Is It Time for a Revival of Personal Evangelism?

One key strategy for renewing obedience to the Great Commission in a digital age is to radically unplug from social media and use that time to cultivate face-to-face interactions. As church membership in America has declined, we must examine how social media consumption affects our ability to build real relationships and share the gospel.

The Decline of Church Membership and the Rise of Social Media

Gallup polling shows that from World War II until around the year 2000, about 70% of Americans identified as members of a local church. However, after 2000, this number began to decline sharply and now sits below 50%. Interestingly, this decline coincides with the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the widespread adoption of smartphones.

While correlation does not always imply causation, research increasingly links social media use to societal polarization, declining mental health, and exposure to harmful content. This raises an important question: How much of our social media use is truly beneficial, and how much distracts us from real-life relationships and evangelistic opportunities?

The Biblical Call to Gather in Person

Scripture emphasizes the importance of face-to-face community. Hebrews 10:25 instructs us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another.” Likewise, Hebrews 13:2 reminds us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”

Personal interactions are foundational to Christian fellowship, discipleship, and evangelism. While digital communication can serve a purpose, it cannot replace in-person relationships.

Practical Steps Toward Reallocating Time

Rather than spending hours scrolling through social media feeds, Christians can reinvest their time into real-world interactions. This can include:

• Inviting neighbors for a meal or cookout.
• Joining community groups such as the Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce.
• Organizing in-person Bible studies and discussion groups.
• Engaging in local service projects where relationships can form naturally.

A pastor at the Lampstand Conference shared how, as a church planter, he intentionally participates in various local clubs and organizations. His goal is to build relationships that create opportunities for evangelism. Christians can take similar steps by seeking out and even forming new groups to facilitate meaningful community engagement.

Making Space for Evangelism

If we want to create more opportunities for personal evangelism, we must make space in our schedules. This may mean stepping away from time-consuming digital activities and refocusing on being truly present with others. The more we engage in real-world interactions, the more natural opportunities we will have to share the gospel.

This is why discussions like the one led by Rev. Chris Byrd on Biblical Evangelism Today are so valuable. As we reclaim face-to-face interaction, we must also equip ourselves to effectively share our faith in those settings.

Conclusion

The digital age offers many conveniences, but it also presents serious challenges to personal relationships and evangelism. By stepping away from social media and investing in in-person gatherings, Christians can build stronger connections, foster discipleship, and obey Christ’s command to make disciples. Let us take this call seriously and lead the way in restoring meaningful, face-to-face community.

Note: Generative AI was used in creating this post. First, I made an audio recording of what I wanted to say. Then, I transcribed the audio using TurboScribe.ai. Finally, I transformed the transcript into a blog post using ChatGPT.