLOW ELECT!

MorningSong,

I simply refuse to let you try to control and manipulate me.

I don’t want to join your band.

Just do you.

If you have something to share …share it.

Don’t try to control my words and my message

And everyone else’s

I don’t have to be “on the same page” with YOU at all times.

I am my own person.

Your “emails” are a nuisance…because you are always complaining about

Your lack of patience with different members here.

I try to console you…but you keep complaining none the less.

Then you want to get in the forums and pretend you have so much love and patience

With certain ones but not with all.

It really doesn’t matter to me who you prefer to be friends with, that’s your business.

But, you must look at your own inconsistencies as well.

Before trying to magnify someone else’s.

I forgive you too.

But you notice…your last complaint about a member…

I just totally ignored, because I’m tired of all your complaining.

Stop trying to appear to be “Miss Goody Two-shoes“.

You do what God has called you to do… I’ll do the same.

There will always be some level of differences in scriptural understanding with other Christians,

But don’t condemn them and make a complete mockery of them.
Don't keep bickering.

Just do you. If you have something to share …share it.

But realize…God has not called you to cast out the Christians and embrace the atheists.

I regret having to “go there” with you…but you force me to.

You are like a Mack Truck.

You keep pushing and

you won’t let up.

Leave the personal attack off of the forums! Debate the topic but don't make it personal toward the poster. Not everyone will agree on things, but if it gets this personal, then it's probably best to avoid the topic. Warning will be sent from this post forward if it continues.

Please get it back on topic

Kim

pls, it's not persecution. Just a little disagreement in the house..

CeriseRose..the Love of God in Me Will Not Allow Me to

Stay at Odds With You For Long.

In Fact, There is just this OverWhelming Love in my heart For You.

That's God.


How About We Lay Aside All our Differences Now, and Start Anew??



Remember Christmas??

The Beautiful Fellowship We Had in Christ Jesus?

Let's Begin Anew ......

Today is a New Day.....a New Beginning.....


This is the Day That the Lord Has Made...Let Us Rejoice and Be Glad In It.....

Amen.

(((Hugs from the Heart))))

People of God, lets not turn this forum to a battle ground where we batter ourselves wt words, we can't all agree on everything, even d disciples of old had a lot of disagreement with Apostle Paul on many issues... Pls let us be cautious of things we do and say on this forum. Cerisrose and Morningsong, both of you shuld kindly come to terms and forgive each other 4 the sake of God and Christ dat we profess, and may d grace of God abide wt us all. Shalom

Thank you, Hife and others for your godly concern.

Thank you, for being at attention
and having genuine concern
for the fellowship of believers in Christ Jesus.

What you have said is so true.

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault,
ye which are spiritual,
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted."
Galatians 6:1

The Lord will handle the matter.

And my heart rejoices that there are Christians on Mingle2

Be Blessed all!

And who are you to make such a statement?

Judge not less ye be judge, for with what judgement you judge, will be judge back upon you.

Who are you to say YOU don't see Jesus in someone? Maybe you had a speck of dirt in your eye. Which brings me to my next statement.


Luke 6:42


42Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

But then there are times like this.....

when God has left it up to US to handle the matter...

and is therefore waiting on US to handle the matter ,

according to what God in His Word has already SHOWN us to do...

and that is,

to lay aside our differences....and forgive one another...

and Love one another.

Amen.