How does that differ from most evangelism?  Our experience is that many question "Are you saved?  If you died tonight, do you know you would go to Heaven?  Or is it possible that you would go to Hell?" We discussed this leading question in the Virginia's View article Seed of Fear . Although the concepts of Heaven and Hell are useful devices, does it really pay to scare people into accepting Christ as their Savior?  "A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still."

Some people are sincere in their acceptance of Christ.  They repent of their sin and then with God's help are able to change their lives.  They diligently seek him and then start doing things his way.  These are the good ground that received seed in Mark 4:3-20 .

Others are sincere but then backslide when things get tough.  For whatever reason, other things squeezed out the plant the sprang up from the planted seed.  These people may have sincerely received Jesus into their hearts but for the wrong reasons.  The cares of the world and their fleshly desires are more important than the fear of going to Hell. 

Others reject Jesus because they haven't ever known him.  They have concepts of him as the harsh God of Christians who allows innocent children to die  Or it's his wrath that caused the tsunami in Asia, killing all those heathens.  Maybe they think  he hates them because they drink or smoke, contrary to the doctrines of many churches.

II Peter 3:9 says that God doesn't want anyone to perish.  Is scaring them into accepting God because they are afraid of living in eternal torment of Hell, the best way to present God?  This presentation of the wrath of God is a seed of fear and causes much confusion.

Good seed needs to be love recognized in people's hearts.  Mark 4:14 tells us that the Word of God is the seed. Not fear, but truth and love as presented by Jesus Christ.  He said that he was the representative of God and only said and did what The Father wanted him to do. (John 8:28) , There is no record of Jesus condemning anyone but the Pharisees, the hypocritical religious rulers of the day that told others what do, but didn't love them enough to be kind. We, Mark and Virginia, believe that God wants everyone to believe from experience that God is Love. (I John 4:16)   

How can the truth of God's love be transmitted? Why would people want truth, unless it gives them what they most need, namely to be loved? This is the Gospel! God loves each of us, and wants us to come to him because of that. To believe him so that he can save us from the consequences of our own bad choices, as well as those of our ancestors.

We all make bad choices, some of which may be sin.  How many sinners  do you actually know? Actually, is it even up to us to declare someone as a "sinner?"  Is playing cards a sin?  Or is it only a sin if one become addicted to gambling.  Is one drink a sin, or only if one has a drink every night?  Is criticizing your friends inside your head a sin, or only if you tell someone else?  Only God can really designate sin. He knows our hearts.  The issue is that one  should diligently seek him and in so doing, will change.
 
The Pharisees  accused Christ of wrong doing because he spent time with "sinners."  In Mark 2:14-17 , we see him asking Levi to be one of his disciples.  Apparently Levi left his tax collecting booth and followed Jesus.  Within a short time, Levi threw a dinner party. The Pharisees were horrified when they saw the guest list. They wondered how Jesus who sometimes taught in the synagogue could rub shoulders with these people who were "sinners.  Jesus replied that with the "tongue in cheek" comment "those who are whole need no physician."  In other words, he went wherever was needed, spreading the good news of the kingdom of God, healing sicknesses, casting out demons and forgiving sins.

Jesus set an example not only to the disciples of the first century but to Believers of the 21st Century.  He said to go out, teach and baptize in all nations?  Was that scripture just for the original 12 apostles?  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8)   So it seems to me that we should follow what he did or said to do.

To do this, one has to get out and about.  Yes, it is important to spend time with those who are "like-minded in Christ." It strengthens and energizes along with iron sharpening iron. It is why we should assemble with one another, to provide peer support. But there is a time to be out showing other people the benefits of God's love and what Jesus did for us.  We find that most people are searching to fill a void in their lives.  They end up doing things that will provide a (temporary) satisfaction and keep their minds off the emptiness in their hearts.  Mark recently found himself in conversation with a former non-believer who decided there must be a God after extensive study of physics, chemistry, science and creation in general. After visiting many Christian churches looking for truth, he decided to convert to Judaism ("because they were willing to listen and discuss rationally, and even say they don't know, rather than preach at him things that he could tell were not rational, but rather empty hypocrisy or blind faith, or assumption taken as fact") Another man came and joined the conversation who had decided on Buddhism for the same reasons, stating "he couldn't be offended by anything Mark could say".  Needless to say, that was an interesting but very honest and very informative conversation. And I hate to say  it, but their fruits looked better and more genuine than that of many "christians" I've known.

Jesus showed people love by feeding them, healing them and loving them.  He readily forgave sins.  Albeit, he did tell people to go and sin no more.  Modern Christianity seems devoted to telling people how bad they are and the penalty they'll pay for it.  The question I present is "how can one help them to 'go and sin no more." What is sin? It is disrespect for God, to not believe him, and it is doing things that harm your neighbor or yourself. The breaking of the Law of Love, not non-conformance to a list of rules!

21st century followers of Jesus should follow his example by being His representatives at all times.  A good salesperson never forgets his or her product.  Our product is Jesus and His message of Love.

We need to be willing, as Jesus did, to rub shoulders with those who are less fortunate.  Pastor David Yonggi Cho built the largest church in Korea through cell groups.  These little groups grew because the members enthusiastically shared their faith with others and invited them into a safe situation where they could learn about God without being criticized and condemned.  Instead they learned about the loving God, and each other.

We need to set examples and build relationships with all peoples.  Proper evangelism is demonstrating a reality that people would want to be a part of. Accepting them with love, making them feel a part of you, and teaching truth in such a way that they choose Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (HS), wish to renew their  their minds and ultimately become participants with us, inviting more people the same way.  It's winning people to the Lord with honey, not vinegar. 

They should be able to see the benefits and blessings that come from being a Child of God and a Follower of Christ.  As they learn about Him, they become renewed. Instead of harping about their sins, give grace and let God work with them.  They will change or become the new creature that  would have them be.  (II Corinthians 5:17)   This is the journey to Joy through Love.

We have to trust the HS to do his job as people learn about God's love and their brother's love.  And that can only happen through discipling, that is teaching people about God.  Sending a world renowned evangelist into a place and count the number of souls saved is hot air unless the people continue to learn about Christ and His Way.

We believe that the church has been its own worst enemy.  Not surprising there are large contingents of people that want to suppress the church, oppose the church or get rid of it.   It's not so much avoiding truth as avoiding condemnation.

Therefore, we at BBtJ are working to build relationships with all kinds of people, to be a light and share Christ as opportunity arises.  Every day is exciting as we seek to do God's bidding which we believe is planting the Seed of Love.