Day: January 27, 2020

There are many reasons that Christians share for not being a witness for the Lord. However, many are simply excuses. God has equipped us and commanded us to be witnesses of what He has done for us in our lives. It’s time to stop making excuses and obey His command.

Excuse # 1: Saying The Wrong Thing

You may worry that you’ll say the wrong thing and move someone away from the Lord rather than toward Him! But as Christians, we know God is in control of every aspect here.

Evangelist Bill Bright said, “Success in witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results to God.”

Don’t worry about convincing or converting, just communicate! Remember, as you share your story of how you met Christ, you are an expert! No one has the unique story that you have.

There are so many evangelism tools and resources out there today, that you can get help finding the right words to say. For immediate help, download this guide on five ways to start a conversation about the gospel.

Excuse #2: I’m Scared

Fear of the unknown and rejection are common. But throughout Scripture, God reminds us over and over we can be free from fear. His presence and grace grant us freedom from our fear.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

And in the moments you feel fear, pray for courage and ask God for boldness. Pray that God would open your mouth in situations where you would be tempted to be quiet.

Don’t accept the lie that God will refuse to help you until you build your own strength. That lie comes from the devil himself. Instead, ask God to replace your fear with His love and give you His perfect peace. 

Excuse # 3: The Person Isn’t Ready

If the person you share the gospel with isn’t ready, you are still helping them discover and explore the message of the Gospel.

But how can they hear the good news unless someone tells them?

It’s not your responsibility to “fix” anyone. God can do a much better job than we ever could. He’s had a plan all along.

By your good example, kind words, and honest communication of the gospel, you will have moved that person a little closer to the day when they might finally make that decision. There’s no wasted effort here.

Excuse # 4: I Might Offend Them

It’s common now for Christians to feel uncomfortable. You may even worry that you’re forcing your views on this person, or worse, you might offend them.

You’re not alone in that feeling. Barna Research found that three out of five Christian Millennials believe that people today are more likely than in the past to take offense if they share their faith – 65%.

But, your intentions in sharing the gospel aren’t to force your views. You are simply sharing a little of your life with this person. There’s a big difference between coercing someone and witnessing to them. 

Think of the disciples in Acts 4:20. “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 

These disciples merely spoke about what they saw and heard. We can model our evangelism efforts after them, and simply tell people what you’ve seen and heard in a friendly, non-confrontational manner.

The person you’re sharing with will be free to listen and ask for more, or they can change the subject. But don’t decide for them what they do or do not want to hear.

Excuse # 5: I Can’t Answer Their Questions

Everyone has questions. But when you’ve been asked a particularly difficult question, it can feel deflating and insurmountable. 

You can research common tough questions about the Gospel to prepare answers, and you can be ready to say “I don’t know,” if you really don’t know the answer. You can always ask the person you’re talking to if they are willing to meet later after you’ve had time to look into their question. This will also help you continue the conversation and plant more seeds of faith. 

The primary thing to remember while evangelizing is that God is in control, and you are not responsible for this person’s salvation. You can, however, speak and act in ways that make people more likely to consider the truth of Jesus’ claims.

Excuse #6: I Have Other Priorities

There is so much to do on any given day. Work needs to be done, and the bills have to be paid. Cooking, cleaning, shopping, returning phone calls, reading emails, reading, praying — I could go on about all the good things we need to do. 

And many of these things are time-sensitive. If I have a misunderstanding with my spouse, I need to take care of that immediately. If the project is due tomorrow, I need to write it right away. If we’ve got no food for tonight, I have to do some shopping and cooking now.

It is legitimate for me to make and fulfill many commitments in life other than evangelism. But do our other responsibilities become so numerous that we leave no time for evangelism? 

If we are too busy to share life-changing news, what things are we managing to make time for?

Jesus told us what our number one priority should be while on this earth. 

He told us, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

It’s time to stop making excuses and start spreading the good news of the gospel. If you need help sharing the gospel in a way that’s easy to understand, MyLife Workshop is there for you!

Sources:

https://www.barna.com/research/millennials-oppose-evangelism/