Relationships or proclamation?

Just a fantastic quote from Dr. Kim Riddlebarger on the White Horse Inn podcast from June 15, 2008.  I didn't want to lose it, so it's being posted here. We hear so much about "relational ministry:" get to know people and slowly gain their trust enough so they can be evangelized (or some other definition where relationship trumps proclamation). Riddlebarger basically reminds us that the way most churches seem to encourage ministers and people to share the faith is not the way of THE Church. You can listen to the (shortened) podcast at this iTunes link or at their website.  The episode is called "The Gospel of Pragmatism."  It's quite excellent.

"What [evangelical] ministers don't seem to have any category for is the fact that in their job, in their office as minister, it's their job to proclaim the Gospel, the objective truth of the Gospel, from their pulpits.  And I think they forget that the primary way that evangelism takes place in the New Testament is not relational [ministry] but it's the proclamation of the Gospel by those to whom God has called and sent for that specific purpose."

- Dr. Kim Riddlebarger