Counterintuitive Evangelism

After you talk a person into getting saved, turn around and try talking him or her out of it.

A friend of mine uses this approach.  And believe it or not he is actually a very successful evangelist.  Early on in my evangelistic training, I learned from him when to use this approach, and it has been extremely helpful throughout the years.

Have you ever wondered why so many seemingly authentic conversions don’t hold?

Be Realistic And Honest With People

My friend tries to talk people out of following Jesus Christ by telling them of the heavy costs involved.  People need to know the most likely costs of discipleship they will face upfront in their context.  They need to know what kind of a commitment they are making.  

Help people think through what their own personal costs might be--how their family will react, the likely response of their friends, and other costs.  Help them think through how they will respond if they become a Christian.  

In reality, this approach is simply being honest and considerate of others, giving people room for consideration.  My friend won’t just leave people and the conversation there of course, but at the right moment (whether in minutes, or even days later) he will call for commitment.  

Jesus Himself Did It Often

Our Lord Jesus used a counterintuitive approach quite often in His evangelistic conversations.  My early mentor based his approach on passages like this one in Luke’s Gospel.  In fact, he shows it to people who say they are ready to believe.

Luke 14:28–33 ESV “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Be Led By The Holy Spirit

A well-considered decision for Jesus is much better than a quick decision for Jesus.  Decisions can be made in a reasonably short period of time certainly, provided that people have enough reliable information and seriously consider it first.  

Are we encouraging consideration?  Or, are we impatiently seeking to bag a decision for Jesus?  Are we following the Spirit’s lead in calling for commitment?  Or, are we pressing on people too hastily?

If someone really wants to be saved, you won’t be able to talk him or her out of it.  An honest discussion about costs of discipleship usually clarifies where people really are in regard to conversion.  Some people will consider Jesus worth it, and others will not.   This is good for everyone . . . really.  And we will end up with a higher percentage of true believers.