It is a message that can bring joy, purpose, and meaning to the lives of those who have only struggles, sorrow, and pain. Success in evangelism is measured in our obedience, not the outcome. Englishs conversion story illustrates this. Evangelism is a cornerstone of the Christian faith and can be a great way to connect with people and share your passion in a tactful, friendly manner. Please refer to Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." This article is a response to a spiritual conundrum submitted by a reader. 1. It is clear and helps us to know who God is and what we should do out of our love for him. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. If they are social or material, you are no better than a salesman. who should do it? Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, forso they persecuted the prophets who were before you. This is not on my tongue. We believe that evangelism is extraordinary. Do you believe that too? Why I Hate Evangelism. To create this article, 65 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. That is why they are so persistent. One of the driving forces behind the Christian compulsion to evangelize has been the belief that non-Christians go to hell. There are currently 320 Million people living in the United States. Avoid evangelizing around churches of other faiths and other places that might be contentious or difficult. And so it is our job as Christians to teach and inform those who are seeking understanding and enlightenment. We know that Jesus will not come until the gospel has been preached to all creation. First off, it builds a little confidence to have someone who also believes and can fill in any gaps in your knowledge. 1. This list is by no means all encompassing, and im sure you can probably add an addtional ten reasons to it yourself. From my perspective, there is the certainty that God wants to save every one of us. How has your heart, your mind, your life changed for the better since you accepted Jesus Christ? So Christians are expected to convince non believers who want empirical evidence of God's existence, when the bedrock of Christianity is faith in Jesus? After Jesus led him through the law (which shows us our sin and need for the Savior) and told him the cost of discipleship, the young man went away sorrowful. There are many people out there who are in pain and are struggling through life. As you spend time with your friends, doing things they love, you earn the right to be heard. And certainly Paul had reason for fear. If youve never thought about it before, consider writing downhow you came to know Jesus. The young man approached Jesus, interested in hearing about how to get to heaven. Going out on your own can be a frightening thing, but that is never the experience of the Christian. In summary, the Vatican says that mission to the Jews is both unnecessary and insensitive, and should therefore cease immediately. Seven Myths About Catholic Evangelization | Catholic Answers Even the people who seem to excel and have the gift of evangelism readily confess their weakness. Your story is powerful! 1. These are all excellent questions. Many kept right on living evil and destructive lives. Any sort of questioning or reasoning about Gods commands is considered hubristic and dangerous. 4.) In doing so, it deprives us of some of the greatest and most effective tools in combating depression, despair, and what is medically called mental illness.. After Peter and John were threatened by religious leaders for preaching about Jesus, they prayed with the church, Lordgrant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness (Acts 4:29). wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. To learn how to recommend a church to a person, keep reading! Strengthen your grasp of the gospel so you can share it with others by taking the free course Grasp the Gospel by Dr. Scott Lothery. Once again, its not our job to shove anything down the throats of people who are not interested. But the choice of whether to accept that salvation remains in our hands. That is due to a lack of training and preparation from their church leadership, as well as a lack of personal bible study on their own part. 7 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Fear Evangelism | Open the Bible If we were honest, the first reason why many of us fail to regularly share the gospel with others is because we are afraid to share the gospel with others. If your church has provided you with tracts or specific documents they hope to disseminate, give them to as many people as possible, interested or not. It will happen. That, along with the scripture found in Matthew 28:1920 which says Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing 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, and surely I am with you always, even to the very end of the age, amount to what you could call the Christian Statement of Purpose. Instead, he not only accepted their worship, but went on to say, All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me., All power in heaven and on earth? There is often a strong element of fear of punishment if one does not obey. Perhaps that wasnt it. Get a group together to evangelize as a unit. Many Christians find themselves fearful when thinking of sharing the gospel. Remember the new convert will not be spiritually mature right away. To create this article, 65 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. People are really dying and going to hell. The Lord is always reaching out to the unbelievers, but you can still get in his way if you are a hypocrite. When asked, a number of Christians indicated they dont evangelise because they truly dont know what to say or how to say it. Yes, the purpose of worship is to get us to imitate the Lord. Check out this video before we break it down: Chances are, you already know people who havent heard the Good News! God is the One who gives new life. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Jesus tells us His Great Commission:Gothereforeand make disciples of all nations.(Matthew 28:19) While its certainly easier to spend time with other Christians,we are called to go out of our immediate circle and reach those who would never receive an invitation if we didnt reach out. Have some Bibles on hand to gift to the most receptive of the people you communicate with. Earlier in His teachings, Jesus also taught If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayerMatthew 21:22. Usually, Christians are confronted either with the fact that they want to believe but have doubts, or they really dont believe at all. What sort of people refuse to repent from their evil deeds, and harden their hearts against people who come among them to cast out demons and heal people who are sick? 2. And when they had prayed, Luke records, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31). I do not give to you as the world gives.. May your ministry find great success. As I said in the article If theres One God, Why All the Different Religions? Think about evangelism as proclaiming the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2.9) Think about Jesus with the woman at the well (John 4). Our weekly email connects you to the latest content and resources. That doesnt mean we will have all of the answersnobody has all of the answers! When I am not active evangelistically I am actually saying, They do not hallow your name, but that is ok with me. Listen, evangelism is about worship before it is about getting people out of hell. In Acts 17 we read that Paul rolled into Athens and made some observations. Kevin loves spending time with his wife, Jazlynn, and young daughters. They were sent out to call people to repentance, to cast out demons, and to heal the sick. Jesus said, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Thanks for sharing. How does this happen? First, notice that when the eleven disciples saw Jesus, they worshiped him. And God has sent us to proclaim that good news to everyone who is in need of it, and has ears to hear it. It is because the gospel is powerful! If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do itJohn 14:1214.. Often times we do not open our mouth to tell people about Jesus because we dont believe they will believe it! Most Christians would agree that evangelizing means spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Wont you pray with me to ask God to fix us and make a change? God "at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20) Ask Him for . He knew the temptation to shrink back when he had an opportunity to share the gospel, so he asked other believers for prayer. Once you have a group, pick a high-traffic area, like downtown business districts, street fairs, or college campuses, to reach as many receptive people as possible. For more on this, take a look at the YouTube channel of Dr. Jerry Marzinsky. Who wants to be coerced by fear into a relationship with God? Why do those people need to have a testimony against them? (I am assuming that the thing they would not accept was Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. It then becomes a one-sided conversation with us doing all the talking and no listening. If youre afraid to talk openly about your faith alone, get a group to go out together and support one another. The Need for Evangelism | Desiring God Hear their heart cry for relief. .. Keep your cool always. ", lesson in the article also helps anyone who've ever thought of witnessing to those at work or among friends and family. ", evangelist and the sinner. I have this ongoing tension and resentment with fundamentalism (which I so need to let go of). This morning I was reading Deuteronomy and I was struck for how Moses pleaded for rebellious Israel. 28. To whom is it to be directed? This does not include informal gatherings or unofficial congregations not affiliated with any specific denomination or organization. There is a positive side of evangelicalism as well. Thats what motivated me to switch from Catholicism to evangelical Christianity. Personally, a guarantee of certain heaven isnt really a big draw for me. Myth 1: Evangelization is Unnecessary Because Everyone is Going to Heaven. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. He anchored his whole message in the truth of worship. Evangelism is hard. But thats not how I think of God. If so, they are very rare. He gave the Church the unending task of evangelizing as a restless power, to stir and to stimulate all its actions until all nations have heard his Good News and until every person has become his disciple.15 29. 25:21; 1 Cor. She is passionate about meeting students and university staff where they are and working together to explore truth, beauty, goodness, justice, and happiness through the deep intellectual tradition of the Church. So I do think of it as a crutch for those who are weak in faitha crutch that should be left behind when ones faith has been strengthened enough to walk more freely. 2.Do you believe that evil spirits are the same as demons or do you belive there is a difference? If the person you are trying to convert does not wish to discuss or listen, then talk to someone more receptive. When asked, a number of Christians indicated they don't evangelise because they truly don't know what to say or how to say it. No matter what someones situation may be here on earth, we have a message of spiritual good news to offer. If You've been Married More than Once, Which One will you be With in the Afterlife? I have a medicine cabinet strapped to my back and I ignore them like they are not even there? But God cut to Englishs heart, converting him. You can simply say: "Thank you for listening, I'll just leave you with this information to read in your own time" and quietly hand them a pamphlet before making your way to the next person. We suspect that evangelism is only for those who have the gift of evangelism, or for pastors and other professional Christians. When you approach people, start with some small talk about their day or job. Answer. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is a form of evangelization that goes beyond words, teachings, and beliefs. And the Bible, as you suggest, must appeal to that level of spiritual development just as it must appeal to the others. 10 Ways to Evangelize: It's Easier than You Think - FOCUS Like mailmen, our job in evangelism is to deliver the mail; God's job is to . Most people are only interested in reading things that either touch upon their pre-existing interests or promise to provide knowledge they need. Thanks for reading. If Non-Christians can Go to Heaven, Why should ChristiansEvangelize? Provide receptive people with a Bible and other appropriate literature. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. However, even those of us who are not doctors and nurses can heed Jesus call to heal the sick. This set the stage for the Great Commission: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. The Lords prayer shreds my lack of evangelistic zeal. Invite someone to an event with you! One reason to evangelize, then, is to spread the good news that the all-powerful God of the universe has become human and present with us as Jesus Christ our Lord. Maybe some people need that. Prayer is the ultimate method of communicating with God and Jesus, and yet one of the least understood and least practiced aspects of a believers life. If Jesus were not God, he would have prevented his disciples from worshiping him. It doesnt matter if its a man or a woman. People who cant walk in faith often need crutches to get going. We are running around with all kinds of innovation, marketing, philanthropy, and other stuff in the name of reaching people. There are, however, many people who are searching for answers. For Paul, walking around Athens was like transplanting a Floridian to Minneapolis in the middle of winter: it would be painfully uncomfortable. (See the article, Who is God? Additionally, if the leader of the church has no empasis on evangelism, then neither will the congregation. Also some people only want to argue with you and aren't actually interested in hearing about the gospel. Please make sure all fields are filled out. This level of religion tends to involve a lot of self-compulsion and inner battles. Jesus became incarnate and lived among us; we follow His example when we go out on campus and meet other students where they are, whether in class, sports team, a club, or a Greek house. In your prayer time, take their names to God. Thank you so much sir for the article and for the beautiful insights you shared. To evangelize means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else. References When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. While biting into a Big Mac at McDonalds, Englishs friend read a gospel tract nervously without emotion. What do I need to do if the person is not really interested? You can fulfill the call to evangelize by developing deep friendships, inviting people to follow Jesus and teaching others to do the same! Certainly the Old Testament would suggest they do. Blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile we dont tell anyone about Jesus! Once again, as I said in the article If theres One God, Why All the Different Religions? God is present in all the religions of the world. As long as you're not Hitler, you'll be fine in the afterlife. Before we can "make disciples . And thats not something we can do merely by believing the right thing and saying the right words. 2. If people have a religion or a belief that works for them, and they are happy with it, it is not our job to try to change their minds and get them to see things our way. If they rejected the message of Jesus and his disciples, they were rejecting repentance, goodness, and God. I think it would make me lazy, thinking that Ive already arrived, so that theres no need for me to really put my back into it. We have got to believe this. They will see that you live your life differently that your joy, trust, and confidence in Jesus make you different than everyone else, and theyll want to know why. Make sure your doing what pleases God. It so -do you have any Biblical statements to support your position ? That is the good news we are commanded to spread to all the nations. By offering them our love, our compassion, our understanding, our support, we can help them to rise up from their emotional and spiritual sickbed, and walk forward on their journey of life (see John 5:19) . If they say yes, celebrate and pray with them! Worry what God thinks. The fact that we tend to prioritize how we look in the eyes of those here on Earth speaks volumes to how we truly think and feel about the Father and the Son in Heaven. It also clears up a lot of confusion I have had concerning this topic. It is the good news that the infinite, almighty God of the universe is present with us as Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus sent His apostles into the world by reaching out to individuals who would be able to teach others. When we lack boldness to proclaim Christ, we can ask God to supply our lack by the power of His Holy Spirit. Mental possession, though, is much more common, though it is usually given the name of some mental illness. Jesus said, Make disciples of all the nations.. Evangelization is, quite literally, spreading the good news. Paul reminds us that this is not correct:For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16). Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Many Christians put tremendous energy into converting non-Christians because they believe that they are doing an eternal favor to all the people they manage to save by inducing them to believe in Jesus. Sadly, however, Jesus told the disciples But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heavenMatthew 10:33. The Bible says that He's also just, holy and righteous. You are guaranteed Heaven. You are a Christian because God attended his word with power! because he has anointed me In our personal lives we conduct what I call the Now I lay me down to sleep prayer methodology, where we do a quick prayer because we dont know what to pray for, or we cloud our prayer with a lot of holy-sounding words and phrases, but have no substance. God is actually seeking true worshippers, Jesus said (John 4:24). Perhaps they were living destructive lives and he instructed a testimony against that. Copyright 2023 The Gospel Coalition, INC. All Rights Reserved. He blogs at Ordinary Pastor. Let me just be frank: if we believed the gospel really saved people then we would tell them about it. If God can speak through donkeys like He did in Numbers 22:28, human beings should be no problem for Him! I am preparing right now, but I've got this fear within me. What I am advocating is to look at people. When a person has made it clear that they do not wish to learn more, they have given you their boundary and attempting to keep evangelizing is disrespectful and intrusive. It actually saves people. The inner demons such as hopelessness, despair, and a sense of personal worthlessness are not just metaphorical demons, but actual demons and evil spirits that are surrounding us and doing their best to drag our heart, mind, and spirit down to destruction. Thanks for sharing it, Lee.
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