Evangelism Is Fundamental
by Ken Weliever
via The Preacher's Word
In the comic strip “Peanuts,” Lucy tells her brother, Linus, that she has “converted” a school classmate to her way of thinking religiously. Linus is surprised, especially knowing how Lucy operates!
“How did you do it?” Linus asked.
“I told him everything I believe and asked him if he believed it, too,” Lucy explained. “Then, when we came to something he didn’t see my way, I just hit him over the head with my lunch box until he believed it!”
I suppose we’ve all witnessed that kind of evangelism. No, not literally hitting someone over the head with a lunch box or anything else. But aggressive, belligerent, and even insulting evangelism.
In a world that says we ought to keep our faith private, God wants us to take the saving Gospel of Christ into all the world (Mark 16:15-16). We should not be ashamed of the gospel or Jesus Christ. When first-century Christians were persecuted, they did not recoil or recant but went everywhere preaching the Word (Acts 8:4).
Evangelism ought to be a fundamental facet of our Christian walk. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to seek converts! The apostle Paul gives this inspired advice that would improve our evangelistic efforts.
“Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:5-6, NASB95)
In these two verses, there are four things we can do to be more effective when sharing our faith with others.
Exercise wisdom
Knowledge is obviously important in teaching others about Christ, but effective outreach also requires wisdom, sound judgment, prudential action, and understanding.
Wisdom seeks to understand others, their points of view, background, religious experiences, spiritual problems, and biblical understanding.
Be Aware of Opportunities
There are many seekers in this world today — hurting souls, depressed souls, lost souls. They feel empty on the inside. They are searching for something but are not sure what it is.
Christians have the opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus and lead people into a spiritual relationship that will change their lives and bless them eternally.
We need to seek opportunities to share our faith. See the opportunities when they present themselves. And then seize the opportunities that we see.
Employ gracious speech
Hypercritical, unkind language does not win people to Christ. While we are commanded to “speak the truth” to those who need to hear it, the Bible says to do it in the spirit of love (Ephesians 4:16).
I can contend for the faith without being contentious. I can disagree without displaying a disagreeable spirit. I can affirm the truth without being obnoxious. I can differ without being difficult. And I can persuade without being pushy,
Respond instead of reacting to others
When I react to someone with whom I disagree, it is almost always negative. Without forethought, it is too easy to spout off and hurt another’s feelings, antagonize them, or erect a barrier that can never be eradicated.
Finally, Joseph Aldrich, in his book Lifestyle Evangelism, reminds us of this important ingredient in evangelism. “Before you can share the Good News, you must be the Good News.
