There have been periods of my Christian life where I have, by God’s grace, enjoyed fervent zeal towards evangelism. However, there are other spells of indifference and flat out negligence. To be honest, I really hate the way this fluxes.
I have tried different things to rev myself up and stimulate faithfulness, but at the end of the day it comes down to two things: 1) my view of God, and 2) my view of others
My View of God
When I think about evangelism as proclaiming “the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2.9) I begin calibrating my heart with the reality of the message proclaimed. For in the gospel, we speak of the most God-exalting truth available, and the most effective truth available; for it (the gospel) is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1.16).
I need to spend more time at my Master’s feet, learning to pray like a Christian, for it is indeed the instruction of Jesus that his disciples pray with a God-centered zeal, “Hallowed by your name”. Yes, I must truly want this. I must truly desire to see the name of my God exalted. Lord, make your name hallowed, make it holy, for it is being disregarded, vindicate yourself through the proclamation of the gospel.
This is good for me spiritually. It is good to find myself seeing the disparity between my will and my Father’s. And it is good to run back to him for a healthy calibration! In evangelism we are proclaiming the glory of God by declaring his excellencies, knowing that this brings God pleasure, honor and glory, regardless of whether or not the individual is converted.
My View of Others
On the other hand I am convicted by my own lack of love for others. This is really an outflow of the first, for if I do not love God rightly how can I love my neighbor?!
So here I am walking the planet with a pharisaical mindset, ignoring the greatest need for people. What is wrong with me? I can talk to them about the weather, sports, politics, food or whatever, but Jesus? This is not on my tongue.
Why? Why can I walk by the man or woman who has been beaten by the affects of sin and not open my mouth? There they sit, ever afflicted by the beatings, like the young man voyaging from Jerusalem to Jericho who fell upon robbers (Luke 10.30-34) and I am like the Levite or the preist who just walked on by. I have a medicine cabinet strapped to my back and I ignore them like they are not even there? Why? I do not love them. Perhaps you can relate?
One thing that has been particularly helpful relative to loving others with the gospel is to look into people’s eyes. No I did not just go off the deep end. We live in a society where we fly by one another without even noticing each other, and when we look for more than the accepted 2.8 seconds, suddenly we are psychotic. What I am advocating is to look at people. Watch them, pray for them, look into their eyes as they speak to you. Hear their heart cry for relief. When you are filled with divine love for the glory of God and fueled for a love for your neighbor, a good healthy look into a person’s eyes will convict you to the quick to evangelize and cease from meaningless dialogue about such futile things as the weather, the news or other distractions.
In this vein I was struck by Alex Montoya’s words in his helpful book, Preaching with Passion. Montoya is a professor at The Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, CA.
Montoya writing in the context of loosing compassion for people:
“That is when I retreat to a small taco stand in the barrio of East Los Angeles, to a place where real people live. I order a cup of coffee and sit with my back against the wall. Then I watch, I observe, I read, and I listen intently for the heart cry.
A group of gang-bangers come in for a snack—one in four will die before the age of eighteen; two of the others will end up in prison. All are doomed to a hard life. A young mother comes in with her brood of youngsters. It is obvious they are poor. They share drinks. They live in poverty; some will never see a forest or snow. An old drunk staggers in, begging for a meal. He is quickly thrown out. That was somebody’s baby boy. A mother at one time cradled that man and nursed him….I look, I listen until I hear their cries, until their souls cry out to me, “Please help, I’m perishing!” until the tears pour forth from my melted heart! I am in love with humanity once again.”
Perhaps you can relate to my tension. If you struggle like I do, I’d encourage you to pray to God that you might love him more, more along the lines with which he loves himself. And likewise that he would be kind to cause you to love others more, more along the lines with which he loves others. Pray that God would let you hear folks’ hearts cry and that would open your mouth to speak the words of eternal life, joy and grace. We do know why we do not evangelize and this fact should bring us back to the reason why we must.
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As I read your words, Erik, I couldn’t help but remember a guy I met in Boston just 4 weeks ago. I was there for a conference but he was there because his job was to shine shoes in the hotel lobby. I, and hundreds of others, walked past him several times my first day there until I finally decided to stop. He said his name is Charlie and he is from Uganda. I sat down, not for a shoe shine, but to show a genunine interest in this guy that nobody seemed to notice. I probably talked with Charlie for 30-45 minutes that day and I learned alot about what it was like growing up in Uganda during the reign of Idi Amin. I felt the pain of a man who saw his mom get shot and killed when he was but a boy, and who saw the same thing happen with his dad just a few years later. He told me how he stayed in the woods with his dad’s body for three days hoping that he would come back from death, and how he then grew up orphaned and homeless. And I listened to this man ask me a question that he’s been asking himself, and God, all of his life, “Why am I still alive?” I came away from that conversation with Charlie a different man, Erik. We exchanged email addresses and I’ve heard from him a couple of times since. I’m sending him one of our Banner of Truth books, “The Promise,” which introduces God and the message of the gospel. So … we’ll see. But Erik, I have learned that our lives are full of “Charlies” … like Narender who worked at our corner convenience store (he’s been to our house a couple of times and came to our Christmas Eve service), or Jared at the local OfficMax (we’ve gone to lunch and he’s been here to see The Banner’s warehouse), or Aaron at Costco (I walked out of the store with him during his lunch break and ended up praying with him while sitting on the curb near the parking lot), or … You see, they’re everywhere. Oh, Erik, thanks for this charge. May we all see the people we meet today through the eyes of Christ, and respond accordingly. God bless you, brother!
Steve B.
http://www.trophiesofhisgrace.blogspot.com
Thanks for the word. That’s a simple, helpful guide for us all.
I enjoy reading your site.
Steve, thanks for the real life examples of encouragement.
Brandon: i enjoyed your photos from your blog/flicker. It looks like you are from or visit Memphis. Small world, that is where my wife is from. We have enjoyed ourselves there over the years. Thanks for stopping in.
erik
Wow. I relate 100% with you Erik. I believe that I have been gifted as an evangelist and yet, truth be told it has been probably about a month since I last shared the gospel outside of preaching on Wed. night and Sunday Morning. I struggle very hard with what you have addressed here and those were some powerful thoughts from Alex Montoya.
This Scripture came to my mind:
Romans 7:15-24
“15I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”
What a strugle that we must all face and with the grace and power of Christ defeat each day to do what honors the Father. Thanks for the encouragement!
UGH!!! thank you brother for this convicting word. Anybody got a sackcloth?
Ryan
Erik,
I think that is a good start, but I think there is more than that. One thing I might add would be to somehow account for our experience. I know you are not into overvaluing the role of “experiences” in our life, but how about this. Recently, I switched from a frustratingly inconsistent dial up isp to a quick, consistent, always on cable isp. It has made enough of a difference in my life that I would be happy to tell you about it. Also, I just had Lasik sugery on my eyes… Was blind, but now I see! Again, I would be happy to tell you about the difference it has made for me. Of course, if I did, it is likely that nobody would accuse me of “forcing my views on internet and eye surgery down my throat!” But is that the main reason I don’t tell others about that “medicine chest” I have on my back? Or is it that I have forgotten/taken for granted, the difference Christ has made in my life experience? Or is it that I have doubts that they will really convert, and just live as phony religious people and would be better off not kidding themselves? Probably D. all of the above… And, if you are keeping score at home, you see that these are all EXCUSES! But there they are…
Nate,
Thanks for sharing those experiences. Btw, I am down with expereiences, don’t get me wrong, but not at the expense of Scripture. I think you are tracking with me.
Both of your illustrations are good ones. But I think the heart of the issue does come back to point number 1…the love of God. When I am enraptured with the glory of Erik i have little desire to declare his excellencies. It is an exchange of attributes and glory, sovereignty of self and self worship vs. humble, head bowing, Christ centered, God exaltation.
btw, how is the lasix working out for you? I know the higher powered internet is the technological equivalent of a second blessing. :/
erik
I don’t think you should pray that god causes you to love others more. Find it in yourself to love others. There are a million reasons!
Chris, I definitely agree that there are a million reasons to love other people. The only issue is when I look into myself, as you suggest, for inspiration, I find nothing but a propensity to exalt myself. But when I see God, as he is revealed in his word, I begin to find not only the motivation but the fuel for loving others. So in short my exhortation to pray is fueled by a realization of neediness, sinfulness, and self-centeredness. I do need help, and frankly, so do all of us. For we are all self-serving God robbers, apart from divine grace.
I am a new luker, but can I tell you it was a God thing for me to read this. I am currently studying Theology in church, and all the way home tonight I prayed that God would help me love people more and to have more of a heart for them (this is something I too struggle with). There was a homeless man on the side of the street earlier today, I looked away. You are right I should have looked him in his eyes and prayed for him. Thank you.
Thanks for this article erik. I could definitely relate to it. This is something I really struggle with. See you soon.
Erik,
Yeah, I guess you are right — your “see point #1″ does trump all of my excuses. Piggybacking on your comment to Chris — I have a pastor friend who I remember saying “God gives you the engine AND then he gives you the gas too!”
Regarding Lasik — only 2 days in, but definitely liking it! Logically, what happens in surgery is crazy, but in reality it is less discomfort than I experience in a routine teeth cleaning. And it only takes 10 min… Plus, through Blue Cross there is a negotiated rate program, so I only paid 2600 for what everyone else paid 4400. One thing to think about–if you do it while you are still young, you have more time to enjoy before you need reading glasses (which is inevitable and caused by a different part of your eye aging)
Laurel: I assume you mean ‘lurker’…great to hear your story! we do serve a big God!
Nate: sounds good. I am thankful that I have not needed glasses (yet). From what I have heard, that surgery is probably more painful to consider than endure.
God’s amazing work in leading me to your post…I’ve been struggling with this issue of late and it was coming to a head of steam this week as I prepare my Sunday School lesson which directly confronts the need to be active in our evangelism. I greatly appreciated your suggestion to get in touch again with how much God loves us so that we can be driven to share that love with fervent zeal. The suggestions in the comments others have provided have been great as well and I thank each of you brothers and sister in Christ for contributing to this discussion.
I would suggest another way to get in touch with God’s love for us. I did not plan this but tonight as I worked on the lesson I was led to type up notes on my testimony and as I touched on the steps where God used others to intervene in my life…the tears of gratitude came pouring out once again…I was reminded of and encouraged by Paul’s word to the church at Philipi in verse 6 of chapter 1 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ”…Praise the Lord for all His Grace and Mercy.
Thanks, Erik, for your very good words on this subject. They were encouraging and challenging to me. There are a million ways that we could try to solve the problem of our lack of love for people, and all of them, apart from an increased passion for the Lord and dedication to His purposes as revealed in the Scriptures, will show themselves to be ineffective in doing that which is most essential: glorifying God. And likely, any efforts toward increasing our love for mankind apart from this perspective will end up producing a kind of care for others which is far less than what they need. It would prove in the end to be for them as little band-aids on fatal wounds.
Bottom line: Yes, love for others has a lot to do with it. But believers do not share the Gospel because they are not gripped by its importance and they are afraid of men. It’s that simple. The reality of the message hasn’t touched them enough–even for people who say they believe. Peter denied the Lord three times before the crucifixion. After Messiah rose from the grave, Peter proclaimed the truth vigorously and was willing to die for it.
Question: What made the difference? Answer: Seeing His risen Lord and knowing the importance of proclaiming the one true hope of mankind.
The disciples said they couldn’t stop speaking about what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20). And God tells us that those of us who haven’t seen, who accept the message by faith are blessed (John 20:29).
Another reason for not sharing the Gospel is the cost. Because sometimes, it’s not enough to just tell someone the Gospel, we have to show them the love of God. God may want to use us to meet needs– and that can take time and energy and mean rearranging our lives and being inconvenienced.
But after what Jesus did for us, seeming inconveniences and the negative responses of men pale in comparison. How comfortable in the pews many Christians are these days.
There will always be people who are offended by the Gospel for its own sake. But, sometimes it’s really the messenger who is speaking in an arrogant and offensive way (and has no idea of how insensitively they are coming off).
May God grant us the ability to discern His leading in every opportunity, to be loving and sensitive in our communication, and to care more about His praise than the praise of men.
Okay: my response will be radically different than most if not all of the others.
First of all God is in control. If we have to contrive some kind of feeling in ourselves of love we must question is this really the love of God or some self-contrived form of love that even Jehovah’s witness can contrive or Arminians can contrive. God being in control will provide not only the opportunity but the words that we speak when it is His will that we evangelize. We are keepers of the truth granted to us by the Holy Spirit. The very nature of being a true believer is one that does not waste words with people but is sober-minded always ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us. We don’t have to put an EFFORT forth to evangelize. I freely admit having done this in the past. False guilt. Cut out the humanism, people. We are surrounded with people crying Jesus Jesus to the people filled with emotion and false doctrine. People see that something is different about a Christian, not because he is continually trying to witness Christ through words but by his life. God presents the opportunity, not us. That is hard to swallow because we are falsely taught to get out there and evangelize! Just do it as Nike says. Holy sweat. Challange you to do it. etc etc etc.
That is all a bunch of baloney any which way you slice it. We are products of instant gratification and we want to see or produce results now. It is all about me.
What about God? Is He not sovereign and in control ? Do we believe it or not? It is just that simple. Does that make me passive and useless with this view?
No, it makes me who I am, a true believer who RESTS in Christ and doesn’t jump the gun and try to do something for God which is foolish in and of itself.
Look, the doctrine is clear. Either the Holy Spirit works and exercises His power through us or He doesn’t. The emphasis in today’s church is totally in the wrong place. It should be upon God and His work and NOT upon now that I am a Christian what do I have to do? Shed the yoke, people and be free in Christ.
In Christ,
Gilda Thury
gildajuliahanna@yahoo.com
Hey Brother,
I don’t know you but I somehow ran into your blog while looking for evangelism material. I don’t mean to judge or insult you in anyway but I beg of you to consider what Charles Spurgeon had to say about the importance of evangelism:
“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that. The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others. He will be like the brave fireman, who cares not for the scorch or the heat, so that he may rescue the poor creature on whom true humanity has set its heart. If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.” -Charles Spurgeon
In Christ,
Moses Lee
http://transformingnations.blogspot.com/
I am taking a “Personal Evangelism” class right now in my last year of seminary. Also took a PE class at the undergrad level, and have had exposure to Evangelism Explosion and the Omaha favorite Step Up To Life. I am convinced the reason methodology takes the forefront is because people don’t want to address the two issues you lay out here. We have to prop up witnessing with plastic steps because we are not so thoroughly convinced people need God that we naturally share. Oh, to know Christ better and to make him known.
I think you are exactly right. Programs like the Omaha one are so incredibly distracting from the main issues at hand. It also tends to reduce evangelism to something you do rather than who you are.
Just reread this post (a friend of mine just ran across it and emailed it out) and just wanted to drop a note of appreciation for this. What a wonderful reminder of how we are to love out God and our neighbor. Praise God for this insight and thank you Erik for sharing your honest struggle with this.
Thanks Todd. Glad it is helpful. Still a struggle today.
btw, that picture is not me.
I “stumbled” upon this blog because I was looking for a comment on Rob Bell’s book about velvet elvis, and then I read this blog too and I love it
Thank you for your clear words,
keep going!
God bless
Glad it is helpful. You probably found a word or two about Rob Bell too.
Yep. I don’t evangelize primarily because I’m a coward, because I lack faith, and because I’m preoccupied with the world. Yet still I find the arrogance to criticize those who do for their cheesy and manipulative techniques.
Keep up the great work.
I loved the article… it’s sooooo true and so real.
I do feel that hard heart when I walk by the same “zombi people” who curse, spit, smoke, live off government handouts, smoke pot, drink, don’t clean, don’t love God DON’T do ALL the thing I THINK they should do!
I feel disgust and anger at their stupidity. But almost equally and conflictually I feel pity and a deep wrenching sadness because I can’t seem to make a difference and my very presence (clean, articulate judging(?)) creates a wall. yet I can’t seem to approach them with the same condition that they are in.
I’ll bring groceries, try to encourage the kids to come to Church and the mother’s to read the Bible and see who Jesus is. But the next day, there they are again doing the same wretched stuff!
How do I overcome this when the times that I do evangelize gets thrown back in my face.
ARGHHHH!
Help me Lord with my Love and Compassion.. “and he looked at the crowd and felt compassion”
So encouraging. I’ve found that “trying harder”, or making sure I say the right things has made it impossible to share. Because, like mentioned above, I was looking inward, attempting to obey apart from the power of the gospel, instead of beholding His glory and being transformed. Another thing I found helpful was what you preached a couple weeks ago on Mark 13–I believe you opened your sermon with a resolution of Jonathan Edwards, “55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments.” This has forced me ask myself–do I really believe in His judgment and how scary/helpless/horrible/refugeless that would be for the non-believer,–and do I really believe in heaven and how AMAZING it will be? If so, life is short, no one is guaranteed another day, and this person [who I can share the gospel with], will live in eternity in one of those places. Thanks for faithfully preaching and humbly pastoring. We have loved knowing your church, and you and your family–even the short time we’ve been here!