If I’m being completely honest, I have never liked evangelism. Just the idea makes my palms sweat and my stomach knot. The pressure and vulnerability of sharing my faith makes me wish I could ask God for a personal exemption on “evangelism.” I would much rather let the more outspoken and fearless followers of Jesus take the charge for me.
But as much as I wish I could rely on others to share the gospel, I simply cannot ignore God’s call to evangelism for all of His followers. When someone shared the gospel with me during college, God used her obedience to transform my life. When I later chose to become a campus missionary, I once again witnessed the gospel’s power when I shared about Jesus with a new student. Like me, she had never heard the gospel before college and like me, God used a 10-minute conversation to change her life for eternity.
We know the gospel is worth sharing. The Bible tells us that it is “the power of God that brings salvation” (Romans 1:16). In John 17, Jesus Himself prayed for future generations who would hear the gospel. We have all seen the gospel at work in our world, transforming our own lives and the lives of those around us. And if we really believe the gospel, then we must believe that it is the best and most important news that anyone can hear.
So, what keeps us from sharing our faith with a world that so desperately needs Jesus? Here are three lies that may be preventing us from sharing the gospel.
Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, who you have sent.
John 17:3
1. I do not know enough about the Bible.
It’s true that people may ask hard questions that exceed what we know and have experienced. What if they ask about Old Testament law? Or John’s visions in Revelation? How can we possibly explain parts of the Bible that we don’t even understand?
The good news is that we do not need to know all the answers. In fact, being honest about what we don’t know provides a beautiful opportunity to seek answers together.
Think back to your own experience of coming to faith. Did facts, figures, or data convince you to follow Jesus? For most of us, Christianity was compelling because of the change we saw in someone close to us. We know that Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection carry real meaning and bring noticeable transformation in the lives of those who follow Him. When we share our personal experience, this tangible truth often means more than facts or figures ever could.
For most of us, Christianity was compelling because of the change we saw in someone close to us.
2. I am not a “good enough” Christian.
During my time as a campus missionary, students often shared the fear that evangelism would make them seem like hypocrites.
“Would they really listen to what I’m sharing if they knew my own doubts or struggles? My friends know that I can’t resist joining in whenever they start to gossip. Why would they want to hear me tell them that they need to follow Jesus when I do that so imperfectly?”
We often tell ourselves that evangelism is a job that only becomes available when we no longer struggle with sin or doubt of any kind. We worry that we ruin the image of Jesus when we inevitably make mistakes in front of family, coworkers, and friends.
In reality, sin makes us human and amplifies our need for God’s grace. Repentance magnifies what the gospel teaches about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness. In a world that clearly lacks the perfect love of Christ, we have good news to share: Jesus loves imperfect people.
3. I should wait until I know their response.
My ideal evangelism scenario would look a little something like this: a person approaches me and says, “I’ve studied the Bible. I’ve listened to sermons. I’ve prayed and thought long and hard about what it looks like to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I have no more reservations or questions. I’m ready to give my life to Christ. Would you help me do that?” Far more often, God calls us to take a (terrifying!) step of faith by bringing Jesus into a conversation where He might not be welcomed.
Jesus told His disciples that because He was hated and persecuted by the world, His followers should expect the same (John 15:18, 20). Jesus also promised that the Holy Spirit would guide us in truth (John 16:22) and teach us what to say when we must defend our faith (Luke 12:12).
God calls us to take a step of faith by bringing Jesus into a conversation where He might not be welcomed.
Ultimately, we know that our words do not have power to convince someone to turn toward Christ. Saving grace rests with Jesus alone. Just as He healed the blind man in John 9, He continues to make spiritually blind men and women see.
Much like the rest of our Christian life, evangelism requires a leap of faith. Knowing what is true about Jesus and believing in the power of the gospel allow us to focus on our obedience rather than our fears. This truth enables us to speak boldly about the transforming power of faith in Jesus, trusting God with the outcome.