The Iowa Caucuses and Evangelism
As this post is being released, the first true results of the 2024 election cycle will be in. Iowa held caucuses and people let it be known which candidate they preferred.
But this is not a political article. It’s about how the coverage of these events always works, and how we can’t let it infiltrate a congregation’s evangelistic efforts.
Huh?
Here’s what I mean: every four years, when these first-in-the-nation events happen in an election, there will be wall-to-wall coverage. We will hear about how long candidates have been in the state. We will hear about the tremendous amount of work they have done. We will hear about how much money has been spent.
And when the night is done–and often even before it is over–the media will already be talking about the next state(s). The recapping might last a few hours (or even for about a day), but then all eyes will go elsewhere to see what’s next.
The same is true of a lot of news coverage. For example, as soon as a sport’s season is over, websites all over the internet have already published “top 25” lists for the following season. This year is done, so let’s just move along.
I fear that, in too many cases, we treat evangelism that way. We work hard to reach someone. We help them. We study with them. We watch them grow. Then, the wonderful moment comes when that person decides to put Christ on in baptism. We smile and hug them. And then…
…to often we just move on from them.
They are yesterday’s news. There’s someone else to reach, so we just leave that person in the rearview mirror.
Are there more souls to save? Yes. We cannot lose sight of that.
But that new Christian cannot just be thrown into the rearview mirror, either. There needs to be a strong effort made by the congregation to help that new Christian get acclimated. Some additional teaching might be helpful. Having a mentor or two might be good. Just being available to that person would be a tremendous help.
Let’s not just move on. After all, now this is not a lost person who needs Jesus. This is a brother or sister in Christ whom we have the opportunity to help grow. Both of those things should be a joy…and a priority.
AUTHOR: Adam Faughn
