Sunday, February 8, 2015

Don’t Think About How Far They Must Come

Sometimes we give up on sharing the Gospel before we even start. 

We can discourage ourselves when we mull over how much people need to know in order to come to Christ.  We overwhelm ourselves when we contemplate all their beliefs that have to change and how they need to completely reorient their lives.

Why would they even listen?!  Why would they ever want to believe?!

Give People the Opportunity to Hear

This type of reasoning is one of our problems in sharing the Gospel.  We think through it too much.  We come up with a whole bunch of scenarios that includes their religious backgrounds, lifestyle and objections.  In fact, we might find ourselves coming up with more reasons not to believe than others have probably ever thought of themselves!

I remember some of my early experiences with evangelism walking onto a beach full of fun or entering a crowded cafeteria and thinking to myself “I don’t think anyone is going to be interested.”  But every time the Lord led me to people who were interested, often very interested.  They didn’t all come to Christ, but many wanted to talk, argue or share their opinions, and were thankful for the opportunity.

Even last year I was sitting in an airport in south Asia next to a Muslim man.  We both had about six hours before our next flight and we were both exhausted.  I didn’t want to talk about the Gospel, thinking I am too tired for this and he doesn’t look like the type who would be interested anyway.  Then, only two minutes into our polite greetings he asked me directly about Jesus Christ.  So we joined our tables and discussed Bible passages he was troubled about for the next four hours.

I still need to remind myself to just share the message.  Stop overthinking it and be prayerful.  Follow where the Holy Spirit takes the conversation.  This is basic faithfulness in evangelism.  

Give People the Opportunity to Believe

Whether it seems people are ready or not, ask them to put their trust in Christ.  And then wait for their response.  If we don’t think they are ready we don’t ask.  But, just ask.  The worst they can say is “no” and this only means, “not now.”  So, that means that the day might be coming when they will say “yes.”

Asking outright impresses upon people the urgency of Gospel consideration.  Let’s them know it is not a nebulous concept to trust in Christ.  Explain it.  Always issue a general call, for you never know when God will issue His irresistible internal special call for salvation.

Sharing the Gospel does not have to be time consuming either, which is often another concern of ours.  It is okay to only cover what you have time for.  You can talk more later, or connect them with others, with resources or nearby churches.
Romans 10:13–14 ESV “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
There is More than One Goal

It helps to remember that the ultimate goal is not the only goal.  Perhaps it would be better to think about what might be the next reasonable step for the people with whom you are sharing.

Evangelism becomes relaxing when you can simply enjoy people for who they are as people created in God’s image and share in their lives.  Maybe they want help overcoming a certain objection that has been bothering them.  Maybe they need to meet and enjoy conversation with a genuine Christian.  Maybe they have to unburden themselves with hurt or pain.  Maybe it is time for them to open up about sin struggles in their lives.

There are likely many smaller goals along the way to salvation that must be met.  And what we often consider the goal—“being saved”—is really not the ultimate goal anyway.  Instead, it is entrance into an eternal life with the ultimate goal of knowing and enjoying God.   As Jesus said in John 17:3 ESV “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

Encouragement in evangelism comes when we enjoy the process and our assigned roles in it.
1 Corinthians 3:5–9 ESV “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.”

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