I just googled synonyms for evangelism because I know some people hate the word. Sermonizing, propoganda, brainwashing…yikes…I guess I’ll stick to evangelism. I know this topic isn’t the most comfortable, but here we go….
Recently, I came across a post that resonated with me so deeply that I put it by my sink and so I could pray it every morning.
Picture of my Sink–circa 2013…Just in case you needed a visual…
In his open letter to his (and my) denomination, the author began by confronting himself to love Jesus more deeply and tell others about Him.
“I am asking God to put people in my life where I can show His love, and tell them about my Savior…My life’s desire is to glorify God by loving Him with all my heart. And I have no right to say that unless I am so much in love with Him that I “am unable to stop speaking about what (I) have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Evangelism must be as natural to me as breathing.”
He ended by pleading with pastors and church leaders to be an evangelistic example in the churches God has called them to serve.
His final line I have turned into my personal plea. “God, break me until I am ALL YOURS, telling others about Your Son every day.”
Since praying this letter, God has been stirring in my heart a desire both to be a missionary in my community and to lead others in my church to think like missionaries.
Only…it’s just so HARD.
Many people claim to believe in Jesus. However, it seems that very few are in the habit of sharing Jesus with those who don’t know His goodness. There was even a point in time where our local church culture didn’t seem too concerned about personal evangelism.
A couple of years ago, I was talking with another church planting wife about this. “It kinda concerns me…” I said to her. “I can’t really think of a time when someone from church has asked me who I’m sharing the gospel with and how they can pray for me about that. And I feel awkward asking people that question because I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or judged if they aren’t sharing their faith on a regular basis. So, it feels like evangelism is almost a taboo subject…IN THE CHURCH!!”
In the past year, I have felt the culture of our church shifting as evangelism is becoming a normal conversation and our people are being equipped in gospel fluency. I no longer feel like it’s a taboo conversation in our church, and for that I am thankful.
I want to spend the next couple of blog posts encouraging us to think about this delicate but important subject.
What has your relationship with evangelism been like? Is it something you’ve left to other Christians because it intimidates you? What are your biggest fears about sharing Christ?
I want to explore these questions and help us all examine the barriers we have to sharing the gospel. I also want to equip you with resources so that talking about what Christ has done in your life becomes natural.
If gospel conversations aren’t happening and we aren’t really reaching out to where it’s uncomfortable…then are we really doing what Jesus has left us to do?
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Good questions. Ones I’ll be pondering.