Posted: 2/06/04
Relationships key in evangelism
and worship, Smith says
By Ferrell Foster
Texas Baptist Communications
HOUSTON–Both evangelism and worship are about relationships, Rich Smith told the Hispanic Evangelism Conference.
Evangelism is about “living in right relationship” with non-Christians, and public worship allows them to “see into our love relationship with the Lord,” said Smith, during an English language session of the conference. Smith is executive director of Levi Ministries, a Lubbock group specializing in worship-based discipleship.
Christians often have “turned evangelism into a head game,” appealing only to the minds of non-believers but not to their hearts and souls, Smith said.
| Both evangelism and worship are about relationships, Rich Smith says. |
“So many times when we're trying to lead someone to the Lord … we're trying to get the truth in their head.”
Christians need to begin to relate with non-believers as Jesus would. Citing the biblical story of the woman at the well, Smith said Jesus “related to her as a real person.”
Shifting to a discussion of worship, Smith observed: “When I think of worship, I think of one thing–relationships.” And relationships involve communication. “Worship is like prayer. They're close cousins.”
Worship, like evangelism, should involve both heart and head. Educators have discovered that people learn in different ways, Smith said.
Some are more “left brain” or analytical, while others favor the “right brain” and rely more on their feelings and creativity.
Jesus “approaches us in a way we understand,” Smith said. But the Lord is “after all of us.” In other words, he seeks to communicate with both sides of the brain.
“Nobody gets off the hook,” Smith said. Jesus communicates in spirit and in truth.
Music provides a connection between both spirit and truth.
“A worship song is a truth barb. … It's going to stay with you,” Smith said.
When word and song are mixed, the truth “sticks with someone longer.”
How does this work with evangelism?
“Your worship is a public display of affection” for God, Smith said.
“It's like the world having a chance to look in from the outside at your love affair with the Lord.”
Seeing such a relationship often leads a non-believer to say: “I want some of that.” Smith called it a “holy jealousy.”
The believer is then able to say: “You can have it. … God is available to all who will take him.”
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