Knocking Down the Obstacles to Sharing
Very few people jump into evangelism of any type without some concern or trepidation. This is natural and the enemy wants to amplify those things to keep us from sharing the Good News. There can be many reasons why believers do not engage in evangelism, but they typically fall into four general areas:
- We are fearful
- We lack faith
- We lack obedience
- We lack knowledge
Fear often comes because we don’t believe we know what to do. We may be afraid to talk with someone we respect or love. We want to avoid looking foolish or offending someone. We may have even tried it, and it ended poorly so we give up for fear of becoming known as “that guy”. We allow fear to cause us to forget that all we do in this arena is guided by the spirit and done in his strength.
Another inhibitor to sharing is a lack of faith in our abilities to “close the deal” or lead someone to Jesus. We aren’t sure we can get someone to believe, especially if they have a strong personality, so we skip it. This is wrong for numerous reasons. First, and most importantly, God brings about salvation and not us. Secondly, we are not measured on the results, but instead by the faithfulness of our effort. We should think of ourselves as His instrument and not the determining factor.
Yet another reason some do not share their faith is because they do not take the Lord’s command to go and make disciples seriously. Matthew 28:18-20 states: Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, to the very end of the age.” Scripture is clear yet we think it is best left for others.
The last common challenge is because we feel like we lack the knowledge to share the Gospel and we don’t know enough about the Bible or God. Those types of excuses create an unwinnable equation where you will never be ready. No one knows God completely or has all the answers. We trust the Holy Spirit to lead each conversation in truth and love. And remember that a question you can’t answer is an opportunity to look together in scripture for the answer.
Your journey and experience are your account of how God has worked in your life. There is no argument or debate about this. It likely has hard moments and failures as part of it. When you combine the truth of God’s Word with your own testimony it makes a compelling story that God can use. He redeemed us from brokenness so we can encourage others with similar struggles and stories. The Gospel message is one of grace and undeserved love that offers forgiveness. It need not be intimidating, complicated or overly difficult. Don’t let the lies of the enemy keep you from sharing the best news ever.
