Evangelism
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15)
When you analyze our lack of evangelistic success and skill, it boils down to four primary reasons.
- Ignorance. We just don’t know how to do it. We have no method or proven “technique” that allows us to feel comfortable talking to others about Christ. We don’t like a canned approach, so we wind up with no approach.
- Fear. Most of us are just plain scared. We’re afraid the person will ask us a question we can’t answer. Or he or she may become angry and tell us off.
- Indifference. Hard as it is to admit it, many Christians just don’t care. We think, “If that’s the way the person wants to believe, that’s fine. To each his own.”
- Bad Experience. More and more I meet believers who were turned off during their non-Christian years by some wild-eyed fanatic who pushed and embarrassed them, trying to force a decision. The result? A reluctance to say anything at all.
If it’s possible, let’s set aside all those excuses and start from scratch. In fact, let’s start below scratch. There is one principle that has helped me more than any other. It never fails to rescue me from dumb mistakes, and when I forget to employ it I suffer the consequences. Here it is: Put yourself in the other person’s place.
If we can keep in mind that the person is not coming from where we are—nor does he or she understand where we are going—it will help greatly. Not infrequently will we encounter people who have an entirely different mind-set or cultural background from ours, thus adding immeasurably to the complication.
Do you genuinely desire to strengthen your grip on evangelism? Are you honestly interested in sharing your faith with this generation of lost and confused people? Begin to cultivate these six guidelines:
- Sensitivity. Listen carefully. Be ready to follow God’s leading.
- Availability. Stay flexible. If the Lord is directing you to move here or there, go.
- Initiative. Use an appropriate approach to break the ice.
- Tactfulness. With care and courtesy, with thoughtfulness, with a desire to uphold dignity, speak graciously.
- Preciseness. Remember the issue is Christ. Stay on that subject.
- Decisiveness. As the Spirit of God is evidently at work, speak of receiving Christ. Make it clear that Jesus Christ is ready to receive whomever may come to Him by faith.
