Originally written by Matt Vandeleest
In recent days at my church I have started to ask the question how do we as a church reach our community effectively with the Gospel? The response that I have been getting was not what I had originally expected. What I hear goes something like this, “I am so scared to talk to people because I am not sure what I should say, and I feel like I don’t know enough to answer the questions that people might bring up.”
It is a sad day when we have forgotten that God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power and love (1 Tim 1:7). Also it saddens me that the majority of churches today do not lead their people in evangelism or even teach the people how to be evangelistic. I am hoping that in this new season at the church where I pastor that we can move from this fear based reluctance to a spirit of power and love that drives us to spread the word.
The town where my church is has a population of fewer than 10 thousand, with (on the high end) 25% going to church, but that includes all churches even those that do not preach the word of God. But if we ask the question, how many of those who attend church are actually Christian? I believe we will find that 10% or less of that original 25% are believers, so that means a one thousand or less. This presents a big problem for us, when we are called to preach the gospel and fail because we are afraid.
Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
Now if the Gospel is all about displaying the love of God through the life and death of Jesus Christ, and perfect love cast our fear then where is the disconnect for us in preaching the gospel to the lost? Where is this fear coming from, why does it paralyze us, and keep us from speaking of this great love of God?
When you look back on past missionaries we find that it was not as though they lacked fear, how could someone not be scared knowing that the island of head hunters they are going to will most likely kill them. As sinful fallen humans I do not believe that we will ever be without fear as famous book “share Jesus without fear” claims from its title, rather its allowing love to overwhelm that fear. Allowing the love that God shows us in Jesus to so over whelm our person so that we cannot help speaking the gospel.
Beloved, it is a mistake for us to think that we have to have all the answers before we can do evangelism. Evangelism is not a strong mans game, rather evangelism is normal men and women counting knowing Christ as more important, evangelism is not limited to the bible scholar or theologian, it is meant for those who love Jesus and understand that they were once sinners in need of a savior.
Christian I want to encourage you that it is okay if you do not know all the answers, its okay if you aren’t a theologian; Christ can and wants to use you to reach the nations with the Gospel, take courage and just be willing to be used by God and watch your community change.
