Evangelism Is Either God's Way or the World's Way

We are not to proclaim the Gospel in a worldly, fleshly way (using man’s wisdom, clever speech, and persuasive words), but by the spiritual way: by proclaiming Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit according to the Scriptures, in simplicity and boldness.

Nor are we to customize the Gospel to appeal to the world and the flesh, for it is of a spiritual nature, which the world’s wisdom and flesh cannot comprehend.

                           

1Co 1:17  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1Co 1:18  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 

1Co 1:26  For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 

1Co 1:27  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 

1Co 1:28  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 

1Co 1:29  so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 

1Co 1:30  And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 

1Co 1:31  so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." 

1Co 2:1  And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.

1Co 2:2  For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

1Co 2:3  And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,

1Co 2:4  and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

1Co 2:5  that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1Co 2:13  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

1Co 2:14  The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Eph 4:17  Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 

Eph 4:18  They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 

Isa 55:6  Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 
Isa 55:7  Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 
Isa 55:8  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 

Isa 55:9  "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 

Isa 55:10  "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 

Isa 55:11  So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 

Evangelism, then is either God’s way or the world’s way; either biblical (and frankly, quite simple) or pragmatic (often complicated with gimmicks, endless "new" fads, and much calculation of what audience one is speaking to). One will lead the elect to the cross of Christ in humility as they see their sin before the thrice holy God, and the other will keep people dead in their sin (pride) while feeling  (falsely)justified. That is to say, such a use of the world’s wisdom and means can only lead at best, to a false conversion, which frankly is hatred of that person’s soul and unbelief in the power of the Gospel of God:

1Co 1:18  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Co 1:19  For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Rom 1:17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

 The world hates Christ, Jesus said in John's Gospel. To try to soften the blow of their offenses against God, and at the same time get them to like Christians (because then they'll like Jesus), is nothing but utter foolishness, unholiness, and unspiritual. It is, to put it boldly, outside of the Holy Spirit, devoid of His power and is not interested in glorifying Him nor honoring Him. It seeks to honor and glorify the enemies of the cross.