Musing – Why would a “Practicing Christian” not Evangelize?

Hebraic Musing – Why would a “Practicing Christian” not Evangelize?

Headline of a recent Barna* email stated “Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong.”  Naturally that grabbed my attention.  Why would that possibly be?!?!

Sharing one’s faith—evangelizing—is a core practice among many religions.  For Christians, it’s viewed as a mandate from Jesus himself before he departed earth.  Mark 16:15 was His final instruction as He left us as the ones responsible to spread the Good News.

Today there are a number of factors which might discourage many a Christian’s enthusiasm for faith-sharing; but the key finding is that “Christian Millennials feel conflicted about evangelism.  In fact, almost half believe it is wrong to share their faith.”*  Why or how could that be?

Christian Millennials (ages 20 – 34) clearly know that the best thing that could ever happen to someone is for them to know Jesus.  And yet 47% of they tend to believe it is wrong to share their personal beliefs with someone of a different faith in the hope that someday that person might share that faith.  Reluctance to share might be related to another survey that reported 40% of Millennials feel that to disagree with someone is to judge them.  Meanwhile only a rather small percentage of the older generations feel that way.  Could it be the maturity level?  Or might older folks be more aware of eternal consequences?  Today’s society tends to cast a negative light on proselytization; while many older Christians do not feel that way and therefore are more willing to resist that societal trend.

Younger practicing Christians are more aware of the cultural temperature around spiritual conversations. “Millennials report an average (median) of four close friends or family members who practice a faith other than Christianity; most of their Boomer parents and grandparents, by comparison, have just one.  Sharing the gospel today is made harder than at any time in recent memory by an overall cultural resistance to conversations that highlight people’s differences.” *

I like the way the president of Barna concluded with this statement – “…this study highlights a need for Christians to bolster their confidence in certain convictions—among them, the belief that ‘evangelizing others is good and worthy of our time, energy and investment.’”— to which I respond – “WWJD.”

Why do I really love to sing this song?  One of my absolute favorites!
♫ I love to tell the story    Of unseen things above.    Of Jesus and his glory,  Of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story    Because I know 'tis true    It satisfies my longings   As nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story  'Twill be my theme in glory  To tell the old, old story   Of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story   For those who know it best   Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest.
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song 'Twill be the old, old story That I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story   'Twill be my theme in glory   To tell the old, old story   Of Jesus and his love. ♫

And speaking of songs, whatever happened to this old camp song?  ♫ Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and everywhere. Go tell it on the mountain, Our Jesus Christ is born. ♫   

Points to ponder

When you sing “I love to tell the story”, is it from your heart?

 When was the last time you heard ♫ Go tell it on the mountain…♫ sung during “Worship” time?

Do “Practicing Christians” really believe in Heaven and Hell?
…and what do we mean by “Practicing” Christians?

If we do not evangelize, do we really love our neighbor?

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”  Mark 16:15

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                               February 19, 2019  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* Barna Group email- “Almost Half of Practicing Christian Millennials Say Evangelism Is Wrong” – 2/5/19
    I can forward the full email upon request.