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Unless Someone Tells ThemOne thing believers and nonbelievers have in common is that both are very uptight about evangelism. Believers are uptight about evangelizing, and nonbelievers are uptight about being evangelized.
I still have vivid memories of trying to avoid the evangelistic efforts of Christians before I became one myself. At the beach where I would hang out, the Christians would show up in their church buses on Saturdays. They had their “soul patrols” out combing the sand for prospects. When my friends and I saw Christians walking in our direction, we would go into the water and wait until they went away. For some unknown reason, the Christians never went into the water, and we were aware of that. We just wanted them to leave us alone. Now as a believer, I am the one who wants to communicate my faith. I have discovered what it is like to be on the receiving end of that tension and resistance.
Maybe you remember someone sharing the gospel with you and you really didn't want to hear it. Or maybe you know what it is like to share with someone who had no interest in what you were saying. As intimidating or uncomfortable as sharing your faith may be, it is something every believer has been called to do. As Romans 10:14 says: “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” (nlt).
Jesus left His marching orders for us: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15 nkjv). In the original language, this verse could be translated to say, “I command you to go into all the world.” That is why we call it The Great Commission and not The Great Suggestion. It is an order from our Commander-in-Chief. If we are faithful followers of Jesus, then we need to make the attempt. We need to do what we can to share this message.
Maybe you consider evangelism the responsibility of pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. Although God does not call every Christian to become a pastor, evangelist, or missionary, He does call every believer to evangelize. But instead of fulfilling The Great Commission, some of us are guilty of The Great Omission.
It is possible to practice sins of both commission and omission. A sin of commission is doing what you should not do. A sin of omission is not doing what you should do. We may be proud of the fact that we have not broken certain commandments or have not done certain things the Bible forbids. But we may not realize that failing to share the gospel is a sin of omission. The Bible says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17 nkjv).
First of all, you don't need to be a theologian to share your faith, although you do need to study and know your Bible. Second, you don't need to know the answer to every possible question, although you can find it once the question has been asked. Finally, you don't need to be a master communicator, although I do think you will become a more skillful communicator as time goes by.
What you need, more importantly, is to be willing and available. You need to be a man or a woman whom God could call on and who would respond to the leading of His Spirit to share your faith. Our Lord has commanded us to go, and we all have a part to play.
When you think of your own conversion, you probably remember a moment when it all came into focus and you made that commitment to Christ. But if you look back in your life, you also probably remember a number of things that prepared your heart. It may have been a foundation that was laid by your Christian parents. It might have been something you were exposed to on television or the radio. It might have been something that someone once said to you. But people, some willingly and some unknowingly, sowed the seeds of the gospel in your life, and others came along and watered them. Then one day, you made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, which was the fruit of those seeds. God brought it about, but He allowed many people to play a part in the process.
God has chosen to speak through human instruments. He has chosen to use people to speak to people. That is why throughout 2004, you will see the theme, “Learning to Share God's Love,” emphasized in our teaching, on our A New Beginning broadcasts, and in the many resources we make available to you through various media. It is my hope that you will be encouraged and equipped to share your faith more often and more effectively.
You are someone God wants to use, and indeed can use, to bring the life-changing message of the gospel to this generation. Will you be open? Will you be available? The opportunities are there. But it is up to us to seize them.
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