EDITORIAL
Forward Leading | Mark DeYmaz
In the 20th century, Christians were taught to explain biblical truth logically to non-Christians and defend our faith through the practice of modern apologetics. Evangelism often took place at “the bridge of Christ’s divinity.” For example:
* We brought evangelists to our cities. With heartfelt words and a compelling argument, they spoke divine truth about Jesus, and people responded by repenting of sin.
* We initiated conversations with others, asking, “Do you know for sure that if you died tonight, you would go to heaven?” In those days, people were typically receptive, rarely impolite, and often responsive to the Holy Spirit as we walked them through the “Four Spiritual Laws” or the “Romans Road.”
* We passed out books like Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh McDowell and The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, which resonated positively with readers.
Apologetics is still essential, yet times have changed. Open skeptics and wounded cynics today are no longer inclined or receptive to truth claims—though they are spiritually open. They see Christians and churches as hypocritical, judgmental and discriminatory.
In the 21st century, then, what we say about Jesus means very little apart from meaningful action that represents him well. For this reason, I believe we’re living in a Matthew 5:16 century. In this particular passage, Jesus emphasizes, “Let them see your good works. That’s what will compel them toward your Father in heaven” (paraphrase mine).
People today are drawn more to what they see Christians doing with joy, faithfulness and authenticity than to what they hear us saying. Practical engagement through acts of kindness and generosity—rooted in empathy—are better starting points for conversations with others about life, meaning and their eternal future. Explanation is good; but these days, demonstration is better.
To reverse the decline of trust in Christians and the church, it’s wise to first engage the community “at the bridge of Christ’s humanity”—meeting human needs with mercy, kindness and compassion—before attempting to speak of his divine nature.
Quietly advancing the common good offers a credible witness to the gospel before we even say a word. In doing so, we help shift negative perceptions, dismantle skepticism, and patiently lead others to the bridge of Christ’s divinity, where they can encounter Jesus, explore biblical truth, and ultimately choose to follow him.
I once coached a group of North Carolina pastors. On a tour of the community, we crossed the street from one of their churches to a nearby apartment complex. When I asked a young woman walking her dog what she could tell us about the church across the street, she replied, “What church?”
Contrast that with a homeless advocate who recently toured our church building, a converted 100,000-square-foot former Kmart that now houses a primary care medical center, a community counseling clinic, and the largest weekly food distribution in Little Rock addressing food insecurity. At the end of the tour, he asked rhetorically, “Where’s the church?”—meaning it as a compliment.
Some churches are invisible; others unmistakable.
We live in hostile times that are filled with opportunity. When congregations start by demonstrating love, walls come down and hearts open, leading to deeper spiritual conversations and the conversion of skeptics as we spread the peace of Christ.