barna | Gospel tracts, sidewalk evangelism, street preachers with
bullhorns—all of these things seem like evangelistic efforts of
yesteryear. But if this seems true, where does that leave the state of
evangelism today? Is faith-sharing a fading practice, or does it simply
look different today? In all their innovative efforts to engage culture,
have Christians left this ancient practice so integral to their faith
behind?
Barna Group has charted evangelistic practices and attitudes for more
than two decades, and the latest study sheds light on the gaps between
evangelism in theory and practice, the social groups who are sharing
their faith the most, and the surprising ways economics color one's
outreach efforts.
Evangelism in Theory and In Practice
When asked if they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with others, 73% of born again Christians said yes. When this conviction is put into practice, however, the numbers shift downward. Only half (52%) of born again Christians say they actually did share the Gospel at least once this past year to someone with different beliefs, in the hope that they might accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
When asked if they have a personal responsibility to share their faith with others, 73% of born again Christians said yes. When this conviction is put into practice, however, the numbers shift downward. Only half (52%) of born again Christians say they actually did share the Gospel at least once this past year to someone with different beliefs, in the hope that they might accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
As with most convictions, there usually lies a dividing line between
theory and practice. When it comes to evangelism, that dividing line
looks different among various demographics.
Barna defines evangelicals according to adherence to nine theological
perspectives (defined in the details below), including one's personal
responsibility to share their faith in Christ with others. So in this
study, of course, evangelicals (100%) claim this responsibility by
definition. Nearly seven out of 10 have acted on this conviction within
the last year, meaning evangelicals have the highest rate of evangelism
among the various religious segments that Barna examined.
What stands out among the data, however, is that evangelicals also
have among the highest rates of failure in follow-through from
conviction to action when it comes to sharing their faith. Nearly
one-third (31%) believe they should evangelize, but have not done so—at
least within the past year.
Catholics (34%), on the opposite end of the spectrum, are the least
likely across Christian faith traditions to affirm their personal
responsibility to share their faith. Yet, this minority is also the most
consistent in linking their belief and behavior. Roughly one-third of
all Catholics (34%) believe they should evangelize, while one-third of
born again Catholics actually do.
