If I were with you in person I’d love to ask whether you’re presently motivated to share about Jesus with unbelievers around you? If you’re like me it is so easy to let this slip off the radar. Spare a thought for those in secularised Europe, where evangelism is even harder. In the last issue of ECM News I highlighted that, although European evangelicals might hear, talk and pray a lot about evangelism, in practice, it is not given the urgent priority it deserves. I’d like to explore further why this is the case, so we as a mission can encourage the churches in Europe to do better in this area.

In the previous ‘What’s on Matt’s Mind’, I proposed that there is often confusion around what evangelism is. It is not giving your testimony, apologetics or ‘doing justice’, as important as all these things are. It is the act of sharing the good news of who Jesus is with unbelievers.

In this edition, I want to highlight how evangelism often doesn’t occur because of confusion around what the gospel message is. To some evangelicals in Europe, the good news is essentially that God loves everyone just as they are and that is why he sent Jesus, who brings forgiveness, reconciliation and unconditional acceptance. Jesus is only ever portrayed as a compassionate, caring saviour figure. If he asks anything of anyone it is merely that they receive his grace. All the ‘difficult bits’ about Jesus’s Lordship or God’s judgement are shaved off or downplayed.