What is Lifestyle Evangelism?

Lifestyle Evangelism Verses The Evangelist

Lifestyle evangelism is a term I’ve been using for decades. I not only preach it to congregations, I try my best to live it! But what is lifestyle evangelism? Oftentimes, whenever people hear the term “evangelism” they erroneously think of Christian Evangelists who have been called to the five-fold ministry gift of “Evangelist” (as mentioned in Eph. 4:11). The mental picture they get in their head is one of a holy-roller radical guy preaching hell, fire and brimstone — all the while, spit spewing from his mouth as he gasps for air in between never-ending marathon sentences with spontaneous outbursts of memorized scripture. Many Evangelists go from church to church, or nation to nation, preaching Christ to the world, a role most Christians have no interest in.

And yes, that pretty much sums up the gifting of someone who has been called to the five-fold office of Evangelist. Their dynamic messages and powerful anointing have the potential to produce wonderful positive results. But none of those great (and sometimes high profile) ministries end up single-handedly saving the world. With all due respect, they certainly have a vital role to play, but God’s bigger picture includes the entire Church doing its part. One person can’t do it all. Saving humanity requires each one of us. What if I proposed to you that we all, as Christians, have been “called” to evangelism? Lifestyle evangelism! We are not all called to the office of Evangelist, but we have all been commissioned to evangelize within our sphere of influence.

“Evangelism is not an option for the Christian life.”

Luis Palau

Lifestyle Evangelism Occurs Outside The Church

We, as the Church of Jesus Christ, need a deeper more realistic understanding of what “ministry” is all about. Yes, of course we greatly value the gifts of preaching and teaching. But in the grand scope of God’s plan for salvation not many are appointed by Jesus to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, or Teachers. These special giftings, for the most part, are manifested inside the church. That’s where most of the preaching and teaching is done, for the purpose of equipping the saints. Church is where we go to receive our spiritual food to help us grow and mature in our Christian walk. In contrast, evangelism, specifically lifestyle evangelism is done outside the church. In fact, from Christianity’s earliest days, we see evangelism taking place outside the church, while great teaching was happening inside the church (see Acts 2:42).

There is a great need for Christians to move outside our beautiful church buildings. Unfortunately, many traditional churches do little or nothing outside the four walls of the church. Phenomenal teaching and preaching is happening inside the church, but there’s no sense of urgency for evangelism outside the church. The unsaved world is in dire need of godly influence on society. As Christians, we should be compelled to impact and influence the unchurched community for Christ. But without a calling into the 5-fold ministry, and no formal theological degree, how do we accomplish that? Through our lifestyle evangelism! Here’s what that looks like…

Lifestyle evangelism (or social evangelism as some call it) happens when you sit with someone after a surgery, help a grieving family with funeral arrangements, or provide groceries or financial aid to those out of a job. Lifestyle evangelism is as simple as an encouraging word or comforting someone through a crises of life. It doesn’t require you to be a theologian, only a person of compassion for the lost.

Lifestyle Evangelism Moves With Compassion

That’s how Jesus lived His life on this earth. How many times does the Bible use the phrase, “And He was moved with compassion?” Many. Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw the multitudes who were spiritually lost. Jesus was moved with compassion and healed the sick. Jesus was moved with compassion and forgave their sin. Jesus was often moved with compassion then reached out and touched people at their point of need. The personal touch. That’s what lifestyle evangelism looks like — when you and I have an abundance of pity in our innermost being for suffering humanity then act on that deepest emotion. God isn’t searching for Bible scholars to save the world, He’s looking for those who are moved with compassion. Our mental assent does little to help people in physical, emotional, and spiritual bondage. You’ve heard me say it before, “People don’t care how much we know, they only want to know how much we care!”

“God isn’t searching for Bible scholars to save the world, He’s looking for those who are moved with compassion.”

Rev. Glenda Motsavage

People appreciate the personal touch more than they treasure our preaching. Regardless of whether you have the God-given gift to preach or not, you can function proficiently in the ministry of loving and caring for others. Words are cheap, and easily forgotten. But actions speak much louder than words, and are remembered far longer. As much as we value the office of Pastor, God never intended for one single person to do all the caring. Sadly, that’s one of the quickest ways to create pastoral burnout. All believers need to be actively using their spiritual gifts, whether at home, at work, or anywhere there is a need. The Pastor cannot be with us 24/7. I’d like to share a sad story. One that turned out okay in the end, but only by the grace of God…

When Lifestyle Evangelism Backfires

I know an 80-year-old woman who spent most of her life in church. Ever since she was a little girl she religiously attended church. Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night, any special services… every time the church doors were open, she was there. She was a member of an awesome Spirit-filled assembly that believed in the entirety of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. The Pastor is an anointed man of God who preaches biblical truth without compromise. The woman freely and frequently volunteers her time engaging in various ministries within the church. Her husband, on the other hand, was not saved and only rarely visited the church, usually for a special guest singer or seasonal drama presentation.

Three years ago the husband became ill. Gravely ill. As his condition worsened, it became apparent to the Christian woman that her husband was dying. Knowing her husband was not saved, she called the Pastor and requested a home visitation for the purpose of getting him saved. The Pastor agreed to come that evening. However, minutes before the Pastor arrived, the man without warning attempted to get out of bed all by himself. He was so weak and unstable he immediately fell to the ground. The woman could not pick him up, and pleaded for him to “hang on” until the Pastor arrived. Moments later, the Pastor walked through the front door and found the two of them on the floor. It was apparent there was an emergency situation unfolding. The woman begged the Pastor, “Please hurry and lead my husband into a salvation prayer.” Awaiting the ambulance, she knew time was of the essence.

Here’s the good news… the man was still conscience enough to hear and understand what the Pastor was saying. He freely accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, right there with the three of them on the floor. Then the Pastor led him in a prayer of forgiveness for his sins. That very moment his soul was saved forever! All the angels in heaven were rejoicing, along with the Pastor and the man’s wife.

But here’s the very sad reality… that man almost died and went to hell because a Christian woman who spent decades in church did not know how to lead her husband into a salvation experience. She was totally dependent upon the Pastor to do it for her. Think about that for a moment. Let the magnitude of that thought sink in.

I heard about this story the day I attended the man’s funeral. And although I was ecstatic the man got saved and was now in the presence of God, it caused me to wonder how widespread this problem is amongst churchgoers. If we as Christians spend a lifetime in church and cannot minister salvation to our own households, how can we effectively be used by God out in the world? Being able to lead someone to salvation should be elementary to us.

Here’s another important element to this story… prior to his deathbed salvation experience, that man was never interested in church or salvation. You see, his wife continually condemned him for not attending church, for swearing when he spoke, for smoking cigarettes, and for being a workaholic (which, ironically, funded her obsession with shopping). For nearly 50 years of marriage the man suffered verbal abuse for those carnal things, habits that are quite prevalent in the lives of many unbelievers. But the constant criticism and scolding actually created a wedge between him and God.

Think about it… why would that man desire to be a Christian if he perceives all they do is bad-mouth, insult, and attempt to embarrass anyone who is not like them? This is when lifestyle evangelism fails. When our life, our words, and our actions do not look like Jesus we actually drive people away from God. The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Peter 3:1-4 of the way most unsaved married men will be won to Jesus — through the conduct of their wives who deal with their husbands through a gentle and quiet spirit. Beating them over the head with a Bible and berating them with an angry spirit will backfire every time!

As a professed Christian, people are constantly observing our lives. We need to live our lives in such a way that brings glory to God, rather than reproach on His good name. If we are going to be used to win people for Christ, our goal is to live out the gospel truths, without being “preachy” or bringing condemnation upon people. Even Jesus Himself said He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). Our job is to live our lives in such a way that it points people to Jesus. The Holy Spirit’s job is to convict people of sin. But too often we overstep our boundaries and take on the role of the Holy Spirit.

If we are to have any positive impact on our unbelieving family members and members of society, we must first rid ourselves of any feeling of superiority. Yes, we are saved and on our way to heaven, but we are not superior to the rest of God’s creation. How does a Christian live with a non-Christian spouse? How does a Christian live in an unchristian society? How does a Christian function in a non-Christian place of employment? By acting like Jesus! That’s lifestyle evangelism in its most simplest form.

“Evangelism is not so much about reminding people how lost they are. But how loved they are.”

Randall Worley

Lifestyle Evangelism Sits With Sinners

Here’s a sobering truth: Upon receiving our salvation, we’ve only been left here for one reason, and that is an evangelistic purpose. You and I are on this earth to make Christ known to our families, our coworkers, and society. We must work hard to build bridges to Christ, not repel people away from Him. We must be able to stomach unsaved humanity with all its sin. Sounds easy enough, but many Christians struggle in the presence of unbelievers. Their holier-than-thou attitude becomes a roadblock in their evangelistic efforts. Those of us who were not “raised in the church” seem to have an easier time dealing with those who have never been to church. There is a danger, if we’re not careful, of being so “religious” minded that we’re no earthly good. May we not be so tightly wrapped in our religious cocoons that we become intolerant and indifferent to a lost and dying world.

In order to have the maximum impact on unsaved humanity we must model Jesus. Jesus ate with sinners. Jesus walked in the midst of Gentiles. And every time He did, He was moved with compassion for their sorry state. The religious folk had a hissy fit that Jesus “lowered” Himself like that, but Jesus knew they were a people ripe to receive the blessings of God — signs, wonders, and miracles. Then, after receiving those blessings, they became a captive audience for Jesus to share the gospel truth. You’ve heard me say it a million times, “Miracles and healings are the dinner bell to salvation!” Jesus put up with stinky sin in order to save the world, and we are admonished to follow His example.

In closing I’d like to share one more story with you. It’s an account from my personal life of lifestyle evangelism. Twenty years ago, before I became a licensed minister, I worked at the county tax collector’s office. There were about 80 employees throughout the building. A few were Christians, most were not. In fact, my immediate supervisor was a gay man. But as a Christian, I knew I had to submit to him and respect his authority over me, even though I did not condone his lifestyle. There were many aspects of that secular environment that were challenging, but I knew it was my mission field. This was my sphere of influence, and God gave me the grace to handle it.

One of the things I dreaded the most every day was lunch. The break room was always filled to capacity and the various conversations never interested me. The language coming out of the mouths of my coworkers (mostly women) rivaled that of a drunken sailor. It was loud and profanity-laced. Dirty jokes were a dime a dozen they were so plentiful. I was not at all comfortable in that atmosphere, but oftentimes God would remind me of my stinky sinful pre-salvation state. In reality, I used to be just like them!

Initially I was the new kid on the block, and somehow got the reputation of being a very quiet person. But as time went on, God provided opportunities for me to share my testimony of miraculous healing from Stage 5 Cervical Cancer. When God opened doors, I spoke. If not, I didn’t say a whole lot. I never condemned their filthy corrupt communication or bad behavior. I didn’t go around handing out business cards telling everyone I was a Christian. If the opportunity presented itself, I did mention that I had moved to Florida in order to help my Pastor and his wife plant a church. Otherwise, I simply allowed my lifestyle to speak for itself.

One day, as word circulated throughout the office about my miraculous healing, I was approached by a manager and asked if I would lead a prayer meeting after work on behalf of a coworker’s husband who was dying of brain cancer. (Please see my article entitled “Boldness in the Ministry of Healing” for the entire account of what happened.) Long story short, I did pray for the dying man after work that day, as witnessed by many of my coworkers. Within hours, the sick man arose from his hospice bed, just in time to receive a care package delivered to his front door!

God used that miracle as the catalyst for many ministry opportunities with my coworkers over the next five years. It was one thing to tell them about my own medical miracle, but it was a whole other ballgame when they were able to witness a miracle for themselves. This time they actually seen the supernatural with their own eyes. And for an unbelieving group of skeptics, seeing was now believing!

The Fruit Of Lifestyle Evangelism

Many things changed at my workplace after that. For example: Whenever I was in the break room my coworkers put a guard on their [previously] foul mouths. They actually began chastising each other whenever a swear word slipped out. Whenever jokes were about to be told, they would remind each other to be careful because “Ms. Glenda is in the room!” It wasn’t unusual for them to step outside the break room if they perceived something would offend me.

Here’s another example: On one occasion, while at my desk working, I was summoned to go outside and pray for a young lady who was so sick she actually showed up in her pajamas to be prayed for! One of my coworkers had told her, “I know a lady who can pray for you and you will be healed.” Imagine that… getting paid by the tax collector to pray for the sick! I could not have orchestrated that any better myself. None of these ministry opportunities were ever initiated or provoked by me. It was the power of God working through a willing vessel that set things in motion.

Soon after the manifestation of these miracles, a sweet lady asked if I would consider doing a Bible study in her apartment. I was quick to agree. For the next year or so, every Thursday night, I started by teaching some basic biblical principles then advanced to an in-depth teaching on divine healing. Most of my coworkers in attendance had never set foot inside a church, but they were hungry for the Word of God. It wasn’t long before those small meetings outgrew that small apartment. Additionally, I became the “official” go-to person in the office whenever anyone had a prayer request or needed crisis intervention.

Five years into my secular job I resigned in order to follow the plan of God for my life. Upon notice of my resignation, a surprise party was held in my honor. I was presented with gifts and a journal wherein every coworker had the opportunity to make a personal entry. Can I tell you something? I cried when reading those entries. Sure, I was aware of the more tangible things God had done through me. But it wasn’t until I read that journal that I became mindful of the depth of spiritual impact I had on my coworkers. Many of the things written were never verbally expressed to me, so I had no idea the scope of my Christian witness. I was truly humbled.

That journal remains on my bedroom dresser to this day, as a vivid reminder of how powerful lifestyle evangelism can be. Even after I quit and became a licensed minister I continued to have a relationship with my former coworkers. As the years went by, I was asked to officiate a wedding, called upon to be the keynote speaker at a funeral, invited to lead the National Day of Prayer attended by several governmental agencies, and continued to receive many prayer requests. Those precious people will forever be in my heart.

Dear Christian, I cannot stress enough the importance of lifestyle evangelism. One of my favorite quotes is this: “I preach the gospel every day… sometimes I use words!” — (St. Francis of Assisi). That’s the motto I try to live by. Make no mistake, the unbelieving world is watching us. They’re watching to see if our religious jargon is in line with our lifestyle. Does our talk line up with our walk? Do we practice what we preach? I am fully convinced if I had gone into that tax collector’s office beating people over the head with the Bible and openly condemning sin, I would not have seen the same level of spiritual success. Take time to build bridges into people’s lives. Cultivate a nurturing caring relationship, practice lifestyle evangelism, then allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest. The results may surprise you.

Question: What’s your favorite style of evangelism? Please share in the reply box below. Our readers would love to know!