You genuinely want to share your faith, but it’s scary. What do I say? How do I start? What if I say the wrong thing? What if they ask me a question I can’t answer? What if I look stupid? What if they refuse to listen? What if they get mad?
Early in my Christian journey, I was enjoying my SoCal summer when I saw a crowd of people with huge, yellow signs that read, “Turn or Burn,” “God hates sinners,” and “There is no AC in Hell.” I walked up to one of the men holding a sign. He seemed angry. I asked him what he was doing, and he said, “Evangelizing.”
Many of us have thrown out the joy of evangelism because of a few who misrepresent it. Others, overwhelmed by the thought, just leave it to others to do.
This breaks my heart. Sharing about God and bringing people to faith is one of the greatest joys of my life. And it was one of Jesus’ most important missions when He was on earth.
Let’s check our hearts and confront the lies that keep us from sharing our faith.
Lie 1: “I am not called to evangelism.”
At first, I decided that evangelism was a calling given to only a few Christians. It made me uncomfortable, and I didn’t want to be “that guy.” God would never call me to something I’m not comfortable with, I thought. Read my full story here.
In Mark 16:15 Jesus said, “Go into all the nations,” he was speaking to all Christians, not just a small portion of them who felt called.
Not everyone is called to Africa, but everyone is called to evangelism. Your location is specific, but the call is universal. The day you were saved, you were called.
Evangelism is part of Christian life as much as prayer, Scripture, and worship.
When I realized that if I want to be more like Jesus, and his heart is for sharing with the lost, then I too must begin to share with the lost.
By not evangelizing, I was missing a massive part of the abundant life with Christ, and I was missing out on another way of connecting with God.
When we accept the fact that we are called, even if we feel scared, then we can start getting better at it. They always say, “the first step is acceptance.”
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Lie 2: “I don’t have the gift.”
What would happen if we applied this reasoning to any other area of life?
“Taylor, can you do the dishes?” “Mom, I would love to, but dishes really aren’t my gift. Sorry.”
“Taylor, you’re an hour late for work again.” “Well you see, sir, I don’t have the gift to wake up early. You can’t expect me to be on time if I don’t have the gift.”
These are not gifts. They are disciplines. So it is with Evangelism.
The Holy Spirit is inside of you, so you do have what it takes.
Yes, some may be more naturally skilled at it. Just like every other Christian discipline, some will be better than you at it.
Some are more naturally skilled at prayer, does that mean I let them pray and don’t develop that skill in my life? No. Learn how to pray here.
Some are more skilled at studying the Bible. Does that mean I don’t read the Bible? No Way! (If you struggle with Bible reading try this).
Some are more skilled at counseling or serving. Does that mean I never counsel or serve others?
We are all called to all of these elements of the Christian lifestyle. The beauty is that we can lean into others who are better in certain areas, and we can together, as the body of Christ, teach each other.
We must acknowledge that we do have the gift and that there is grace to learn how grow in it.
Lie 3: “I don’t have the personality type.”
Sometimes we think God only can use certain personalities to spread His Gospel. But check out the 12 men Jesus chose to be his first evangelists. Some of those guys were obnoxious, others timid. Some were gentle and soft-hearted, others harsh and loud. God used their unique personalities to reach individuals that no one else could reach.
It’s OK to admit we are scared and don’t feel adequate! God loves to use us in the areas where we are weak, because that’s where He gets the most glory!
2 Cor 12:9, But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… .”
The famous revival preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “Every Christian is either a missionary or an impostor.” Ouch. Thanks, Charles for that one.
God made you unique so you could fulfill His personalized purpose for your life. Your particular personality is a privilege and a strength when you let God use it.
The beginning journey towards evangelism starts with receiving the call.
God is looking throughout the world asking “Who will go?” He is longing to bring divine opportunities into our lives to share His gospel.
Would we be a people that answer, “Here I am. Send me.”
Would we be willing to give up the lies we have believed, and ask God to grow us in this area. He is so ready and eager to teach those who want to grow, and give you the grace you need to start sharing his word.
Start this week by asking God to remove any lies you have in this area. Then genuinely tell him how it makes you feel.
Finally, end with asking for help. He will be faithful to bring it.
Reasons I believe that believers don’t share the gospel. They have never gone outside of what they know? They are not active in God’s word on their own outside of Sunday or have never traveled on a missions trip and or believe the lie that they don’t need to belong to the body of Christ to be a Christian.
Wow Taylor these are so true! I know for me, these were all right on for years. I was raised in a Christian School, family, and Church and so never had to go outside of my Bubble. It wasn’t until I started getting into the word of God myself that I realized, holy cow, we are all called to this! Even then though it wasn’t until I went on a mission trip that I finally got the courage to start trying. So thankful God opened the door and gave me the push I needed to get out there and share!