If you are like me…evangelism at one time, and perhaps still does, strikes fear deep into your heart, turning your blood cold, and dramatically affecting your ability to form complete sentences without your voice cracking,
or remember anything that was ever written in the Bible. Ever.
Sharing such personal beliefs is a serious thing- it’s uncomfortable, occasionally awkward, and every once in a while even confrontational. So, many of us don’t. Yet, perhaps nothing is more vital to a new church plant than continual evangelism.
Why do we struggle? First identify what the block is. You can’t overcome anything unless you know what it is. Here are some common barriers, and how to overcome them.
- Fear. “I’m scared to!” Yes. Everyone is afraid to some degree. Remember that the results aren’t up to us, they are up to God – He changes hearts, not us. We are the fishermen, looking to see who God is working on and drawing out. Fear also reminds us to depend on God!
- Ignorance. “I don’t know enough!” Not true. We need to know the message that we are communicating – the gospel! Then…get into to. You won’t know how to do something and get better at it, and know how to respond, until you do it…repeatedly.
- Apathy. This one hurts. If we aren’t sharing Christ, how can we say we really care about others? This is all about compassion – pray for compassion and the desire to share Jesus.
- Introspection. “I’m not good enough!” OK…no one is! Plus, how we are struggling with our own sanctification is a powerful witness to others. Also, remember – it’s not our work anyway, it is a spiritual work of God to open eyes. God uses us in the church to proclaim his goodness, not ours.
- Selfishness. Let’s face it…sometimes we don’t share because we want to keep to ourselves. I have struggled with this while traveling, I can remain in “ear buds” mode reading and listening to music. There is a world that needs to hear the message of the gospel and we need to think of others more. Reminds me of Philippians 2 which is a great way to close —
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:3–11 ESV)”
