Missional Evangelism (or is it Messyological Evangeliving?)

We are all missionaries right this moment

We have multiple points of connection to others. Each of these opportunities are highly dependent on who I am and how I live.

The kind of influence I have can be superficial and only produce conformity at best. These tend to be based on my position, wealth, power, or other admired traits in the society (beauty, education, etc.).

Transformational influence comes from the power of selfless service and sacrifice for others. This allows the life of the Vine to flow through the branches. Counterfeits to this are the sort of manipulative "caregiving" that uses coercion to produce conformity (such as when food is offered only if someone first sits through a sermon). If you choose to do kindness to another, it will have no chance of bearing eternal fruit unless it is given without strings, given for the sake of serving a need, not gaining a "notch" or "notoriety" or just another "number to count" (This is often revealed in promotional announcements, "We fed 67 people last Friday, and two came forward for salvation..."). 

The Lost are Deeply Lost in a Sea of Voices 

We are not the only influence in the lives of those we seek to serve and reach with the unimaginable news of what Jesus has done for us and for them. How will we be noticed in the midst of all this noise?

One method often used is to compete. We try to be better at advertising, trying to "sell" our ministry, our church, even, our Lord. We try to be among the admired, whether by wealth, power, position or the things that typically accompany such things (nice cars, nice homes, nice families, nice jobs).

A completely different approach is to serve others simply, quietly, and without fanfare. To seek no fame for ourselves. To offer our time, our energy, our labors to benefit others without any expectation of gaining a return on the investment. There are so very few voices in their world doing things like this. Everyone, they will tell you, is in it for something. Nothing will draw their attention, nor make them test you to see if you are sincere, like unheralded, sacrificial service.

Our Collective Inlfuence is Powerful

We are not expected to be one lone voice. Consider that our influence is multiplied and reinforced by every saint living for Jesus in the world.

Don't forget that one of your spheres of influence is among the saints, primarily where you fellowship, but also among the saints that are within your other spheres of activity and relationships (work, family, socializing, neighborhood, etc.).

Finally, remember that our interaction with other believers is especially important to our collective influence in the communities where we live. Being especially kind, especially considerate of other saints in your workplace, your neighborhood, and in your family will magnify the message that we represent to the people looking on (and they are looking on intently, knowing we are making claim to know God and having peace with God).

Are these Ideas Biblical?

If this is just more pragmatic strategizing, it will not bear the fruit of one connected to the life-giving Vine. So, examine the scriptures. Here are some passages to begin your reflection:

 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? - Mark 8:34,35 

Who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” - Lk 10:29-37

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Then He also said to him who invited Him, “When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” - Lk 14:11-14

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. - Jn 13:34,35

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. - Jn 17:20-23 

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. - Acts 4:32-35 

And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. - Acts 11:28-30 

Now concerning the collection for the saints: As I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. - I Cor 16:1

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. - II Cor 8:8-15

And let us not be weary in welldoing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto those who are of the household of faith. - Gal 6:9,10

For our Gospel came unto you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the Word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Ghost, so that ye were examples to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded forth the Word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad, so that we need not speak anything. For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God  - I Thess 1:5-9