Normal evangelism behavior?

[ObligatoryFate]

I heard a preacher say that we should shame single women who are pregnant. This seems problematic in a lot of ways to me. First, knowing that these women have a conscience means that they already have some since of shame in their hearts - they have considered what others think long before others share their feelings on the subject matter. These women know that they shouldn't be pregnant and unwed.

Next, I don't remember reading about how Jesus shamed people everywhere he went. Everyone around Him was a sinner and He had a number of occasions to shame crowds of people, but instead He preached to men and women just as worthy of damnation as myself (and that pastor).

Also, I don't see how shaming this group of people (single pregnant women) is going to bring them any closer to knowing the saving grace of Christ. Seems to me that showing them Christ's great love and compassion is the only thing that they need - not more shame. I happen to have a great example actually. My own beautiful wife was an anathema, pregnant teenager (though married) and a group of Christian women had compassion on her, invited her to a Bible study, and she's now a very wise woman of God. Imagine if these Christian women had shamed her instead of opening their arms to her. My wife probably wouldn't have thought anything terrific of Christian women.

Finally, I heard of a teenage girl who pretended to be pregnant in high school - she wrote a book called The Pregnancy Project - who was treated fairly horribly. I thought about my wife's young pregnancy and about people who likely treated her shamefully. I thought of how teens are probably only more likely to commit abortion because of people telling them they'll be a failure.

I say all this because this particular preacher drives me nuts. He teaches his church to shame women who are unmarried and pregnant. He teaches his church by screaming 'gd' from the pulpit. He encourages his church to scrutinize others - especially their spouses.

I wonder, do I put too much emphasis on the Love of Christ? Do I need to scrutinize people more, and let them know that their sin is more detestable to me than my own? How should I be approaching sinful people? Do I need to show them their shame? What can you tell me about evangelizing? What advice and scripture do you offer to me (and my friend who loves this pastor)? Is this cultish behavior? Also, what do you think of picketing an abortion clinic?

 

[Somerset]

To my mind it is better to be pregnant than to have an abortion. I think shaming will merely drive them away from Godly people - you can support without approving of what they have done.

 

[ObligatoryFate]

I have quit listening to him, my friend has not - I consider my friend quite more wise than myself and I don't say that to be humble. I am not ordained, trained, nor vetted. I find your words wise and I thank you. I will continue to encourage my friend.

 

[gordo]

Great list there Joshua.

Would you be able to point me to some scripture that lays out why it is best for a minister of the Gospel to engage in evangelism and not a lay-person? I ask as there is a lady I know who struggles with evangelizing and I tell her things similar to the list but she doesn't get it. I figure maybe some scripture would help.

Thanks again for those points. Great stuff!

edit: Praise God I sent her that list and quote and she contacted me right saying thank you as it put her mind at ease. Funny thing is she said it was the exact thing she was praying about this morning.

 

[Fly Caster]

I heard a preacher say that we should shame single women who are pregnant. This seems problematic in a lot of ways to me. First, knowing that these women have a conscience means that they already have some since of shame in their hearts - they have considered what others think long before others share their feelings on the subject matter. These women know that they shouldn't be pregnant and unwed.

There's no sin in being pregnant and unmarried. If she is pregnant and unmarried she should remain pregnant.

Granted, sin was involved in getting her pregnant. And in bringing her from an unconverted to a regenerate state is going to require dealing with that sin-- along with all the others.

But the pregnancy itself is not an issue.

 

[KMK]

Would you be able to point me to some scripture that lays out why it is best for a minister of the Gospel to engage in evangelism and not a lay-person?

The question should be, "Where does Scripture teach that a lay-person should evangelize?" This discussion always gets tricky because everyone defines 'evangelize' differently. Basically, there is a formal 'preaching' and an informal 'preaching'.

Acts 9:3-5 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.*Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

Upon persecution, the early church (men and women) were scattered abroad and went everywhere preaching the word in an informal manner. However, Philip the Evangelist went to Samaria and preached unto them in a formal manner as a representative of the church. (See Acts 6:5)

The Lord uses both the informal preaching of laypeople, and the formal preaching of gospel ministers but to the latter is attached a different kind of authority and accountability. (See Eze 3:15-21, for example)

 

[KMK]

I say all this because this particular preacher drives me nuts. He teaches his church to shame women who are unmarried and pregnant. He teaches his church by screaming 'gd' from the pulpit. He encourages his church to scrutinize others - especially their spouses.

So why are you listening to him then? Just cut it out.

As for "evangelizing," are you a minister of the Gospel, trained, vetted, examined, and ordained? If not, then the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18, 18; Rom. 10:1-16) is not an assignment you should take upon yourself. However, insofar as being a good witness, and faithful servant of Christ in your place & station, I suggest these things:

1. Be excellent in your calling.
2. Be godly in your conversation and actions with others.
3. Be forward, in proper time (in other words, not if it's going to steal time from your employer or professor), to tell others of the great things Christ has done for you, adorning your testimony with good works.
4. Be ready to give an answer for the hope that you have within you.
5. Be salt, be light, and ready to give a biblical word in season.
6. Pray for your pastor and the ministry of Word & Sacrament at the church.
7. Invite others to church.
8. Be kind and loving to all, and at peace with all men, insofar as you are able.
9. Confess and mourn over your own sins.
10. Confess and mourn over others sins. "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law." - Ps. 119:136
11. The list can go on and on, but I'll leave you with one of the resolutions from Jonathan Edwards that gives us a good way to treat others and their sins:

Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
​

Thanks for this, Joshua. I am using part this in my sermon this morning.

 

[Edward]

First, knowing that these women have a conscience means that they already have some since of shame in their hearts - they have considered what others think long before others share their feelings on the subject matter.

I don't accept your basic proposition as a universal truth, thus your whole construct fails.

There's no sin in being pregnant and unmarried. If she is pregnant and unmarried she should remain pregnant.

Granted, sin was involved in getting her pregnant. And in bringing her from an unconverted to a regenerate state is going to require dealing with that sin-- along with all the others.

But the pregnancy itself is not an issue.

This gets it right.

And we should shame those who engage in fornication - both male and female - whether or not there is a pregnancy.

 

[jwithnell]

" ... so a Christian love to man is a kind of mediate or indirect love to Christ; and that justice and truth towards men, that are truly Christian graces, have love in them and essential to them. Love and humility, again, are the graces wherein consists meekness toward men." Jonathan Edwards in a sermon series on 1 Cor 13.

If we cannot demonstrate this, we cannot be a witness to the Christ that bestows grace on us.