There is no room for creativity concerning the content of the gospel. Paul clearly set out its terms, “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1Co 15:3-4).1 Warning the Galatians about the gravity of meddling with the message, he said, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:8).
Nevertheless, Paul did not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach to the presentation of the message. Recognising how important it is to connect with people where they are, he said, “To the Jews I became as a Jew …. To those under the law I became as one under the law …. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law …. To the weak I became weak …. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1Co 9:20-22).
Biblical Basis
No one understood better than Paul that salvation is the result of the heart’s apprehending by faith the truth which the Spirit applies by grace to the soul (Eph 2:8). Nevertheless, his by-all-means approach reveals that he also understood that to reach the heart, truth must overcome the twin obstacles of darkened minds and inflamed emotions. He was always sensitive to his audience’s circumstances, understanding and biases, and tailored his approach accordingly.
This is entirely consistent with God’s established, creative means of communicating with humanity. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psa 19:1). “All things were made through him [The Word], and without him was not any thing made that was made” (Joh 1:3). God’s ancient prophets often employed object lessons and visual aids (e.g., Jeremiah’s and Ezekiel’s dramatic action sermons), dreams and visions, frequently using graphic, apocalyptic imagery. The wisdom writers imparted profound truth through their poetry, songs, riddles and wordplay. The parables which the Lord Jesus employed were simple, relatable stories conveying profound truths, and were reinforced by remarkable miracles, which John explicitly calls signs, emphasizing that God was using extraordinarily creative means to impress the reality of Jesus’ identity as both Creator and Christ.
Educational psychologists advance various theories of learning, but all recognise that different individuals learn best in different ways. For example, so-called “visual learners” are said to process information by seeing and prefer to learn through images, diagrams and charts. By contrast, “auditory learners” profit most from discussions, lectures and audio content; music, rhythm and rhyme are good memorisation tools for them. Some learners gain more from reading, while others learn best while doing. These observations are just catching up with what the Creator has already revealed concerning communicating to His creatures. Everyone who attempts to present biblical truth does well to consider the many and varied ways in which God Himself presents it.
Historical Examples
The invention of the printing press is arguably the single greatest stimulus of evangelism in the modern era. This creative technology encouraged the Protestant Reformation and facilitated the wide-scale distribution of the Scriptures. In its wake, the preaching and teaching of the Word of God freed millions from the darkness and tyranny of Rome.
There are many examples of creative approaches to evangelism in the post-Reformation years. Visionaries such as George Müller, William Carey (The Father of Modern Missions), David Livingstone, Mary Slessor and Amy Carmichael used highly creative approaches, particularly in cross-cultural missions, breaking down barriers of suspicion and mistrust as they lived and preached the gospel. Pioneering missionaries established schools so that children could learn to read the Scriptures and be delivered from ignorant superstition, and hospitals so that the people might be free from the enslaving fear of the witch doctors’ medicine. In their day, these were highly creative enterprises, and many continue to bring much blessing in the gospel, especially among the poor.
Practical Applications
If we learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic, surely it reminded us of the renewed need for creativity in outreach in our own day. Indeed, many assemblies and individuals seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which the pandemic afforded. Drive-in gospel meetings and online broadcasts opened our minds to the possibilities of a little creative thinking when opportunity exists and occasion demands.
Not that online broadcasts were all that ground-breaking. Over the years, countless souls have been saved and blessed through radio and internet ministries, often reaching communities isolated from the gospel by distance or repressive regimes. A dear Arab friend of mine has seen a phenomenal work done among his almost 500,000 Muslim Facebook followers, many of whom listen secretly from strict Islamic countries.
In Malawi, natural disasters and endemic poverty have presented many opportunities for creativity in outreach. I’ve personally had the joy (?) of bringing food relief and preaching the gospel to hundreds of people left completely homeless and hungry by cyclones, or hygiene kits and bed-mats to prisoners packed 40-tight on the bare concrete floor of a miserable cholera-infected cell. They always listen intently to the gospel.
I do not subscribe to the maxim, “Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words.” However, such acts of kindness speak powerfully to those who feel abandoned and unloved, corroborating the gospel, which must always be expressed in words. When Paul commended the Thessalonians for their effectiveness in evangelizing Macedonia and Achaia, he spoke of how their work of faith and labour of love accompanied the sounding out of the Word of the Lord.
Creativity in outreach ought not to be limited to “the mission field” – wherever that is! Thank God for every assembly that has had the heart and vision to augment their regular gospel outreach with gospel teas, community suppers, drive-ins, drop-ins, VBS, ESL, food banks, friendship hours and toddlers’ groups. The list goes on.
While praying for servants who preach from the pulpit, spare a moment to remember those who also reach the lost in rehabs and refuges; at market stalls and county fairs; among homeless and addicts, prisoners and prostitutes; with Bible exhibitions and Seed Sowers distributions. You could maybe even join them! Or find your own creative outreach.
Finally, a word of caution. Creativity for creativity’s sake may become nothing more than the energy of the flesh. Paul said, “I do it all for the sake of the gospel” (1Co 9:23). Let’s be careful that everything we do advances the gospel and doesn’t actually hinder it.
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV.
