United Methodism has lost close to 3 million members over the last 40 years. Seminaries and official church agencies have often ignored or diminished the need for evangelism, preferring to focus on social justice. But the annual United Methodist Congress on Evangelism rebuts this trend and calls the church back to its original Wesleyan emphasis saving souls.
Willimon outlined the challenges confronting laity and clergy regarding effective evangelism. Pragmatism, he said, has turned faith into a self-improvement strategy, something that is “justified by its effects on self esteem, inner peace, etc.” Jesus is sold with the promise of being “helpful. We don’t preach Christ because He’s helpful, we preach Christ because He’s true.”
I can’t help but think that there is hope for us yet. We may be losing members, but a return to true evangelism for the purpose of winning souls to Christ “because he’s true” may be just what we need.
I agree about the need for evangelism. Self esteem and social issues are nice but not essential. Lots of groups do that stuff. People are seeking the Lord when they come to church and no place else offers Him.
I am one of the 3 million who left the UMC. My theology is very much Wesleyan/Evangelical/ Holiness. I sure wish the UMC still stood for that rather than save the earth, don’t use styrofoam cups, help the migrant workers, ordain self avowed practicing homosexuals, support abortion, get mad at Israel and all those other divisive issues. People need the Lord, not issues.