The Nashville Predators and Modern Evangelism

“To be sure, some people insist with great bravado that they are neither sinful or guilty, and that they do not need Christ. It would be quite wrong to seek to induce guilty feelings in them artificially.”

“Our Christian duty is rather, through prayer and teaching to bring people to accept the true diagnosis of their condition in the sight of God.” - John Stott from his commentary on Romans

If the Nashville Predators win their game at Detroit tonight they will be the number one team in the National Hockey League. The Predators are having a great season. The only part of the season that hasn’t been great is ticket sales. Last week Predators owner Craig Leipold announced ticket sales are low and without more support from the community the Predators might have to consider relocation. Callers flooded local radio shows with one basic idea – if people would just try hockey they would love it. There is a push amongst Predator fans to convince people who haven’t been to a game to give it a try. Many callers called to tell of their “conversion” experiences. Story after story was told about going to one hockey game and being hooked forever. I can tell the same story. I went to the last game of the Predators first season and have been a huge fan ever since.

I think trying to get people in the seats is a great strategy to grow support for a hockey team. However, it is not a biblical approach to evangelism. Sadly, it is the strategy most commonly used by churches today. There is a theory modern evangelicals ascribe to that says people would love Jesus if they could just get to know him. It is taught that what unbelievers are basically lacking is the “right” exposure to the Christ.

This belief has led to many churches inventing and reinventing a version of Jesus in order to get people in the seats. New versions of Jesus are popping up all over the place. Jay Baker (son of Jim and Tammy Fay) has recently announced that God told him homosexuality is not a sin. Joel Osteen has recently stated that he doesn’t know if those who do not profess faith in Christ will be kept out of heaven. Last month I read of a pastor calling Jesus casual. Casual men do not find themselves nailed to crosses!

In regard to evangelism the business of the church is to love all people the way Christ has loved us. Jesus loved in word and deed. We are called to lay down our lives for all, including those who have different beliefs than our own. He died for us while we were his enemies. Surely, those who he has called his own will love their enemies as well. However, this “deed” love is incomplete without “word” love. Jesus always told the people he loved about their more pressing spiritual need. Truly loving people includes telling them of their need for a Savior. I love the quotes from John Stott that I began the post with. Our duty is to lead people to accept the true diagnosis of their condition. Before the gospel is good news it is bad. The bible tells us we are spiritually dead in our sin. Without Christ, (the only life) we are destined to spend an eternity experiencing the wrath of God in hell. The wrath of God has been put on Christ for all of those who are saved. This isn’t cheap tolerance. This is the voluntary suffering of true forgiveness that comes from the God who is completely loving and completely just. To quote the angels, He is “Holy! Holy! Holy!”

The biblical version of Christ may not fill an auditorium, but it is our only option in telling the world about him and his gospel. Our duty is to pray, preach, and inform unbelievers (and believers) about our great need for Christ. After that is done we allow the Holy Spirit to convict the hearts of those who have heard the gospel. As John Stott says, "it would be quite wrong to seek to induce guilty feelings in them artificially." Only the Holy Spirit is able to do such miraculous work.

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.