How important is theology for evangelists?

[Matthitjah]

But an evangelist has to know when to lean on the holy spirit instead intellectual information.

Who say's that the Holy Spirit might not lead one to intellectual pursuit, like study of the Word, so as to sharpen the tool that is you?

Currently I am sitting in a class doing that exact thing and I am an Evangelist. If I looked at it purely from the focal point of my bias against Theology, and there is one . I never would have made it here, but as it is I find it an enriching experience.

I can see now how this is going to benefit the Kingdom, learning the depth of the Word, and not me personally.

I only wish I was as deep as I thought I was and I do lean upon the Spirit heavily.

So I guess it all has to do with perception dear brother.

Yes, you can be an Evangelist with no Theological training but that doesn't neccesarily mean that you have no Theology.

Jesus had one. The depth and breadth of which we only long to know. Therefore, I see no problem and also only benefit from acquiring more.

I guess it also all depends on what Theology means to you and your personal possible visceral reaction to it.

I can only see it as strength from where I'm sitting, currently, in a Theological class. Is there Religion here? Yes, however, there are also things to glean.

Peace,

Dave

[enoob57]

Dave don't get to sharp... you might start poking us Love, Steven

[nebula]

You are reading more into the question than is there and then responding with your own "yuck" opinion of theology. You try to put on a tolerant face, but what really comes out in your responses is a decidedly advesrse view of theology.

Hey Shiloh - I know typing on the computer loses much in communication, but I know you've seen Yod arm wrestling theologically time and again on the board.

Do you think he's saying he hates the knowledge of God and the use of Scripture and such? Does that fit the character you have seen coming out of him?

Then considering how many people he's introduced to Jesus, I would think he knows a thing or two about how to evangelize. You know?

[Fraught]

When we evangalise we preach the Gospel, and there will be questions about Adam and Eve, the flood, law, etc, stemming from that (if my experience is anything to go by), and we need to be able to answer and then direct the person back to Jesus.

no....we don't.

Those are distractions from people who are avoiding the sin question. No need whatsoever to even go there with them.

I was once at a restaurant with 2 friends who started a conversation with our waiter, who was obviously a satanist with the jewelry he wore. They started of well but then he started challenging them on issues like creation, homosexuality, etc., etc., ad naseum. It was going nowhere quickly and getting tense as they argued minutia that no one can prove to an unbeliever anyway.

I interrupted them to say to this kid, "None of that matters....who do you say Jesus is?" He would ask me about some other distraction and I would ignore it, repeating, "None of that matters if you don't know the only one who can save you from sin"

At that sentence, he begged off and left. My friends both started criticing me for interrupting their grand explanations of theology. They were certain they had lost an opportunity, while I was certain this kid heard what he needed to know. About 10 minutes later the kid came back. He looked me in the eye and said, "I know you're right. I need to give my life to Jesus....where do you guys go to church?"

My friends were dumbfounded, but this kid showed up next week.

The things of the Spirit are spiritually discerned. If the issue is salvation and you're speaking to an unbeliever, avoid talking to their brain at all costs.

[Fraught]

*

Ephesians 4:11 NAS

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,

Do you know the gospel message? And were you called to preach it? I think that pretty well covers it.

[Guest shiloh357]

You are reading more into the question than is there and then responding with your own "yuck" opinion of theology. You try to put on a tolerant face, but what really comes out in your responses is a decidedly advesrse view of theology.

Hey Shiloh - I know typing on the computer loses much in communication, but I know you've seen Yod arm wrestling theologically time and again on the board.

Do you think he's saying he hates the knowledge of God and the use of Scripture and such? Does that fit the character you have seen coming out of him?

Then considering how many people he's introduced to Jesus, I would think he knows a thing or two about how to evangelize. You know?

Neb, he was the one who used the word "yuck" in reference to his current view of theology.

Secondly, my point has been that Yod doesn't really understand what theology is. Like some others, he sees it as purely theological pursuit. I am not saying that he hates the knowldge of God (sigh). I am saying that he doesn't understand how theology relates to the overall picture. He can't seem to get past the difference between having an advanced degree in theology and the ubiquitous presence of theology in our daily lives as Christians.

I also did not intimate that he doesn't know anything about evangelism. My point is that his experiences are just that; they are his experiences. He is not the last word on the issue. Others of us have seen what happens when people go out on the street to witness without the basic skills and just relying the Holy Spirit and expecting the Holy Spirit to make up for thier lack of preparedness. That kind of presumption leads to failure and it is very dismal and publically embarrasing failure at that.

[Guest shiloh357]

For those who don't think theology is necessary in sharing the Gospel:

You have a person with whom you are sharing Christ and who is also not a believer. Their life is a mess. His wife has left him, his best friend is the one who his wife left him for, his son is drug addict and doing time in prison, he just found out he has lung cancer and his employer just laid him off last week.

He is suffering depression as direct result of the events transpiring and he has lost all hope. Though he hasn't said it in so many words, he seems to be suicidal and ready to just end it all.

It is your job to share the Gospel with him. How would you do so without talking to him about the mercy, love, and compassion of God towards him? How would you speak of the hope that is available through Christ? How would you share the way that the Lord can bring healing, wholeness and peace to His heart, mind and life?? How would you lead him to see that the most important and glaring need in his life is Christ and show him from the Scriptures how Christ can abundantly and meet that need and fill his heart to overflowing??? All of what I mentioned is "theology." The need for theology is inescapable most of the time. People have real needs and heart wrenching circumstances and questions that need real answers and there is NO answer you can give that would not require an ability to explain the nature/character and operations of God, and that is theology, pure and simple.

Sharling the Gospel is about sharing the message of redemption and everything that entails. It is about sharing who God is and the plan he has for our lives. You cannot share the Gospel without sharing the reason needs a redeemer in the first place. Understanding how they stand before God and how they can have peace with God is all about theology. The most basic tenets of the Gospel are theological.

Even in your personal testimony, you have speak of the person, nature, character and operations of God. You have to speak of your relationship with God which requires a theological diaglogue since you are relating your knowledge of God to the other person.

I realize there are speical situations where God may do something out of the ordinary, but generally speaking, as a whole, the majority of people we share the Gospel with are not people who live in remote parts of the world that require special, supernatural, mitigating circumstances. Most missionaries have a good education in theology because they have to be able to communicate the theology of the Gospel correctly in foreign languages.

[traveller]

I agree with Shiloh here. The thing is, I think many consider theology to be predestination, the Trinity, baptism, etc. But it's also explaining the character and position of God to a lost one. His longsuffering, His lovingkindness, His grace, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, His Sovereignty, His Glory. When we ask them if they know who Jesus is, and then we explain to them His mission on earth, isn't that theology?

While I don't personally know most of you in this thread, except through an online presence, I have met yod. I must say, he is a powerful servant with a heart on fire for God. He's one of the most moving, dynamic, passionate and humble warriors for Christ that I've ever had the honor of meeting. I must admit that when I first started reading this thread I was a bit taken aback. It's like a couple here are taking words to an extreme, in a way. The reason I say this is because yod is far from anti-knowledge. He's well versed in scripture. What he is though, in my opinion, is against those who approach the lost with less than a passionate heart.

Shiloh is the same way. Nebula is too. So is Fez. So is Dave. Passion for God leads to study of Him. For once we become "a new creature" we seek to know more. We can't help but do tht since the Holy Spirit within us points us to Christ. Theology is the study of God and God never intended to hide from us. He wants us to search Him out. He passed down and protected a huge book for us to learn from. I doubt He meant for us only to know a handful of NT books. All of it is important. As you all know. Is it important when evangelizing? I personally don't know how one can even begin to do so without it.

I think it's a matter of semantics.

Ok - some of you have posted how you have witnessed. Here's a simple example from me.

I've been a prayer intercessor for a long time. Years ago I was led to pray for my boss, a muslim leaning agnostic. I know, strange eh? Anyway, I simply prayed for him, day after day, that he would come to know Jesus as Lord. After a long period of time, one day out of the blue he came into my office and said, "ok - tell me about your God." You would have to know him to know how dramatic this was. There is a lot to the story that happened later, but the bottom line is this - God uses different means, different people, different tools to reach the lost. We are all fitly joined together to form the body, each piece unique and differently gifted.

BTW - I love all y'all. And through your use of theology, coupled with passion, I have learned something from each of you.

[enoob57]

I agree with Shiloh here. The thing is, I think many consider theology to be predestination, the Trinity, baptism, etc. But it's also explaining the character and position of God to a lost one. His longsuffering, His lovingkindness, His grace, His sacrifice, His forgiveness, His Sovereignty, His Glory. When we ask them if they know who Jesus is, and then we explain to them His mission on earth, isn't that theology?

While I don't personally know most of you in this thread, except through an online presence, I have met yod. I must say, he is a powerful servant with a heart on fire for God. He's one of the most moving, dynamic, passionate and humble warriors for Christ that I've ever had the honor of meeting. I must admit that when I first started reading this thread I was a bit taken aback. It's like a couple here are taking words to an extreme, in a way. The reason I say this is because yod is far from anti-knowledge. He's well versed in scripture. What he is though, in my opinion, is against those who approach the lost with less than a passionate heart.

Shiloh is the same way. Nebula is too. So is Fez. So is Dave. Passion for God leads to study of Him. For once we become "a new creature" we seek to know more. We can't help but do tht since the Holy Spirit within us points us to Christ. Theology is the study of God and God never intended to hide from us. He wants us to search Him out. He passed down and protected a huge book for us to learn from. I doubt He meant for us only to know a handful of NT books. All of it is important. As you all know. Is it important when evangelizing? I personally don't know how one can even begin to do so without it.

I think it's a matter of semantics.

Ok - some of you have posted how you have witnessed. Here's a simple example from me.

I've been a prayer intercessor for a long time. Years ago I was led to pray for my boss, a muslim leaning agnostic. I know, strange eh? Anyway, I simply prayed for him, day after day, that he would come to know Jesus as Lord. After a long period of time, one day out of the blue he came into my office and said, "ok - tell me about your God." You would have to know him to know how dramatic this was. There is a lot to the story that happened later, but the bottom line is this - God uses different means, different people, different tools to reach the lost. We are all fitly joined together to form the body, each piece unique and differently gifted.

BTW - I love all y'all. And through your use of theology, coupled with passion, I have learned something from each of you.

I feel the Wind when it blows by.... don't you family! God bless this response..... Love, Steven

[mizzdy]

At the end of the day what does Gods word say about it all?

Luke 21:14-15 Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

1 Cor. 2:4-5 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Proverbs 2:5-6 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

The Holy Spirt shold be relied upon 100% of the time. He is also the God of our intellect. The Holy Spirit and "intellectual information" are not necessarily mutually exclusive. You simply cannot separate the mind and intellect out from the heart and how the Holy Spirit works in a person's life and ministry. To assume that the "teacher" relies on intellectual information, but the evangelist has to lean on the Holy Spirit is to draw a line between the heart and the intellect that the Bible does not draw.

I agree with this Shiloh, it is the Holy Spirit who does all these things for us. And for the record I know more teachers who have gone through a four year bible college and all they seem to be able to do is parrot what their teachers taught them, I know only a few who told me they had to let go of a lot of what they were taught because after years of teaching it found it wasn't really biblical.

When we become His we become indwelled with His Spirit who is supposed to write upon our hearts His Torah, His ways and it is only through that Spirit we are able to speak Gods truths. If we relied on our understanding of theologies, (and ya got to admit theres a lot of them out there and not all correct in their understandings,) then this world is hopeless, lost simply because we are relying on our own, one reason God gives His Spirit like He did to Moses, Isaiah, the seventy that was sent out, was so we can witness Him to the world. Without His Spirit we are dead inside and unable to share even a bit of light that belongs to Him. Our teacher should be the Spirit, our guide the bible, every single person who wants to be an evangelist needs to be grounded in scripture of that we all agree I would think. For me I don't think going to school to learn 'theology' is necessary unless one is going to become a teacher, specialize in one thing or another. I do believe wholeheartily that God can and does teach us through His Spirit and as we come together as a body, in groups, we learn from one another also.

shalom,

Mizz