The Gospel Blimp—Or, A Dummies Guide to Overcomplicating Evangelism

A summary of the satirical book-turned-movie The Gospel Blimp

What if evangelism was easier than we previously imagined? What if today’s technology could make reaching your neighbors for Christ simple and cost effective?

In the satirical book The Gospel Blimp (And Other Parables), a group of Christians ask those very questions and find their ‘solution’ in buying a blimp that can share Bible verses by loudspeaker and drop special tracts (called ‘fire-bombs’) all over their community.

No more worries about awkward over-the-fence conversations with neighbors and the long work of building a relationship with them—the blimp can and will take care of it.

Unfortunately this can be the attitude of many believers and churches. This is why Mark Dever gave this book to deacons when he started pastoring at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

This funny-yet-sad satirical book exposed a falsehood many have come to believe: sharing Christ cannot be as simple as loving conversations with friends and neighbors, but must be something more flashy and complex.

How do we fall into this mistake?

• Leaving evangelism for the ‘professionals’ (pastors and evangelists).
• Going half-way across the world on a short-term missions trip and neglecting to care for or share with our neighbors and those in our community.
• Solely relying on events at church for evangelism instead of building relationships with nonbelievers, sharing the gospel with them, and praying for spiritual fruit.

Watch Gospel Blimp below (released in 1967). (Sorry for the low resolution of the YouTube video.)

Don’t overcomplicate evangelism (or discipleship).

Let’s follow Scriptures model and prayerfully proclaim the gospel to people, patiently waiting for the Spirit to work in hearts for faith and new life in Christ.

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