Honest Evangelism, Part Two

Lately we have talked a lot about outreach and evangelism from the pulpit. That is why a couple weeks ago I began blogging about an honest approach to evangelism. In other words, I want to be honest about how hard it is and give some honest and practical guidance for how to go about it. Here are a few other thoughts about the subject that are a mixture of my own and those of evangelist Rico Tice in his book Honest Evangelism: How To Talk About Jesus Even When It’s Tough. 

(1) We live in a culture that is becoming more and more hostile to the very message we find to be the greatest good news of all time. We will be well-served by realizing this, rather than hiding our head in the sand. We shouldn’t be surprised if some people don’t like the message. We also should prepare for the reality that some will adamantly reject the gospel. However, this does not mean their rejection will continue forever. Remember how hostile the Apostle Paul was before he met Jesus (See Acts 9).

(2) Since people must encounter the gospel before they can trust Jesus and be saved, we need to share it, even if it is hard (see Romans 10:13-17).

(3) As I mentioned in yesterday’s sermon, we are well-served by praying for one another in our Iron Man/Woman Teams, as well as in Bible Fellowships, that God would give us the grace and courage to tell others about Jesus.

(4) Though there is a growing hostility to the gospel, there is also a growing hunger in the west. Many people sense there has to be more to life than what they have been told and what they are experiencing. Be encouraged to share because Jesus came that we may have true life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

(5) As Tice teaches, there is a “pain line” we must cross to share Jesus. In other words, any relationship we build with someone or in any opportunity we have to tell someone about Jesus, we must be willing to pass that place of no return. In other words, we must bring up the subject of Jesus and then realize we will either see hunger and acceptance or hostility and rejection. We must be willing to face the pain that others might be saved. This is exactly what Jesus did, who endured the cross because of the joy set before him of accomplishing salvation for his bride (Heb. 12:2).

(6) Meditate upon the glory of Jesus Christ (see for example John 1:1-18; 17:1-5) and the grief that so many do not worship our Savior. Be motivated by such glory and grief to cross the pain line and tell others about Jesus.

(7) Also, be motivated to cross the line by the glory of the New Heaven and New Earth that everyone in Christ will experience (Ps. 16:11; Rev. 21-22) and the grief of the horror for eternity all will face without him (cf. 2 Thes. 1:7f.; Rev. 20:14). As we interact with them, ask yourself, “Where will they be 1,000 years from now? Will they still be glad I did not talk to them or will they be overjoyed for eternity that I crossed that line?

(8) We love people whether they are accepting of Jesus or not. Jesus made it clear that the greatest responsibility we have to other people is to love them (Mat. 22:37ff.). This love will lead us to tell them about Jesus, but it also will lead us to love them even if they reject or are not interested in the message.

Stay tuned for more discussion on honest evangelism in the future.