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It’s mind boggling.
Recently I was confronted with the awful truth that, I don’t share the Gospel like I used to. I could lead. On the infrequent occasion when I do pluck up the courage, I feel so encouraged and blessed I’m excited and galvanised to share more.
So what exactly is it that causes us to hesitate to tell others about the gospel? Here are a few reasons people have shared with me over the years and a few of my own, as to why we opt out of sharing Gods truth.
I’m embarrassed about what people will think of me
The word ashamed means to be reluctant to do something through fear of embarrassment, humiliation or disgrace.
We attach very negative stereotypes/ideas to the responsibility God has given us to share the gospel, and fear is right at the top. We’re afraid to initiate conversation for fear of being ridiculed, we think that people we tell will have an immediate negative response, by blowing us off, looking at us differently or out rightly rejecting us.
We shy away from sharing the good news because we deem the cost to our personal self respect as too high. What can we do to re frame our thinking at the prospect of sharing the gospel, from embarrassment to boldness?
Paul says in his letter to the Roman church says,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” Romans 1:16
He’s was not embarrassed to live by the gospel or to share it, because he understood that it has the power to transform the lives of others for salvation, as it had done so mightily in his own. Contained in the gospel is the very revelation of Gods righteousness and goodness, the life-giving message freely given to a dying world.
Knowing that, could you ever say you’re ashamed of Gods righteousness or that your embarrassed about your own salvation? Absolutely not! You wouldn’t be saved had someone not shared God’s message with you, so keep in mind the salvation God granted you as being one of the biggest motivators as to why you should share the Gospel with others, without fear or shame.
The way I live is enough to point people in the right direction
I’ve heard this reasoning so many times, and perhaps at first glance there could be some truth to this over used statement. but can good christian conduct framed as, I don’t curse, smoke or drink, really be an effective way to evangelise?
The short answer is no, because it’s not good conduct God tells us to use as the vehicle to communicate his message, but words. Christian behaviour cannot be the defining quality, to express salvation in Christ, proclamation of the scriptures is. Am I saying only words qualify as the method of getting Gods message across? Yes, let’s apply scriptural tests to this claim.
Firstly, we cannot be greater than our Lord who left us the perfect example of how we should….. He left his heavenly abode, dwelt with us on earth, and expressed his mission with words, demonstrated by action.
‘I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ Luke 4:43
Secondly, Paul tells us in Romans 10:14,
“And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
According to Paul’s rhetorical questions, the reader can only respond with, “they cannot’, it’s impossible for anyone to believe in Jesus if they’ve never heard of him, or about him, hence someone must be sent to tell them.
Don’t get me wrong, the way we conduct ourselves privately or in front of family, friends, colleagues and co-workers is important, but be sure, no one is going to get saved by simply observing your conduct, we’ve been instructed to preach and share the good news, verbally and that we must do.
So, lead with your words and clearly express the gospel message in a loving, bold and straightforward way, and let your conduct follow.
No one is tolerant of the Bible any more
Apparently we’re living in a tolerant world or at least making our way toward one, where all opinions can be shared but not necessarily agree upon.
But broadness of thought can lead to a narrowness of mind, if those ideas are an assault to the opposing or popular view, not all ideas can exist in the same space.
The gospel is seen as an affront to modern ways of thinking and is deemed at least in this age as out dated and irrelevant even draconian.
Thankfully God is not interested in any of those things and certainly isn’t interested in the what man thinks is current or indeed relevant.
Paul addresses this in his letter to Timothy, he states, ‘Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season.” In other words preach when it’s popular and preach when it’s not.
No mater what the fashionable trends of thought in the age we live are, we’re to be obedient to preaching his word.
I’m not called to be an Evangelist
That may be true, but we are all called to evangelise. The great commission to share the gospel with the lost is given to all believers.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
It’s every Christians duty to spread the message of God and lead people to Christ, this we must do until every person has heard regardless of our gifts or calling.
I’m inadequate
If the feelings of inadequacy plague you, then you’re certainly not alone, we’re all inadequate in one way or another, (hence we needed a Saviour to rescue us) the men of God we look at as the great fathers of our faith, all felt inadequate at some point and in some way.
- Moses thought he couldn’t speak well- Exodus 4:10-12
- Peter acted impetuously and fear disabled him– Luke 22:54-62
- Jeremiah thought his age was a hindrance – Jeremiah 1:5-8
- Elijah fled/ran away because of fear -1 Kings 19:1-2
- Gideon felt he was too weak to be useful -Judges 6:15-16
Fearing you’re not enough, don’t have the right words, don’t know enough, too shy, too sinful to be useful, may be true but take heart, Gods work will never be hindered by your failures or inadequacies. Quite the opposite in fact, he loves to use weak instruments to make his glory and power known.
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” 1 Cor 1:26-29