Christian Living

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So often when talking to an unbeliever about Christ we think we have failed if there is no apparent and immediate response. We are too much concerned about the reaction to what we say.

A person may be abusive, threatening, seemingly totally disinterested in the gospel. We go away disheartened and disgruntled; some to such an extent the experience is the end of their evangelistic ventures.

There's little doubt over the years some would have been saved after throwing rotten tomatoes at a fervent street preacher. How do we know what will happen later when that angry person goes home and calms a little? That's when God's Holy Spirit can work upon him/her, bringing back to their mind the word (and hopefully God's Word) that was spoken.

Remember "the gospel is the power of God unto salvation" as long as it is preached clearly and is not a weakened, half-hearted version.

Nowhere in the scriptures does Jesus tell us to be concerned about the reaction. He simply tells us to preach the gospel. The rest is up to God, for without God's help we cannot save a person. We are simply the messengers given the task of taking the good news.

If people do react angrily, we just have to stay polite, thank them for their time and move on. It's nothing to get discouraged about. After all, Jesus said: "Broad is the road to destruction and many there are that follow it." As long as we tell them in some way about the narrow road that's all that is required.

A mistaken idea has crept into the church that evangelism has to be "friendship evangelism." Make friends with people and then slip in a word occasionally about Jesus and the gospel. This idea has been touted around churches so often that some think it's biblical. It isn't. It's another lie from satan. It might work in some situations, but to take it as a "must do" is totally wrong. The Hare Krishnas practise such methods, but of course Jesus isn't part of their vocabulary.

Having said all that, there is no set-in-concrete method for evangelism. If you care about people's eternal destination, God may well show you something which has never been done before.

To illustrate, this writer was in London some years ago. As I approached Leicester Square a large crowd had gathered. I edged closer to get a view and there were two or three guys roller- skating in a circle. They wore long cloaks with "Jesus" emblazoned on the back. One was preaching as he skated - no easy task. The point is the people were gathered and listening, if only for two or three minutes. God had given the evangelists something new - which had worked.

As a well-known shoe manufacturer likes to say: "Just do it." Don't worry about the reaction.

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