Evangelism
The word "evangelism" often strikes fear in both Christians and non-Christians alike. Many who aren't Christians are concerned about being proselytized. After all, why should I convert to your faith? Isn't my faith good enough? Why can't Christians just leave me alone? You've got your way, I've got my way, and don't all ways lead to Heaven anyways? These are legitimate questions.
There is a story about Thomas in the Bible who asked a similar question... "How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Did you notice that? Jesus said that not only is He the way to a personal relationship with God but that He is also the TRUTH. If you were driving your car on a road with no warning signs that leads straight to a cliff with a 5,000 foot drop off, wouldn't you want someone to warn you about this truth? This is why Christians tell you the truth about hell, heaven, sin, forgiveness, faith, repentance, and Jesus as the truth. We truly believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the source of eternal life. And we want you to be saved from that "cliff" leading to eternal death. That's why we share the good news with as many people as possible.
But the reality is that many Christians are afraid to be witnesses of the Gospel. Sometimes this is because we don't like talking to people we don't know very well. Then ask God for courage to develop new relationships with people. Broaden your circle of influence. There are so many creative ways to make new friends so that you don't have to share the Gospel with complete strangers, but rather you can share the Gospel with friends!
Sometimes Christians balk at being more involved in evangelism because they feel like they wouldn't know what to say. One of the ways that the church can help is by equipping you in this area. Writing out your testimony of your own salvation experience is a wonderful way to start. You don't have to be the most articulate orator to simply tell others how God has changed your life. As D. T. Niles said, "Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread." Praise the Lord that we don't need a degree in theology to become involved in evangelism!
Did you know that you can be an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-20) and a light for Jesus (Mattthew 5:16) without saying much? Our church has Gospel tracts and literature that you can give to others that communicate the Gospel message for you. Feel free to take some and give them to people that God brings into your life. Another way to evangelize without many words is by simply serving others. This can communicate God's love much deeper than a thousand words. Actions often speak louder than words. Our church has outreaches in the local community where we distribute clothes and food as an expression of our love for God and others. But notice that serving others has a longer lasting goal. Jesus addressed this in Mark 8:36 when He asked, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" In other words, feeding and clothing people is only a temporary blessing, but if we want to be an eternal blessing, we will also give the salvation message.
In other words, let us not just be people of action… without words. Paul wrote in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” You see, as we serve, questions will arise, and this gives opportunities to verbally express the Gospel. Sometimes words leads to action, and sometimes action leads to words.
So in conclusion, evangelism is simply obeying Jesus when He said to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel" (Mark 16:15) and that we are to "be my witnesses ...to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). It is an amazing thought that Christians have been entrusted with such a vital task! God could have chosen angels or other methods to communicate the Gospel, but He allows us to have this privilege of being involved in this work that He is so passionate about. Jesus said in Luke 10:19 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” So Christian brothers and sisters, let us follow Jesus' example and become more involved in evangelism.