Sermon No. 3

Incarnational Evangelism

"Incarnational Evangelism." That title is not original with me. How many of you know who coined the phrase?

It was coined by Clarence Jordan. Jordan was a Baptist minister with a doctor's degree in Greek! He went to Americus, Georgia in the 40's, where he founded Koinonia Farms. He was a very popular preacher in the local churches -- until they discovered that black people and white people lived and worked together at Koinonia! Then he was excluded from their pulpits!

He was once asked to speak at Yale Divinity School because of his flaming liberal social agenda. When he spoke, they discovered he was a Bible-thumping fundamentalist! Incidentally, that is why he is one of my heroes. That is exactly what I want to be -- a born-again fundamentalist who lives by the strict moral values of Jesus; and a flaming liberal in the paradigm of the prophets of old (and John and Jesus and Paul) in challenging God's people to live and minister for social justice. He was also a pacifist, and that during the war! I want to be one of the sheep to whom Jesus says, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you ministered to me." (Matthew 25)

Koinonia is where Habitat for Humanity began. When wealthy Millard Fuller's wife told him she was tired of living alone, rearing their children alone, he went to see his friend Clarence Jordan. Jordan said, "Let's pray about it." They did. Unlike the Biblical rich young ruler, Millard sold all and followed Jesus!

Now . . . let's address the topic at hand, Incarnational Evangelism -- "sharing of ourselves in God's mission."

Sharing of ourselves is precisely our challenge from Jesus. "Let your light shine" intrinsically implies evangelism. We are all called to be evangelists, maybe a few in the model of George Whitefield, Billy Sunday, Gypsy Smith, Billy Graham, Bob Jones, H. M. S. Richards, but most of us in the pattern of Clarence Jordan, who said, (when they excluded him from their pulpits) "I will simply live my faith." He deduced that portraying the lifestyle of Jesus would by example be evangelism -- incarnational evangelism. It was indeed.

Incidentally, I am not disparaging public evangelism. I began my ministry as a song leader for public evangelists. In 1944 I was in St. Paul, Minnesota when Billy Graham began his preaching in Minneapolis. I met him twice. And it was in St. Paul that I first heard Bob Jones preach. Years later I was honored to lead the music for his last public revival, in a Baptist church here in Detroit.

My Dad and I did a little public evangelism when we were both Bible teachers at Madison College in Nashville.

There are many dear saints who first submitted their lives to Jesus as they walked down a sawdust trail. God bless the public evangelists, even if they are primarily of a genre from a past generation.

Christ's method is our example for evangelism. He "mingled with people as one who desired their good." He "ministered to their needs; then he bade them to follow him." (Ellen White)

What is my agenda, my goal as an "incarnational evangelist"? Is it to persuade people to join my church, my congregation, my denomination? Or is it to persuade people to live by the moral principles preached by Jesus?

I recently heard a presentation by a Bible teacher who said his commission is to persuade people to change their lives for the better: to convince Christians to be better Christians, Jews to be better Jews, Muslims to be better Muslims, Buddhists to be better Buddhists, Hindus to be better Hindus. That is something to think about -- sharing of ourselves in God's mission.

That is not to say it makes no difference what one believes. I believe with all my heart that Christianity is the better way, the only way for you and me. That's why I am a Christian preacher. You know that early Christianity was called The Way! Surely it is God's way for us.

The World Christian Encyclopedia identifies 10,000 distinct religions, of which 150 each have more than a million members. Even within Christianity there are 33,830 denominations. Many of them claim to be the only Way!

So we are gathered here today to learn how to evangelize, how to let our lights shine in a way to promote The Way!

Sometimes the best definition is illustration, so let me tell you some stories, and then we will say more about the principles.

When David Livingstone, the great missionary, was traveling in Africa, he had a physical ailment which necessitated his using goat's milk. So, he took a goat with him from place to place. He came to one village where the chief made clear that he wanted Livingstone to give him the goat.

The great missionary remembered his daily prayer -- "Lord, all that I am and all that I have is yours" -- so he gave the chief his goat. In return, the chief gave Livingstone his walking stick! Big deal, eh? -- a goat for a walking stick!

As they left the village, he remarked to his native guide that he was concerned about where he could find goat's milk. The surprised guide said, "Don't you know that when anyone sees that walking stick, he will recognize it? You will be given all the goat's milk you need, anytime and anywhere you go!"

It seems to me Jesus said something about putting Kingdom principles first, after which "all these other things will be provided"! Do you supposer we have something to learn about absolute trust, faith?

William Booth said that when he met the poor of London, "God had all of Booth." So he spent the rest of his life serving the poor.

Many, many others have followed him, joined his Salvation Army, because of his shining example! Incarnational evangelism indeed!

American pop musician Cliff Richard was traveling in Bangledesh. Many people had sores and scabs, and he was careful not to touch them. He washed himself often.

One day he stooped down beside a small boy for a publicity photo. Someone inadvertently stepped on the child's foot and he screamed. Richard reflexively picked the boy up. His small, warm body was trembling. Soon, comforted by the singer's embrace, the child stopped crying.

Richard later said, "At that moment I knew I had much to learn about Christian love, but at least I had started." And from that time on he was devoted to incarnational evangelism!

Abraham Lincoln was visited by an old neighbor. "Abe, how does it feel to be president of the United States?"

"Well, Tom, it's like the man who was tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. Someone asked how he liked it. He said, 'If it weren't for the honor of the thing, I'd just as soon walk.'"

That is exactly what incarnational Christianity is like. Not always pleasant, not always easy, sometimes very painful, but always an honor to share ourselves in God's mission.

The "honor of the thing" only becomes apparent to one who has the faith to try it.

Christ's way is a proven way, but it is proven only by experience, to those who sincerely try it. That is the incarnational aspect.

No one can feel the exhilaration of the mountain top until he climbs the mountain! No one can explain the thrill of skiing on the slopes to one who has never skied on the slopes! No one can transfer the enjoyment of classical music to anyone who does not take the time and put forth the effort to learn it. No one can adequately preach Jesus who has not experienced the Jesus lifestyle. No one can enter the Kingdom of God except by that first step of faith -- "the leap of faith." This is, in fact, God's challenge: "Try me and see . . ." Faith is the only gate to the New Jerusalem.

Albert Einstein maintained "the whole purpose of art and science is to awaken the cosmic religious feeling." But unless the artist, the scientist takes the leap of faith, he will not find the cosmic religious feeling.

Faith cannot be proven by science or mathematics, only by experience. Incarnation!

Incarnational evangelism is living out your faith. This, dear friends, is where Jesus separates the nominal Christians from genuine Jesus-people! When people see that you live as you profess to believe, they will find your faith appealing. That is what people saw in Jesus. That is evangelism!

One of the first to join George Fox, founder of the Quakers, was Margaret Fell. In her new love for God and man she went to visit a prison.

The outrages she found there, especially toward children, were almost more than she could bear. Was there really a God of love? If so, how could he permit such pain and suffering?

In her anger and frustration, she confronted Fox: "Prove to me the existence of a God of love, or be condemned to hell for all the suffering thou hast caused me."

He began to explain, but she wasn't listening. Finally he screamed, "Stop crying for proof of God's love. Prove it thyself. How else dost thou think he can manifest his love? Thru nature? Thru the trees, the clouds, the beasts of the field, the stars? No, only thru beings capable of doing so, ourselves. In the case of those children in the cage, about to be hanged, it is thou he has touched. All he has to reach those children is thee."

An American teacher was hired to teach in Japan, but was told not to talk about his religion.

His character and example were so bright that 40 of his students met privately and vowed to learn about and accept his faith. Then 25 of them entered Kyoto Christian School, and several became ministers. His only Christian "teaching" was his example, his life. Incarnational evangelism!

There is a story of a preacher who invited an atheist to come to a series of sermons on the great doctrines of the church. He came. At the end of the series, the skeptic told the minister he had decided to become a Christian.

"Wonderful! Which of the sermons convinced you?"

"Actually, it wasn't any of the sermons. While I was attending your meetings I met an elderly lady who radiated such warmth and happiness that I visited with her. It turned out that she has many problems, but she said, 'If you knew Jesus the way I know Jesus, you would be happy, too!'" Incarnational Evangelism -- "sharing of ourselves in God's mission."

As we begin this new year, this new decade, this new millennium, it is a good time to consider how we as Christians can "share of ourselves in God's mission." I have some suggestions. I invite you to consider being a caring steward, a "CARE-RING" Christian. Let me explain. Be prepared to consider some 4-letter words.

I submit that a caring, sharing Christian will LIVE the abundant life promised by Jesus. A caring, sharing Christian will make LOVE the hub of his life. So . . . you will LIVE LOVE!

As a care-ring Christian, I ask you to PRAY for someone each day . . . by name, specifically. And for your church. And for world peace. Prayer won't change God, but it will change you, and then you will change the world!

As a care-ring Christian I ask you to CALL someone every day, someone different each day, with a word of encouragement. Many people are hurting, but are afraid to reveal it. Many of those to whom you give a word of cheer and hope will find it just what they need.

As a care-ring Christian I ask you to GIVE a gift of some kind -- any small gift -- once a month.

Human beings reach their fullest bloom in giving. You will find that your small investment will pay big dividends. If you want to be doubly blest, do it anonymously!

As a care-ring Christian, you should SHOW God's love to everyone you meet each day -- a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a compliment, best of all, a part of your life. If you do so, you will form a habit, a pattern of sharing yourself in God's mission.

To be a consistent care-ring Christian, you need to READ each day -- the Bible, devotional literature, inspiration to recharge your spiritual batteries!

As a care-ring Christian, I ask you to SEND a card or note to someone at least once a week. Card shops are full of interesting, inspiring cards, some, tender sentiments, some, humorous. Again, anonymity doubles the blessing.

As a care-ring Christian, sharpen your sensitivity, your awareness. LOOK at something intently -- a star, a flower, a baby, a bit of pottery . . . anything which appeals to you. Structured meditation begins by centering one's attention on something, even a simple object like a match or a coin or a flower.

Teddy Roosevelt went out at night and stared at the stars, long and carefully. Then he said to his body guards, "Well, now I feel small enough to realize my humanity. Now I am ready to go to bed."

There are other things you can do, of course. Here are some "four-letter words" which appeal to me -- all having to do with spiritual development.

Turn, Tend, Lift, Make, Heal, Heed, Lend, Keep, Hope, Open, Help, and Hold.

They will prepare us to share ourselves in God's mission. I believe if we will covenant to follow such a plan, we will see a significant revival of spiritual growth in our midst. Isn't that God's call, God's mission? Our ministry?

God bless you.

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	Incarnational Evangelism
	"Incarnational Evangelism." That title is not original with me. How many of you know who coined the phrase? It was coined by Clarence Jordan. Jordan was a Baptist minister with a doctor's degree in Greek! He went to Americus, Georgia in the 40's, where he founded Koinonia Farms. He was a very popular preacher in the local churches -- until they discovered that black people and white people lived and worked together at Koinonia! Then he was excluded from their pulpits! He was once asked to speak at Yale Divinity School because of his flaming liberal social agenda. When he spoke, they discovered he was a Bible-thumping fundamentalist! Incidentally, that is why he is one of my heroes. That is exactly what I want to be -- a born-again fundamentalist who lives by the strict moral values of Jesus; and a flaming liberal in the paradigm of the prophets of old (and John and Jesus and Paul) in challenging God's people to live and minister for social justice. He was also a pacifist, and that during the war! I want to be one of the sheep to whom Jesus says, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you ministered to me." (Matthew 25) Koinonia is where Habitat for Humanity began. When wealthy Millard Fuller's wife told him she was tired of living alone, rearing their children alone, he went to see his friend Clarence Jordan. Jordan said, "Let's pray about it." They did. Unlike the Biblical rich young ruler, Millard sold all and followed Jesus! Now . . . let's address the topic at hand, Incarnational Evangelism -- "sharing of ourselves in God's mission." Sharing of ourselves is precisely our challenge from Jesus. "Let your light shine" intrinsically implies evangelism. We are all called to be evangelists, maybe a few in the model of George Whitefield, Billy Sunday, Gypsy Smith, Billy Graham, Bob Jones, H. M. S. Richards, but most of us in the pattern of Clarence Jordan, who said, (when they excluded him from their pulpits) "I will simply live my faith." He deduced that portraying the lifestyle of Jesus would by example be evangelism -- incarnational evangelism. It was indeed. Incidentally, I am not disparaging public evangelism. I began my ministry as a song leader for public evangelists. In 1944 I was in St. Paul, Minnesota when Billy Graham began his preaching in Minneapolis. I met him twice. And it was in St. Paul that I first heard Bob Jones preach. Years later I was honored to lead the music for his last public revival, in a Baptist church here in Detroit. My Dad and I did a little public evangelism when we were both Bible teachers at Madison College in Nashville. There are many dear saints who first submitted their lives to Jesus as they walked down a sawdust trail. God bless the public evangelists, even if they are primarily of a genre from a past generation. Christ's method is our example for evangelism. He "mingled with people as one who desired their good." He "ministered to their needs; then he bade them to follow him." (Ellen White) What is my agenda, my goal as an "incarnational evangelist"? Is it to persuade people to join my church, my congregation, my denomination? Or is it to persuade people to live by the moral principles preached by Jesus? I recently heard a presentation by a Bible teacher who said his commission is to persuade people to change their lives for the better: to convince Christians to be better Christians, Jews to be better Jews, Muslims to be better Muslims, Buddhists to be better Buddhists, Hindus to be better Hindus. That is something to think about -- sharing of ourselves in God's mission. That is not to say it makes no difference what one believes. I believe with all my heart that Christianity is the better way, the only way for you and me. That's why I am a Christian preacher. You know that early Christianity was called The Way! Surely it is God's way for us. The World Christian Encyclopedia identifies 10,000 distinct religions, of which 150 each have more than a million members. Even within Christianity there are 33,830 denominations. Many of them claim to be the only Way! So we are gathered here today to learn how to evangelize, how to let our lights shine in a way to promote The Way! Sometimes the best definition is illustration, so let me tell you some stories, and then we will say more about the principles. When David Livingstone, the great missionary, was traveling in Africa, he had a physical ailment which necessitated his using goat's milk. So, he took a goat with him from place to place. He came to one village where the chief made clear that he wanted Livingstone to give him the goat. The great missionary remembered his daily prayer -- "Lord, all that I am and all that I have is yours" -- so he gave the chief his goat. In return, the chief gave Livingstone his walking stick! Big deal, eh? -- a goat for a walking stick! As they left the village, he remarked to his native guide that he was concerned about where he could find goat's milk. The surprised guide said, "Don't you know that when anyone sees that walking stick, he will recognize it? You will be given all the goat's milk you need, anytime and anywhere you go!" It seems to me Jesus said something about putting Kingdom principles first, after which "all these other things will be provided"! Do you supposer we have something to learn about absolute trust, faith? William Booth said that when he met the poor of London, "God had all of Booth." So he spent the rest of his life serving the poor. Many, many others have followed him, joined his Salvation Army, because of his shining example! Incarnational evangelism indeed! American pop musician Cliff Richard was traveling in Bangledesh. Many people had sores and scabs, and he was careful not to touch them. He washed himself often. One day he stooped down beside a small boy for a publicity photo. Someone inadvertently stepped on the child's foot and he screamed. Richard reflexively picked the boy up. His small, warm body was trembling. Soon, comforted by the singer's embrace, the child stopped crying. Richard later said, "At that moment I knew I had much to learn about Christian love, but at least I had started." And from that time on he was devoted to incarnational evangelism! Abraham Lincoln was visited by an old neighbor. "Abe, how does it feel to be president of the United States?" "Well, Tom, it's like the man who was tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. Someone asked how he liked it. He said, 'If it weren't for the honor of the thing, I'd just as soon walk.'" That is exactly what incarnational Christianity is like. Not always pleasant, not always easy, sometimes very painful, but always an honor to share ourselves in God's mission. The "honor of the thing" only becomes apparent to one who has the faith to try it. Christ's way is a proven way, but it is proven only by experience, to those who sincerely try it. That is the incarnational aspect. No one can feel the exhilaration of the mountain top until he climbs the mountain! No one can explain the thrill of skiing on the slopes to one who has never skied on the slopes! No one can transfer the enjoyment of classical music to anyone who does not take the time and put forth the effort to learn it. No one can adequately preach Jesus who has not experienced the Jesus lifestyle. No one can enter the Kingdom of God except by that first step of faith -- "the leap of faith." This is, in fact, God's challenge: "Try me and see . . ." Faith is the only gate to the New Jerusalem. Albert Einstein maintained "the whole purpose of art and science is to awaken the cosmic religious feeling." But unless the artist, the scientist takes the leap of faith, he will not find the cosmic religious feeling. Faith cannot be proven by science or mathematics, only by experience. Incarnation! Incarnational evangelism is living out your faith. This, dear friends, is where Jesus separates the nominal Christians from genuine Jesus-people! When people see that you live as you profess to believe, they will find your faith appealing. That is what people saw in Jesus. That is evangelism! One of the first to join George Fox, founder of the Quakers, was Margaret Fell. In her new love for God and man she went to visit a prison. The outrages she found there, especially toward children, were almost more than she could bear. Was there really a God of love? If so, how could he permit such pain and suffering? In her anger and frustration, she confronted Fox: "Prove to me the existence of a God of love, or be condemned to hell for all the suffering thou hast caused me." He began to explain, but she wasn't listening. Finally he screamed, "Stop crying for proof of God's love. Prove it thyself. How else dost thou think he can manifest his love? Thru nature? Thru the trees, the clouds, the beasts of the field, the stars? No, only thru beings capable of doing so, ourselves. In the case of those children in the cage, about to be hanged, it is thou he has touched. All he has to reach those children is thee." An American teacher was hired to teach in Japan, but was told not to talk about his religion. His character and example were so bright that 40 of his students met privately and vowed to learn about and accept his faith. Then 25 of them entered Kyoto Christian School, and several became ministers. His only Christian "teaching" was his example, his life. Incarnational evangelism! There is a story of a preacher who invited an atheist to come to a series of sermons on the great doctrines of the church. He came. At the end of the series, the skeptic told the minister he had decided to become a Christian. "Wonderful! Which of the sermons convinced you?" "Actually, it wasn't any of the sermons. While I was attending your meetings I met an elderly lady who radiated such warmth and happiness that I visited with her. It turned out that she has many problems, but she said, 'If you knew Jesus the way I know Jesus, you would be happy, too!'" Incarnational Evangelism -- "sharing of ourselves in God's mission." As we begin this new year, this new decade, this new millennium, it is a good time to consider how we as Christians can "share of ourselves in God's mission." I have some suggestions. I invite you to consider being a caring steward, a "CARE-RING" Christian. Let me explain. Be prepared to consider some 4-letter words. I submit that a caring, sharing Christian will LIVE the abundant life promised by Jesus. A caring, sharing Christian will make LOVE the hub of his life. So . . . you will LIVE LOVE! As a care-ring Christian, I ask you to PRAY for someone each day . . . by name, specifically. And for your church. And for world peace. Prayer won't change God, but it will change you, and then you will change the world! As a care-ring Christian I ask you to CALL someone every day, someone different each day, with a word of encouragement. Many people are hurting, but are afraid to reveal it. Many of those to whom you give a word of cheer and hope will find it just what they need. As a care-ring Christian I ask you to GIVE a gift of some kind -- any small gift -- once a month. Human beings reach their fullest bloom in giving. You will find that your small investment will pay big dividends. If you want to be doubly blest, do it anonymously! As a care-ring Christian, you should SHOW God's love to everyone you meet each day -- a smile, a handshake, a kiss, an embrace, a compliment, best of all, a part of your life. If you do so, you will form a habit, a pattern of sharing yourself in God's mission. To be a consistent care-ring Christian, you need to READ each day -- the Bible, devotional literature, inspiration to recharge your spiritual batteries! As a care-ring Christian, I ask you to SEND a card or note to someone at least once a week. Card shops are full of interesting, inspiring cards, some, tender sentiments, some, humorous. Again, anonymity doubles the blessing. As a care-ring Christian, sharpen your sensitivity, your awareness. LOOK at something intently -- a star, a flower, a baby, a bit of pottery . . . anything which appeals to you. Structured meditation begins by centering one's attention on something, even a simple object like a match or a coin or a flower. Teddy Roosevelt went out at night and stared at the stars, long and carefully. Then he said to his body guards, "Well, now I feel small enough to realize my humanity. Now I am ready to go to bed." There are other things you can do, of course. Here are some "four-letter words" which appeal to me -- all having to do with spiritual development. Turn, Tend, Lift, Make, Heal, Heed, Lend, Keep, Hope, Open, Help, and Hold. They will prepare us to share ourselves in God's mission. I believe if we will covenant to follow such a plan, we will see a significant revival of spiritual growth in our midst. Isn't that God's call, God's mission? Our ministry? God bless you.