The hard truth about evangelism
Evangelism is often viewed as a rubber stamp. It carries with it a persona that both inspires and intimidates. For some, it carries the joy of sharing the good news of Jesus. For others, it’s been clouded by guilt, awkward experiences, or the pressure of “closing the deal.” The reality is, evangelism is not as neat and easy as we sometimes want it to be. There are some inconvenient truths about evangelism we have to face if we’re going to do it faithfully.
First, I have seen people try and turn evangelism into apologetics showdowns or theological debates. While there’s a place for good answers, Jesus never called us to win arguments—He called us to make disciples. Most people are not won to Christ because someone out-debated them; they are drawn by a genuine encounter with God’s love. In the wake of recent events, it is tempting to pick up a mantle of rhetoric and argument. While I agree with standing firm with what we believe to be true, the hard truth is...people that are far from God need real relationships, not 30 second sound bytes.
Second, sharing your faith is not convenient. It takes time, courage, vulnerability, and sometimes even your reputation. It may strain friendships, push you out of your comfort zone, or expose you to rejection. Jesus never promised it would be easy. As a matter of fact, he said it would get harder. Ministry is messy, people are broken, and we have to be patient and persistent. As we point people to Jesus, I am reminded of a quote coined by Marshall McLuhan: "The Medium is the Message." In other words, the way in which you communicate something becomes the message that people will hear the most...regardless of the actual message communicated. As we share the message of Jesus with people, how we choose to communicate is important if we want to have influence.
Third, church culture sometimes makes evangelism feel like a scoreboard. In church, the quesitons of: "How many people prayed the prayer?", "How many baptisms did we have this year?" or "how many were in attendance in church." While fruit is important, Jesus never measured success by numbers alone. In fact, He often focused on the one person in front of Him—the Samaritan woman at the well, the tax collector up in the tree, the blind man by the road. The truth is...evangelism requires relationship and an encounter with the living God. And that brings me to my last point...
Evangelism is messy. Remember my "rubber stamp" comment from earlier? We like to think people will hear the gospel, repent, and immediately have it all together. But real-life discipleship is rarely that tidy. People bring baggage, brokenness, doubts, and questions. Evangelism that ends at conversion misses the point—Jesus didn’t just say “make converts,” He said “make disciples.” That is a lifelong process of bearing one another's burdens, listening to stories, sharing our own, spurring one another on towards love and good deeds, praying for one another, and living our lives worthy of the call we have been called to!
Perhaps the most inconvenient truth is this: evangelism is not just for pastors, missionaries, or the “outgoing” Christians. It’s for all of us. Jesus didn’t give the Great Suggestion; He gave the Great Commission.
shalom,
Pastor Lyle