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“Relevance” and “contextualization” are buzzwords in evangelism circles today. Relevance is the term employed when referring to effectiveness. In today’s evangelism world, if one is not effective in reaching the lost, they are said to be not relevant, or irrelevant.
Simply, contextualization refers to communicating the gospel in terms appropriate and understandable to the audience. For example, I would expect those who teach our church’s empty-nesters to present the gospel differently than those who teach third-graders.
I believe much good has come from discussing these two issues. But I also believe much harm is done to the kingdom in the name of contextualization and relevance.
Remember, in one sermon Jesus’ audience shrunk from 20,000 to 12. Must we conclude that Jesus’ ministry was “irrelevant”? We are better left to conclude that we cannot measure relevance by numbers.
Yet in today’s church culture, numbers are everything. An American church is considered relevant when there are lots of bodies in the worship center and irrelevant when there are not. This logic has harmed the kingdom. But before I explain what I mean, let me briefly discuss contextualization.
If contextualization is communicating the gospel understandably, how does one evaluate how competent they are at contextualization? If I stand in front of 2,000 people and present the gospel, how do I know if I what I said was clear to them?
Ironically, the de facto measuring stick of contextualization by American churches is numerical results.
Often, someone who receives a sizeable response when presenting the gospel is considered a leader in gospel contextualization. But such thinking is problematic.
If contextualization is measured by numbers, eventually and inevitably the content of the gospel message will be edited and censored to cause more people to “respond.” The biblical standard of salvation will adjust downward, which seems apparent in American churches today.
The gospel is often presented as an equitable contract between the lost person and God. “If you will turn to Jesus, he will be your friend.” “If you will invite Jesus into your heart, he will provide for you.”
We sell the gospel to people based on what they will get from God in this life, which in turn means their motive for turning to Christ is the impending blessings of God. American churches have walked themselves into the buzz saw of numerical results-driven ministry. Misguided measuring sticks are driving the discussions.
What we need is a wakeup call. We are doing much damage to the kingdom of God. We are telling people who have not reached the biblical standard of salvation that they are saved. We are telling lost people, whom we have pronounced redeemed, that they can be decision-making members within our congregations. We are leading people, who have no intention of making personal sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom, to believe they are in good standing with God. We are baptizing people who have no intention of choosing the Lord Jesus’ will over their own.
In short, we have reached a day in American churches where we have given ourselves the authority to adjust the biblical standard of salvation, and we are reaping what we’ve sown. Most of the churches that do recognize the problem are trying to “program” their way to a healthier state.
However, the problem cannot be fixed through leadership style, church structure or programming. The problem can only be fixed at the point of entry into the kingdom of God?salvation.
If we will return to the biblical standard of salvation the ship can still be righted. Our churches will regain spiritual health.
American churches, including mine, must return to the biblical standard of salvation.
Jesus provides the standard of salvation in his sermon recorded in Luke 14:25-35. The premise of the passage is that a decision as significant as becoming a follower of Christ should not be made without first considering the cost involved.
The decision should not be made emotionally or frivolously, but with serious consideration given to the price that one might have to pay for the sake of the kingdom.
Christ preached this sermon to lost people. While in their lost state they were to consider the price to be paid and if they were unwilling to pay such a price, they were not ready to be saved.
Jesus also modeled this kind of evangelism for us in Luke 18:18 with the story of the Rich Young Ruler. When the lost man indicated his reluctance to obey Jesus, the Lord deemed him unready for salvation.
Jesus’ example is the biblical standard of salvation. This is the standard a New Testament church must maintain in her efforts to win the lost?even if numerical success is the price paid for faithfulness to the Scripture.
It’s time for American churches to return to what I call ethical evangelism.
First, we must maintain the biblical standard of salvation regardless of perceived relevance or context. To lower the standard is to disobey the Lord’s commission to the church.
Second, we must stop telling people who fall short of the standard that they are saved. Let our churches be forthright in our message so that the lost may know where they stand before God. Only then will they understand the high calling of the gospel.
If churches are effective in ethical evangelism, then the numbers will seem irrelevant.
?Nathan Lino serves as the first vice president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and is pastor of Northeast Houston Baptist Church in Humble.
