Evangelism is a Mixed Bag

In the context of a funeral, we Orthodox find ourselves as strangers among friends. We preach resurrection and judgment. Our friends teach that we become angels in heaven filled with platitudes and niceties. This isn’t done out of malice. Our friends want to sooth the pain of loss at funerals. The problem for us is that soothing the pain of loss can lead us astray.

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature. In the law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

1^st Corinthians 14.20-25

Saint Paul’s words today address this dilemma. When we Orthodox speak to those outside the Church our message must be different from what we speak inside the Church. Everyone wants to believe everything is going to be ok, especially when they attend funerals. The pain of loss is enough without the pain of condemnation.

When faced with death, the Church reminds us of the resurrection and judgment. This is not about the one whom we are burying. It is about our judgment. We are the ones who still have time to repent. Nothing can be done for those who have fallen asleep. At a funeral we speak to believers to remind them of repentance. Yes, we want and pray everything will be ok, but we know it might not be ok if we don’t repent. That is prophecy.

Prophecy is heard as condemnation and uncaring for those outside the Church. This is where God’s grace is present, especially at a funeral. Our friends and neighbors attend for our sake normally. When they hear the priest speak words of prophecy, and see that we are comforted by truth, our friends take notice. If we are disturbed by the truth, our friends also take notice.

It isn’t what the Church speaks that is noticed, but the reaction of believers. If the message of the Church is loved and lived by those inside the Church, even when the message is difficult to hear, our friends do more than take notice. They pay attention when believer walk the walk and talk the talk.

That was how evangelism worked in the ancient Church. The ancient Church lived mostly among unbelievers. It was the Christian life, lived out by members of the Church, that was noticed first by unbelievers. It wasn’t until unbelievers were paying attention that the Gospel was embraced.

We need only to remember it was the life of simple fishermen and farmers that changed the world. The Gospel wasn’t preached on street corners. The Gospel was preached in the Church. The Gospel changed the lives of believers. It was the changed lives of believers that caught the attention of unbelievers.

The Church needs more believers to change their lives for unbelievers to take notice. If nobody can tell the difference between believers and unbelievers, the Gospel will never spread. If the Gospel never spreads, the Church will not grow. If the Church does not grow, the world may not be saved.