Part Four: The Danger of Tunnel Vision in Evangelism

Proclamation is usually thought of as proclaiming the gospel message—the “good news” of salvation and transformation through Jesus Christ (see Matt. 24:14, Mark 13:10; Luke 24:47; Eph. 1:13). For our purposes here, however, I’m enlarging that definition to include not only proclaiming the Gospel but also proclaiming law and apologetics. In other words, proclamation, as I will use it in this series, is any verbal declaration of, or defense of, the Christian worldview.

When it comes to evangelism, many Christians have “tunnel vision.” They assume that nearly everyone who rejects Christianity does so for moral reasons. People reject Christianity because they don’t want to make the lifestyle changes they believe becoming a Christian demands.

To a certain extent, this is true. As Kreeft and Tacelli point out in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics, “The most powerful psychological motive for unbelief . . . is almost always moral rather than intellectual” (p. 202).

It is equally true, however, that many unbelievers reject Christianity for perceived other reasons. There are intellectual reasons (“Becoming a Christian is committing intellectual suicide”); emotional reasons (“God would never accept me after what I did!”); and spiritual reasons (“My religion is just as legitimate as yours!”). Whatever the reason, as Kreeft and Tacelli add, “it’s important to know what is really going on in the soul of the person to whom apologetic arguments are addressed, and to know the irrational forces behind unbelief (203).

Because most Christians believe that people reject Christianity for moral reasons, they see evangelism as more or less a formula. First, give your personal testimony. Second, share the plan of salvation (e.g. the “Four Spiritual Laws” or the “Roman Road to Salvation”). Third, if the unbeliever doesn’t respond (because, after all, his real reason is moral), threaten him with damnation. Once this formula has been completed, most Christians feel they have done their duty in evangelism.

To these Christians, apologetics is unnecessary—or, more likely, they don’t know what it is or how to apply it. They don’t realize that in today’s pluralistic, relativistic, and largely godless society, many people reject Christianity for intellectual reasons, not moral reasons (although intellectual arguments are often an excuse to justify immoral behavior). Many unbelievers have been taught that Christianity and all religions are myths, vestiges from our pre-scientific past, the product of (in)fertile human imagination, or self-delusion.

The problem with the formula approach to evangelism is that it will reach only a portion of unbelievers. It will only persuade those whom God has prepared to respond specifically to the gospel message at that point in time. But this includes only a segment the people to whom we have opportunities to witness.

Many people are not at a point in their spiritual journey where they are willing to listen to, let alone respond to, the plan of salvation. They have other concerns that need to be dealt with first. In particular, there may be genuine intellectual obstacles. But whatever the issues, if we are not prepared to respond to a person’s misconceptions, false beliefs, criticisms, insecurities, doubts, or skepticism, we will reach only a small portion of unbelievers. (And, of course, the Holy Spirit is active as we respond to all these obstacles!).

This series of blog articles is designed to help Christians formulate a witnessing strategy according to an unbeliever’s particular (1) view of God and (2) view of salvation. This will direct our evangelistic approach on when to use gospel or law or apologetics.

We’ll begin next week by examining the four kinds of non-Christians we encounter in terms of their belief (or disbelief) in God, and the four distinct views of salvation to which these four groups adhere. ©