Ministry Reimagined

 For not ashamed am I of the evangel, for it is Gods power for salvation to everyone who is believing - to the Jew first and to the Greek as well. 

Paul to the Romans 1: 16, Concordant New Testament 

In the film Woodlawn (2015), traveling chaplain Hank Erwin walks into a racial war in 1970's Birmingham, Alabama where he decides to speak to a team of local high school football players.  One of those players was one which I was already aware of.  Tony Nathan was a talented running back who played for the Minnesota Vikings some years ago.  Yet before he put on a Vikings uniform in the NFL, Nathan played high school football in Alabama.  Braving the racial hatred, the young chaplain Hank seeks to speak to this local team.  Anyone who expected a motivational speech that day from the young believer were surprised when he began to speak of the gospel of Christ Jesus.  Even more surprising was the fact that virtually the entire team converted to believing in Jesus simply from hearing this message.  I've always found Matthew 28:19 to be one of the most overused scriptures in the bible.  Through this passage, many believers took to street corners and many public places proclaiming the word of the Lord.  Growing up, I began to believe that this was indeed the model of "Leading" others unto Jesus.  Sort of like a modern day crusade.  The mainstream church model is that we go out and speak the word of the Lord whether anyone wants to hear it or not.  Is this effective?  Perhaps, but it has also shown that it will alienate more than a few on Christianity as well.  Christians have a long standing reputation as being self righteous and "Preachy" to those around us.  Well earned I might add.  This is why when I speak of the gospel of Christ Jesus to those I meet these days, I remove all mention of the Christian religion from our conversation.  To my understanding, Jesus never hid behind religion as He spoke His word to the world around Him.  On the contrary, those who were deeply steeped in the Jewish religion of His day were often critical of Him.  It was Jesus who spoke of the "Woes to the Pharisees" for their practices and traditions which did not seem to help the Lord's people.  What Jesus spoke was something new and unheard of.  The hope of salvation and forgiveness in the Lord.  This is ministry reimagined.  

Yet hallow the Lord Christ in your hearts, ever ready with a defense for everyone who is demanding from you an account concerning the expectation in you, but with meekness and fear.

Peter to the Disposition (1) 3: 15, Concordant New Testament 

It has become quite popular these days for athletes to profess their faith during interviews.  Many a player has deferred the glory of achievement to the Lord when asked.  While this is an encouraging sign, someone in that person's life had, at some point, introduced them to the word of God.  Whether it be from upbringing or a conversation with a believer, that message of the gospel stuck with them.  These are seeds which are planted on fertile ground {Matthews Account 13:8}.  Yet not all who hear the words of the gospel of Jesus spoken to them will immediately accept them into their life.  The gift unto all is that the gospel of Christ Jesus is spoken to all who will hear it.  My own experience with this reimagined ministry revolves around an ever growing group of gym goers.  When I first began my fitness journey years ago, I prayed that the Lord would give me the motivation I needed.  He provided that, and more.  What He also provided was for the gospel of Jesus to be spoken within the confines of this fitness center.  This is indeed one of the main reasons for my fitness journey.  I don't speak to those around me as a Christian, but as a believer.  Somehow, I've found that the gospel becomes more personal when it is removed from the constraints and traditions of the man-made Christian religion.  When I speak of the gospel of Jesus, I rarely toss around scripture verses.  What I do speak of is what it is that the love and mercy of a life in Jesus has meant to me personally {Johns Account 14:20}.  I doubt that I would find this approach to speaking the gospel in any mainstream church training program, but it works for me.  

~Scott~