It can be frustrating when we try to share the good news about Jesus, especially when it seems that Christianity has no relevance in people’s lives. They may believe in God, but committing to a religious practice often feels like a barrier. This can leave us feeling dejected and powerless, as if our efforts are in vain.
The reality is that the Gospel is relevant: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23), and the Gospel is the “power of God for salvation” (1:16). The challenge lies in persuading their hearts about what they truly need. This is not something we can accomplish alone. God’s Word pierces the heart and soul. But how do we reach the point where we can proclaim the good news to them?
Unfortunately, many churches, even within our own fellowship, have tried to address the relevance issue through methods other than evangelism: entertainment, emotionalism, consumer-oriented religion, or “seeker-sensitive” approaches that prioritize the desires of seekers over truth and faithfulness. While these may appeal to our fleshly desires, they do not satisfy the longings of the soul.
For someone to see the Gospel as relevant, they need to recognize that it addresses their needs. Consider the different ways people came to Jesus. Some sought a Messianic King, others wanted food, and some sought healing. In their pursuit of physical needs, they discovered something much greater: the Word of God in the flesh. Jesus cared for their physical needs, but not at the expense of the truth. Not everyone realized they were eternally lost, but they did recognize their physical needs, such as hunger, illness, poverty, loneliness, and suffering. This doesn’t mean we should prioritize physical needs first (e.g., entertainment), but we must be aware of real needs and address them with compassion.
For someone to see the Gospel as relevant, they need to observe that our lives are transformed rather than conformed (Rom 12:2). Do people see us as those who are made new in Christ, or would they be surprised to learn we follow Jesus? If there is no difference between our lives in the world and in the church, why would people see the value in being a Christian? Many churches attempt to be relevant by conforming to secular culture rather than being transformed. Jesus stood out in first-century Judea because he was different, not because he fit in.
For someone to see the Gospel as relevant, they need to understand that the Gospel is truly for them. Through God’s Word, we must help them ask, “Why does this matter for me?” They need to recognize their own state of sinfulness, as well as God’s loving response to their plight and His offer of redemption. They must see that the Gospel is still relevant today because, without it, no one would be saved.
Ideas adapted from George Hunter, The Contagious Congregation (1979).