Apples of Gold

There are many different approaches to evangelism, some are more effective than others. When I was in about fourth grade I made use of a well meaning though ignorant method. My best friend and I were very concerned that most of our friends did not have a relationship with God and we knew that if they died in that state hell would be their destination. As a result, we developed a rather unique approach to disseminating the Gospel message. During recess we would find someone who was isolated from the herd. We would approach them and corner them, often when they were on the slippery slide, and passionately implore them to repent before they ended up lost for eternity. Unfortunately, those who repeated the sinner’s prayer in a state of terror were abandoned at birth with no discipleship. In case you are wondering, I do not recommend attempting this technique.

In college we would descend upon the mall, clipboards in hand and take people through a questionnaire that culminated with an opportunity to become a follower of Jesus. Again, discipleship was difficult if not impossible.

I think we all understand the importance of reaching our lost friends and loved ones as well as the stranger down the street or across the world.

It is almost a foregone conclusion that any event which has a large crowd will have someone in the audience who is holding up a sign with John 3:16 written on it. This verse has become so common to us that we often fail to grasp just how important it is. Please don’t just gloss over these familiar words in a sing-songy tempo; but read them like this is the first time you have been exposed to it.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Several things are very clear from this passage. God’s love for this world is enormous. When our girls were growing up my husband and I did our best to shield them from pain and suffering. I’m sure those of you with children have done the same thing. God did the opposite. He sent Jesus, knowing he would suffer greatly, in order to shield us from destruction. That is a whole lot of love.

It is also clear that a relationship with God is available to everyone and that relationship is the rescue from perishing. The human race as a group is headed for disaster. The depravity of man has become much more pronounced in the last several years. Immorality is cool. God is whatever you want him to be at the moment. “My truth” is an oxymoron embraced by our culture.

As the chasm between followers of Jesus and the rest of the world widens at an alarming rate, we can find ourselves appalled by the behavior of our culture. The temptation to abandon them to “get what they deserve” must be resisted with desperation.

I remember one of my college professors who couldn’t even talk about the lost without breaking down and weeping. He was a missionary, home on furlough, and his heart had caught a fragment of the love that God has for these people. Eternity in hell is horrendous. It is not a figurative place but rather the bold-faced reality for many, many people. So the question today is: What are we going to do about it?

Why is sharing the hope of salvation such a daunting task? Matthew 7:13-14 reminds us that most people are going to reject God.

“The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”

Our schools teach that faith is a crutch. That God is made up and that we have no evidence to the contrary. This is so completely inaccurate; and yet the average Christian has not been given the tools to interact when their faith is challenged in this way. So often we find ourselves cowering in the corner, afraid to express the words of life to those around us. God is fully aware of our weaknesses and our trepidation in this area and yet we are commanded to tell others about Him. Thankfully God didn’t just leave us on our own.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere. Acts 1:8.

If you find yourself struggling to share Jesus with others here is your answer. Take some time to ask God to fill you with the power of His Holy Spirit so that you can be an effective witness for Him. May God make us more concerned with the destination of the lost than we are with our own comfort.

D.L. Moody was once criticized about his method of evangelism. He asked the dissenter how they evangelized. The response was, “I don’t do it”. Moody replied, “I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it.”

Our approach may not be perfect. Someone else could probably do it better, but can we agree with Moody that we have to reach out even if we stumble through it? Ask God to give you sensitivity to His leading and creativity to find effective avenues for you. Whether you find yourself baking a loaf of bread for a lonely neighbor or preaching from the mountaintop – spread the love of Jesus to a broken world.