Questioning Evangelism: Engaging Peoples Hearts the Way Jesus Did. By Randy Newman.

Grand Rapids: Kregal, 2004, 269 pages. Reviewed by C. Walter Overman.

Anyone who has shared the gospel on numerous occasions has almost certainly
encountered objections. That is to be expected when speaking of God, sin, and judgment in an
ever-increasing post-Christian culture. As such, well-trained witnesses are prepared to respond to
common objections to move the conversation along through the gospel presentation. Randy
Newman, author of Questioning Evangelism: Engaging Peoples Hearts the Way Jesus Did, is
one such individual. Newman has decades of experience witnessing in his work for Campus
Crusade for Christ (now Cru). With years of experience and training, Newman was adept at
overcoming objections while sharing the gospel using gospel tracts. That is, until he met Artyum,
a young Ukrainian student who asked inquisitive, sincere, and philosophical questions that could
not be swept aside. Newman says, Artyum helped me rethink the task of evangelism (p.23).
In his effort to rethink the task of evangelism, Newman surmised that many Christians
are frustrated with fruitless evangelism stemming from an inability to respond to objections.
Concerning these frustrations, Newman says, Our frustration and intimidation, then, lead to a
condition that borders on evangelistic paralysis, or what one speaker referred to as spiritual
lockjaw (p.25). Rather than being silent, Newman suggests a new path for evangelism that is
rooted in Rabbinic Judaism, and in the life of Jesusa method that answers a question with a
question. Newmans approach moves evangelism away from pre-canned gospel presentations
that demand an immediate response. Instead, Newman advises a technique whereby Christians
learn to ask questions that force skeptics and unbelievers to seriously consider the flaws of their
worldviews. Questioning Evangelism, then, puts forward a method of evangelism that is more of
an ongoing dialogue designed to open hearts to the gospel, rather than a sales pitch that only
serves to harden the heart of unbelievers (pp.37-38).

Newmans method focuses on two fronts. The first combines wisdom and compassion.
Using the proverbs of Solomon as his guide, Newman gives four tips for wisdom regarding
evangelistic encounters: (1) Avoid arguments; (2); Recognize a fool; (3) Understand human
nature; (4) Remember the power of the tongue. In Part III, Newman argues that evangelistic
success requires compassion on the part of Christ-followers. Specifically, he cites the need for
Christians to repent of a lack of concern for the lost, praying for the lost, and learning to see the
world through the eyes of unbelievers and skeptics (pp.221-224). Questioning Evangelism also
touches on the need for Christians to jettison angry attitudes and adopt listening ears. When
Christians evangelize with wisdom and compassion, Newman says, they will be better prepared
to witnesses in the modern age. According to Newman, Becoming people of wisdom and
compassion is the prerequisite for any evangelistic technique (p.40).
Sandwiched between chapters on wisdom and compassion is Newmans presentation of
the practicalities of questioning evangelism. He first discusses the importance of learning to
ask questions of skeptics and unbelievers that begin the process of dismantling pre-conceived
notions and assumptions about Christianity and or the skeptics worldview. Such questions put
the questioner on the defensive and forces him to think in terms that he may never have
previously considered. Speaking of the need for these type of questions, Newman states, These
weapons topple the weak scaffolds upon which people are standing so they see their need for
something more solid (p.56).
Questioning Evangelism then moves to addresses a number of common objections that
Christians hear in every-day settings, regardless if they come in evangelistic encounters. Topics
explored include the supposed intolerance of Christians, the problem of evil, the authority of the
Bible, homosexuality and Christianity, marriage, and the lack of Christ-like behavior by some

Christians. In almost each case, Newman provides the reader with a series of potential questions
and resulting dialogue that are aimed at helping Christians overcome these objections while also
planting seeds for further discussion.
There is not much that distracts from Questioning Evangelism. It is a solid work that has
much value for Christians. However, a couple of points are worthy of consideration. First,
Newman states that his method is different from the more traditional forms of evangelism in that
it does not require rote memorization of all the right things to say, or of all the possible
objections and how to respond, etc. (p.40). Yet, as readers engage the material, especially in Part
II, the amount of apologetic information and the multiple lines of questions and resulting
dialogues for each objection will, in fact, require training and memorization. It is difficult to
imagine how most Christians could employ Newmans method naturally and confidently without
much learning and training. Otherwise, potential witnesses will remain less than confident in
their ability to engage with such questions, which will in turn lead to the silence that Newman is
seeking to avoid. In that sense, Questioning Evangelism is no different than other methods.
Secondly, and admittedly timidly, one must wonder if Newmans thesis regarding
Rabbinic Judaism will in fact bring about its desired goal. It is true that Jesus often answered
questions with questions. But it must also be remembered that Jesus accumulated only 120
followers by the end of his earthly ministry (Acts 1:15); a ministry that included throngs of
seekers and skeptics who witnessed his greatest miracles and heard his heart-piercing questions.
That is not to say that Jesus was a failure in regards to evangelism. But it is a reminder that the
human heart is naturally hardened and difficult to overcome with any one method. Nor is this to
say that Newmans thesis is completely flawed. But it does speak to the fact that Questioning
Evangelism should not be viewed as an end-all approach to evangelism.

On the other hand, perhaps Questioning Evangelism will find success when viewed as an
integral part of a churchs broader discipleship strategy. After all, Jesus method for evangelizing
the world focused on the training and equipping of his disciples, who he then sent into the world
to make more disciples. In much the same way, Newmans work will help equip and train
believers to make disciples in a modern world. His proposed questions, dialogues, and wealth of
apologetic data is indispensable for modern Christians. Therefore, those who seriously engage
Questioning Evangelism and learn to put to good use the books apologetic information in
combination with learning how and when to ask critical and sincere questions, will no doubt
discover a level of evangelistic success. Thus, when used as a supplement to a churchs on-going
discipleship strategy, the book can be enormously important for making disciples and thus
should be helpful to many churches.
Newmans focus on the need for Christians to exercise wisdom and compassion in their
encounters with unbelievers is also an invaluable message. Newmans chapter on wisdom (ch. 2)
sets the tone for the rest of the work. The chapter is superb and much needed in todays society.
The same can be said for his concluding chapters on compassion and his urgent appeal for
Christians to put away anger. Newman is on point when he observes, The spread of anger
across cyberspace is not helping the spread of the gospel (p.228). Indeed, far too many
Christians allow themselves to become ensnared in internet discussions that quickly unravel into
the realm of unholy discourse. Peruse any online forum or Facebook post that touches on one of
todays hot topics, and it becomes obvious that Christians are not always wise and
compassionate in their exchanges with others. The modern world could use a few more
Christians who can discern when and how to avoid argumentative behavior and when and how to
respond to the fool (pp.4345). Newmans advice here is much needed for today.

Overall the book is an engaging read. Newman is a fantastic writer who employs a
number of literary devicesincluding humorcombined with a wealth of knowledge that make
the book enjoyable to read and easily understandable for persons of all educational backgrounds.
While the goal of the book may be too lofty for some, it should inspire Christians to put the
books precepts into practice, and if that is not readily attainable, it should inspire most
Christians to want to do so. The book, then, serves as a challenge to Christians living in a postmodern, post-Christian society. It should challenge all Christ-followers to want to grasp the
underlying attitudes and worldviews of skeptics and unbelievers, and use that knowledge to
better engage them with the gospel.
Without question, then, Questioning Evangelism is an important work for the modern
church. It puts forward the most common objections to Christianity from modern minds and how
to engage such objections with cogent, winsome, and Christ-honoring responses. It will find its
greatest success, in all probability, within the confines of an on-going and well-balanced
discipleship strategy of a local church. Pastors and church leaders, then, would do well to put
Questioning Evangelism in the hands of their congregants, perhaps to be read together in groups
who can engage the topics together by learning how to ask the questions and the ensuing
dialogues through the use of role play. Perhaps then Newmans goal of conversations that lead
to conversions will be reached to its fullest intent (p.38).