Marty–Great, great question. Winsomely asked.

Jason–Great, great response and not a dumb analogy at all.

Thanks all.

Really good question that I’ve been thinking about as I plan to launch a series on evangelism at our church in September.

I think the key issue is discernment. Using an analogy, while everybody out in the desert is dehydrated, not everybody’s thirsty. The thirsty ones will be so desperate for your water that they’ll attack you for it even as you’re trying to pull out your canteen. But some will be convinced — sometimes because of the symptoms of their dehydration — that they don’t need anything from you. You aren’t to be trusted; the very fact you claim to have water makes you suspect. It may take time for them to take a drink. The problem with some forms of evangelism is that they throw a bucket of water at you and then ask you to open your mouth wide. Some people might in fact do so, but a lot of people will be upset because they are standing there in soaked clothes and not any better off for it.

Dumb analogy, yes, I know, but the Holy Spirit has to be leading our steps whenever we are involved in evangelism. We must be fearless enough to witness boldly when the time is right, confronting someone with the realities of sin and judgment in language they can understand. But we also have to have the patience of the Spirit to find the right time. In Luke’s gospel, the first time Jesus is worshiped by the disciples is in the next to last verse; Matthew records only one event of Jesus-worship by the disciples earlier than that, when he walks on water. If Jesus could spend three years with them before ever receiving their worship, perhaps He is also patient for people to come to Him.

Thus, I think the question is not one of finding the “perfect’ time that works for everyone, but listening to the Spirit and letting Him move within us as He deems fit.

Love the post, the example, the missional non judgmental stance. Truly a good model at the macro level for many. What I don’t understand is why it took a whole year to get tot he gospel data points. I’m sure that in some rare instances it may take a long time to build trust etc ….. but surely we can be sensitive, compassionate, non-judgmental, warm, inviting, patient, winsome, engaged, hospitable and involved without it taking a whole year to get to gospel clarity?

Again, I’m not questioning the particular illustration or situation, only that it shouldn’t normally take a year.

Keep up the good work.

Marty