The burning building

By On January 27, 2011 · 11 Comments

Christians frequently compare evangelism to warning someone that they are in a burning building. We use this analogy to defend ourselves against the accusation of being unloving. We claim that our hysterical behavior and intensity in our persuasion are justified by the urgency of the danger. Wouldn’t it be unloving to not warn people of the wrath to come?

I agree with the concept with regards to  talking to people about God. I do not agree with the analogy in regards to the techniques it encourages us to employ.

People will flee a burning building as soon as they are able to comprehend the building is on fire. Up to that point nobody will listen to you no matter how right you are (or at least think you are.)  They are only going to think that you are completely crazy or annoying.

We can tell people that the building is on fire, but if they do not believe us then they will not follow our directions to the exit.   There is a reality that we are sinners and that we will pursue our natural self unless something changes in our hearts.  It does us no good to try to drag someone with us to heaven kicking and screaming.

As Christians whatever strategy we use to tell others about Jesus it must first start in love, because this is where God starts with us.  Paul tells us that God loved us while we were yet sinners.  God worked in our lives and loved us before we were even willing to love him back.  He directed events so that at the right place at the right time he would reveal himself to us in a way that would be irresistable.

There are multiple examples of Jesus interacting with people who were described by the gospel authors as sinners.  Jesus was always kind, compassionate, and loving toward them.  It seems that he loved them first and then told them to go and sin no more.  The only people that drew out his anger were those who acted in spiritual pride and self righteousness, not the “sinners.”

We do need to discuss sin.  The cross is an offensive remedy to an offensive problem.  But we seem to like to tell people how sinful they are not because we care about them, but because of how convinced that we are right and everybody should agree with us.

Instead of spending all of our time and energy telling people how much we dislike them and how inferior they are to us, why not just tell them how good God is?  Everybody wants to be loved and God is the greatest lover anyone can know.

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  • Stephen Cox

    Amen Dear Brother! I fear Rivivalism and extreem methods are still in vogue in many circles. I was just like this until recently when the Lord seemed to do a great work in my soul after much chastizement for a lack of humility,compassion and sinceretity for the lost and even my Brethren. I agree with what you have shared and will continue to take it to heart. Thanks for the reminder as led of the Spirit to share. John 3:16,Romans 5:8 this text in Romans was the one the Lord used to bring me to trust in Him and come to understand His true love to me personally.

  • Stephen Cox

    Amen Dear Brother! I fear Rivivalism and extreem methods are still in vogue in many circles. I was just like this until recently when the Lord seemed to do a great work in my soul after much chastizement for a lack of humility,compassion and sinceretity for the lost and even my Brethren. I agree with what you have shared and will continue to take it to heart. Thanks for the reminder as led of the Spirit to share. John 3:16,Romans 5:8 this text in Romans was the one the Lord used to bring me to trust in Him and come to understand His true love to me personally.

  • http://www.confessionsofalegalist.com Jeremy Statton

    Thanks for sharing Stephen.

  • http://www.confessionsofalegalist.com Jeremy@confessionsofalegalist

    Thanks for sharing Stephen.

  • Aaron Hoak

    To be fair, some who use the illustration do so more to show the urgency to the one who needs to be telling others of the love of Christ, rather than to justify “hysterical behavior and intensity.” We often act as though we don’t really believe people need to hear of Christ. The illustration can be useful to remind us that people really do need the gospel.

  • Aaron Hoak

    To be fair, some who use the illustration do so more to show the urgency to the one who needs to be telling others of the love of Christ, rather than to justify “hysterical behavior and intensity.” We often act as though we don’t really believe people need to hear of Christ. The illustration can be useful to remind us that people really do need the gospel.

  • http://www.confessionsofalegalist.com Jeremy Statton

    Certainly the analogy is interpreted and defined differently by different people. I agree that there is a necessity at hand based on a real danger and that the analogy adequately depicts that. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday.

  • http://www.confessionsofalegalist.com Jeremy@confessionsofalegalist

    Certainly the analogy is interpreted and defined differently by different people. I agree that there is a necessity at hand based on a real danger and that the analogy adequately depicts that. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday.

  • http://topsy.com/www.confessionsofalegalist.com/2011/the-burning-building?utm_source=pingback&utm_campaign=L2 Tweets that mention The burning building | Confessions of a Legalist — Topsy.com

    [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by jeremystatton, jeremystatton. jeremystatton said: New blog post. What is wrong with the burning building analogy for evangelism. http://wp.me/p1dJ1K-7r [...]

  • http://sonfollowers.blogspot.com/ Michael

    Good post. I especially agree that we must reach out in love rather than judgment and harrassment. Good luck harrassing someone into heaven… I also agree that it starts with getting them to believe that the building is on fire. If they don’t believe that they need a savior, why would they want one?

    Son Followers Blog

  • http://www.confessionsofalegalist.com Jeremy

    Thanks for commenting. For me the goal is to be their friend first, then try to fit in the idea of the smell of smoke, and then let God do the rest.

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