“Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread.”
D. Thambyrajah Niles.
On Memorial Day weekend in 2002, a barge pilot lost consciousness and collided with a section of the I-40 bridge over the Arkansas River. The impact caused a 600-foot span of the bridge to collapse, plunging cars and 18-wheelers, along with a trailer full of show horses, into the swift-flowing river below. Several fishermen who were participating in a bass competition witnessed the bridge collapse and realized that more vehicles were still coming.
One of the fishermen retrieved an emergency flare from their boat's kit and fired it over the last standing span of the bridge. The flare providentially hit the windshield of the next 18-wheeler speeding down I-40 at 70 miles an hour, alerting the driver who then managed to stop his vehicle and prevent further accidents. Another group of fishermen saw a man clinging to the damaged barge and rescued him using a flotation device. One person's (the barge pilot)mistake caused the death of many (eleven people died), while the quick thinking and action of another individual (the fisherman) saved many lives.
In the same way, every believer carries with them an emergency flare (the gospel) in their emergency kit. All we have to do is pull it out and we will save people from sinking and dying. Jesus is their only hope and our only way of introducing him to them is through evangelism.
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Romans 10:14 NIV
What is Evangelism?
The dictionary term for evangelism refers to the zealous advocacy of a cause. The word "gospel" originally referred to important public announcements made in the Roman Empire, such as the birth of an Emperor. The Gospel of God, as revealed throughout the Bible, is God's sensational announcement to the world. It is important to note that while the Bible contains many good announcements, the gospel specifically refers to a specific content.
Characteristics of Christianity
Jesus is Christianity's significant characteristic; His love and sacrifice. Jesus is not just a prophet nor a wise teacher, He is the son of God who came, lived, died on the cross and was resurrected to redeem mankind from the power of sin and death. As a result none of us can earn forgiveness and salvation from God through our good works. It is rather a free gift from God for all who will believe lest any man should boast.
“Evangelism” involves sharing the message of that "good news/ gospel" to all people, leading them to believe in Jesus, turn away from sin, and follow him.
I bring all this up because some among us get very uptight when we talk about sharing our faith. So in this article we will try and do a crash course on the need for Evangelism and where you can get involved.
What is the need for Evangelism?
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NIV
#1 The Love of God
God’s love for people is not a performance. It is real, authentic and unfathomable in its breadth, length and height. There is nothing good in man that would make God give up his only begotten son to suffer and die a humiliating death on the cross while covered with the sin of all people but love. Even the psalmist asks, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” It is this unconditional love that should fuel us to share our faith.
#2 We are Commanded to Share our Faith
Jesus commands all believers to share their faith. Let me say that again. Evangelism is a command by God. You might be wondering if you read that wrong. No you didn't. I am speaking to any boys, girls, men, women, students, business people, office workers, casual workers, guitarists, politicians, etc that are followers of Jesus.
God wants you to preach the gospel. This message is not just those with the titles of pastors, deacons, evangelists or missionaries. Everyone of us is supposed to go to all people everywhere and proclaim the good news of salvation to everyone.
#3 It's the primary way people come to Jesus.
1 Corinthians 1:21 reminds us, it is through the "foolishness" of preaching and sharing our faith that God saves those who believe. Paul was telling the church in Rome that the gospel once it's shared it carries power that brings people to salvation.(Romans 1:16) It is not our eloquence or persuasion skills that does the job.
It is also important to note that sharing your faith is not projecting your voice. You can share your testimony to another person quietly and softly, like you are having a normal conversation. The power doesn't lie in the loudness but in the gospel shared.
#4 Refraining from sharing the Gospel can be considered a sin.
You might think, "Hold on, that's a bit much." But sin has various forms - commission and omission. Commission refers to breaking a commandment or crossing a boundary, while omission is not doing the right thing. The Bible says that it is a sin for someone who knows what is right and fails to do it. (James 4:17)
Consider this: suppose you were in a burning house and you escaped to save your own life, but you were aware that other people were still inside, innocent people who were unable to escape. Yet, you did not even call for help or make any effort to rescue them. Wouldn't that be wrong? It would even be a criminal offense.
How much worse is it for us to know the way to heaven, the way for a person to be forgiven of their sin and find the meaning and purpose of their life, and not tell them?
Do the Work of an Evangelist
Now that we know that evry follower of Christ is called to evangelism here are several key principles and christian values that can help us do the work of an evangelist effectively:
Be Bold - As mentioned earlier, boldness is essential for effective evangelism. We must be willing to step out of our comfort zones and share the gospel message with others, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable. We can also use christian traditions like easter and Christmas to start up a conversation about Jesus.
Be Prepared - To effectively share the gospel message, we must be knowledgeable about the Bible and the message of salvation. This requires us to study the Word of God and be prepared to answer questions and objections that others may have. Our churches must also organize christian discipleship lessons for all the people who will give their lives to Jesus.
Be Relational - Evangelism is not just about sharing information, but about building relationships with others. We must be willing to invest time and energy into building relationships with those around us, showing them love and compassion, and sharing the gospel message in a way that is relevant and meaningful to them.
Be Prayerful - Finally, effective evangelism requires continuous prayer. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us in our interactions with others, to soften their hearts to the message of salvation, and to open doors for us to share the gospel message with those around us.
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