Have you ever considered the fact that we won’t be able to do evangelism in heaven? That’s one of the reasons Jesus hasn’t returned yet. The Apostle Peter, addressing the question about the seeming slowness in Jesus’ return, wrote, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV) God doesn’t want anyone to go to Hell. He wants all people to repent, receive forgiveness of their sins and be saved. And that can’t happen anymore once the new heaven and new earth appear. It will be too late.
Most of the major aspects of our Christian lives will continue on in heaven including worship, fellowship, and ministry. The Bible describes these happening in some ways after his return. However, there will be no more need to evangelize then because everyone in heaven will already be saved!
That being the case, and knowing Jesus’ return is near (at least nearer than it was almost 2000 years ago when it was also near!), how much more seriously should we be taking our evangelistic mission to lead unsaved people to repentance and into His Kingdom now! The next few weeks gives your congregation wonderful opportunities to share the good news of God’s love and salvation. As the Nicene Creed so succinctly states, “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven.” Every healthy Great Commission Anglican church can make good use of the opportunity for evangelism that Christmas offers.
Most of our churches will have unchurched people in our worship services for Christmas. These are the Christmas and Easter attenders we get. I’ve heard of them referred to as “Chreasters” but my favorite is, “CEO’s” standing for “Christmas and Easter Only” people! Rather than look down on those folks in judgment for only coming once or twice a year, why not see this as a tremendous opportunity to share the Gospel with them?
I can think of numerous times at a Christmas Eve service when I’d meet a visitor who was there with a family member – often with alcohol on their breath from the dinner party earlier – and I’d be so happy they were there. That could have been the only time they were ever in church. Or maybe it would be the last time they would ever attend church. There are often friends and family who are coming with members, if for no other reason than to be polite. What a great opportunity to proclaim the Good News that God so loved them that he willingly left Heaven to come to earth to pursue a relationship with them! That no matter how dark their life is, his true light can break in and give hope!
Here are two simple suggestions to try out this Christmas:
- Give an Invitation. This is primarily for whomever is preaching. Whatever aspect of the story of Christ’s birth you focus your message on, the fact that he was born to bring salvation to sinners is right there to proclaim. Growing up in the church, I never heard a priest give an invitation to pray to accept Jesus as savior in a sermon. After I left the church and finally heard an invitation to pray to accept Christ as my savior while watching a VHS tape, I went back to my home church born again. I listened to my priest, who was very much a positive influence on me, preach the gospel clearly, then proceed to leave it hanging out there with no clear invitation and then go straight into the Nicene Creed. It was right there! All he had to do was offer the invitation and lead people in the prayer. He never did in my hearing. I determined as a priest to never leave it hanging there without giving the invitation. Interestingly enough, people often prayed and came to salvation when I did!
You don’t have to be real dramatic or have people come down the aisle or anything. You can simply offer to have them pray in their heart to God repeating after you. You might want to write out the prayer you’ll lead them through to make sure the right parts are included and in case you are nervous. I know I was until I did it a few times! Then you might want to have some sort of “response card” they can fill out to indicate that they made that commitment so you can follow up with them for discipleship. I would have them put the card either in the offering plate or bring it to me at a certain spot after the service.
Also, in a recent survey of Anglican laity the AAC conducted, we found a significant obstacle for church growth was the laity’s attitudes and actions. I discovered that an interesting side effect to my giving regular invitations to salvation from the pulpit was that many members started inviting more people to church. They would tell me, “I’m not comfortable telling them about Jesus but I know if I get them here, you will!” Knowing I would be consistent in offering a salvation invitation helped their attitudes and actions about inviting unsaved people to church.
- Give Out a Promotion. There will likely be visitors there who will not be ready to accept Jesus as savior. However, they may be open to learning more. Assuming you have made plans for the New Year that would be appealing to visitors to want to come to, make sure you have promotional materials for those plans to give out. For example, if you have an Epiphany Sermon Series planned, take the time to type up the dates and titles to say, “Come hear these messages on…” and let them know how hearing them will benefit their life. Studies have shown that second time visitors are far more likely to join a church than first time visitors. So, if you can invite people to come back and keep exploring they are much more likely to join and of course get saved if they are not already. With two weeks left until Christmas there is still time to make some plans and prepare some promotional materials.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: God wants all people saved and in heaven with Him and us when they die. He went to great lengths to make that possible. God wants to and will use you to bring people to salvation! You can do it with God’s help!
The Rev. Canon Mark Eldredge is Director of Church Revitalization & Coaching at the American Anglican Council.
