Why "Friendship Evangelism" Isn't Biblical

"The notion (and that's all it is) that Christians have to establish long-term relationships with people in order to "earn the right" to share the gospel with them; the notion that we should let people see the gospel in us and thus making the verbal proclamation of the gospel unnecessary; the notion that "relating to people" (as it is most often taught and practiced by American Christians) is somehow a prerequisite for sharing the gospel has no Scriptural support. None. And any effort to draw such inferences from the text of Scripture is an eisegetical exercise that might make Christians feel better about their evangelistic disobedience, and might make pastors and their ministries more popular, but, in the end, will only prove to be a disservice to the Scriptures, Christians, and the countless number of lost souls who aren't reached by believers who practice such philosophies of ministry.

And to the second object Allen’s friend made—the use of the Law in evangelism: his objection doesn’t hold up to even a cursory reading of Scripture, let alone any close, logical scrutiny."

~Tony Miano

The whole assumption in Friendship Evangelism (FE) is that preaching the Gospel is offensive and will turn people off (of course it does! That's what the Bible says.), and that we need to "earn the right" to be heard. Such people are afraid of offending the unbeliever either before or after creating a friendship with them, so they never will proclaim the Gospel to their new friends...they don't want to turn them off to "Jesus". Of course, they don't worry about the Holy God of Israel being offended by said "friends". Besides, as Tony said, we don't need anyone's permission to share the Gospel, least of all one of HIS enemies! Rather, we already have God's commandment to proclaim it.

There is no such thing as silent witnessing (and how else will a Christian be persecuted?):

Luk 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, HEARING THE WORD, hold it fast in

an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Act 4:4 But many of those who had HEARD THE WORD believed, and the number of the men

came to about five thousand.

Act 10:44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who HEARD THE

WORD.

Act 13:7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.

Act 13:46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that THE

WORD OF GOD BE SPOKEN first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves

unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has

commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation

to the ends of the earth.'" 44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to HEAR THE

WORD OF THE LORD. 48 And when the Gentiles HEARD this, they began rejoicing and

glorifying the THE WORD OF THE LORD, and as many as were appointed to eternal life

believed. 49 And THE WORD OF THE LORD was spreading throughout the whole region.

Act 19:10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia HEARD THE WORD

OF THE LORD, both Jews and Greeks.

Act 24:24 After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him SPEAK ABOUT FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

Rom 10:13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?"

Rom 10:17 So faith comes from HEARING, HEARING THROUGH THE WORD OF

CHRIST.

Eph 1:13 In him you also, when you HEARD THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL of your salvation, AND BELIEVED IN HIM, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Col 1:3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,

Col 1:4 since we HEARD OF YOUR FAITH in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all

the saints,:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have HEARD BEFORE

IN THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL,6 which has come to you, as indeed in the

whole world it is bearing fruit and growing--as it also does among you, since the day you

HEARD IT and understood the grace of God in truth,

The Gospel is preached, not silently lived out, because you cannot live out the truth of Jesus

being eternally God the Son, born of a Virgin, was sinless, took on the full wrath of God the

Father, bore the forsaking of the Son by the Father, or the Resurrection. These things cannot be

"lived out", but rather must be proclaimed.

And be sure you are proclaiming the biblical Gospel. Your testimony, your stories are not

the Gospel. Only the Gospel "is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe." (Rom.

1:16)

The

Gospel isn't about the "worth" of the unbeliever, or to fill a vacuum in his life, or to get him into

heaven, or to give him a purpose or have his best life now. NO. The Gospel is about the holy,

holy, holy God and His wrath against sinners, and how all people are born sinners, hostile toward

God, ill-deserving of Heaven which means actively earning Hell,breaking every one of God's

laws, having nothing to commend them to God. The Gospel calls such a person to repent (turn

away from all his sin and to turn to Christ Jesus, the Resurrected Lord, alone for salvation),

realizing that God alone can save- crying out for God's mercy to save him.

Go here for "Getting The Gospel Right" by John MacArthur.

I say this, not because I'm really good at evangelizing; I'm not. Its probably one of my weakest

areas, but I realize this and its a burden of mine that won't go away. We all need to be

proclaiming the Gospel. Its a cop-out to remain silent. Remember cultists have "good deeds" so

that won't convince anyone you are a Christian or "different". Its the Gospel message that you

believed and saved you, that is the difference.