Don't Talk About It, Be About It: Evangelism

(Out Loud With Words)

Have you ever played the game “Would You Rather...?”

The game is very simple. Someone makes a statement with two options and you say which you would prefer. For example, would you rather have a dog or a cat?

Another way to play this game is to take the option out. For example, you would rather have a dog than cat? And you would either say yes or stand up or however you vote.

This can be a lot of fun and really help you to get to know the people around you. The questions can be serious or funny. Or a blend.

While on our youth group mission trip last week, we played the latter version of the game during a morning gathering. The pastor came out and read all kinds of statements ranging from the dog vs. cat example to LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan.

He used this to illustrate our willingness to stand (literally) for all kinds of beliefs and positions and even take some jeering at our stances. But when it comes to God, The Bible, and faith in Jesus, we don't stand.

We are embarrassed to admit we go to church. We shy away from difficult conversations in our culture such as sexuality, gender identity, and abortion.

We are worried that someone may disagree with us. Call us a name. Not be our friend anymore.

We are more concerned about what society thinks, or our friends, or our family, or even our own feelings than what God thinks.

These are also some of the reasons we do not want to share our faith in Jesus (evangelism).

Evangelism is all about telling other people about the good news of Jesus.

The problem is many well-intentioned Christians have adopted the “live my life in a way that people will ask me about my beliefs” while others have adopted the “stand on a street corner telling people they are going to hell if they do not accept Jesus” approach.

While both have merit and truth. Neither alone works.

Good people who are not Christians can be kind while the guy with the bullhorn is called a bigoted jerk and can turn people off.

It is a both/and NOT an either/or.

Another thing about evangelism is that we are not in control of someone's choice. Some people are scared because they cannot predict how a conversation will go. Some find great comfort in knowing it is not up to them to convert someone. The truth is we have no control over whether they put their faith in Jesus or not. That is up to God and His Spirit.

We are to be messengers.

That is our job. To tell the story. At some point regardless of your approach, words have to be spoken. Dare 2 Share Ministries specializes in equipping teenagers to reach their friends with the Gospel, and one phrase they use all the time is sharing Jesus “out loud with words”.

They also emphasize Gospel conversations instead of Gospel presentations. Talk to be people. Get to know them. Ask them good questions. Admire what you can about their beliefs. And then admit why you need Jesus.

That is much better than the bullhorn presentation.

At some point, no matter what our approach is, we must TELL people about Jesus. This one place where “talking” is part of “being about it”. Can you do it? Will you do it?

Romans 10:14-15 says,

“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? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Evangelism is not an option. It is not a special job reserved for an elite group. It is a command for all Jesus followers.

Be bold. Be courageous. Stand for Christ. Live for Christ. Tell others about Christ. Fuel yourself with prayer.

Would you rather share Jesus (out loud with words) or live in fear of what someone else might say or think because you did? You never know. You might be surprised at how many people are willing to talk about faith and spiritual things. We just have to be willing to do it.

Anyway, I was just thinking...