Baptists may need to take a second look at their evangelism ethics, a professor of pastoral theology and ethics believes.
Some forms of evangelism may not fit with a Christian lifestyle, according to Terry Rosell, professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., and program associate for disparities in health and healthcare at the Center for Practical Bioethics in Kansas City, Mo.
Rosell grew up participating in the traditional forms of evangelism, he said, and now feels “great chagrin, if not shame and embarrassment, for the things I've done.”
That doesn't mean he doesn't believe in evangelism, he stressed — just that it needs to be done differently, with thought to Christian ethics.
“I'm concerned about issues of honesty and deception,” Rosell said. He referenced the use of door-to-door surveys many churches use as an evangelism tool. “If the intent is telling them something rather than gathering information, that is out and out deception — and that's not good news.”
In his bioethics work, Rosell often hears of Christians coming into hospitals — sometimes deceptively — to try to “get conversions” among the patients.
“It's preying upon the vulnerable,” he said. Patients are at their weakest, and many are lonely and welcome any human voice. Because of that, Christians often think they've had a successful conversion, when really a patient just wanted another human presence.
Not only does that evangelistic method prey upon the weak; it also makes a bad impression on doctors and nurses charged with protecting the privacy of their patients — especially when patients feel they can't refuse someone who comes into their room uninvited.
Christians need to learn to approach evangelism with empathy, he said. “There are many virtues, and one is empathy — being able to feel with other people.”
In terms of a traditional “cold call” evangelism, the practice of showing up on a doorstep without prior warning or interaction, Christians should ask themselves what it feels like to be a potential convert.
“We have all been in this position,” said Rosell, whether approached by a political organization, other religions or a different brand of Christianity.
When asked what it feels like, “most would say ‘not good,'” Rosell said. “You feel like an object. It's a salesperson approach. It doesn't feel good to be treated that way.”
Instead of doing all the talking, Christians should listen, he suggested.
“In my pastoral care, I've found that what people need is someone who empathetically listens,” he said. “When someone really listens, that's good news.”
Listening to other people also can earn a Christian the right to be heard, he added.
Jesus went about doing good — healing the sick, spending time with people, Rosell noted. His focus was being good news.
Visiting those in prison, caring for the widows and orphans — “that's good news,” Rosell said. “I'm not so sure about some of what we do.”
When participating in evangelistic endeavors, Christians could ask, “If I'm one of those being ministered to, do I experience this as good news?”
“If you don't have the empathy to answer that question, that is one lack of virtue already,” Rosell said. “You might not be a good evangelist.”
Rosell's favorite example of good news evangelism is a couple from his church. Skip's parents were the first to sponsor a Laotian family coming to Johnson County in Kansas. Skip, as an adult son, offered to teach English as a Second Language classes to the Laotian refugees. He ended up marrying one and raised a family.
Once their children were out of the house, the couple took early retirement, combined it with the inheritance from Skip's parents and moved to the poorest part of Laos. They established a home there in the village and started helping people by cooking, making visits and giving money to doctors to care for the sick.
At one point, they were invited to the wedding of the proviencial governor's son. While sitting next to the father during the wedding reception, the father leaned over and said, “You are good news to my people.”
“That's evangelism,” Rosell said. And a church was started in the process. “All of the traditional goals of evangelism were accomplished — maybe more effectively.”