Evangelism 101

It’s a question as old as the automobile - but the principle is as old as the gospel:

You are late for a very important appointment. You take a shortcut on a little-traveled back road, and racing down that road you suddenly see that the bridge is out! No signs, warnings, nothing! You stop just in time.You immediately call 911 and alert the authorities. You have done your duty, but now what? You can reverse, use the main roads and possibly make your appointment. But what about others who may travel this road in the 15 minutes it will take the police to get there. You saw the danger so they probably will - but what if they don’t? What about cars coming from the other direction? So you have 3 possible choices: leave and pray fervently that others will see the danger in time; throw some debris in the road to alert others at least on this side of the bridge of the danger; or stay there with flashers on, ready to honk your horn and wave your arms at anyone approaching from either side, until the safety people arrive - and miss your appointment.

I am confident that everyone reading this simple story would choose option 3. We would do it because we can see clearly the danger, as anyone would whom we could warn. And they would be very thankful. And the application to sharing the gospel is also clear: What should we do when we see others traveling a road in life that leads to danger? But that is a harder question, without a single clearcut answer for every situation, because to the non-Christian or even to the nominal Christian, they most of the time will not instantly recognize the danger. And the result is that most of the time we do nothing beyond praying for the person, if we even do that.

Showing people a safe road is what evangelism is. The “E” word is something many (most) of us struggle with. We may actually consider it something only trained people can do, or it is for people with the “gift” of evangelism. I was struck this week by a quote from Jimmy Carter that may speak to all of us: “The only things that we can truly give to each other are the only things we truly need: an ear to listen, a word of encouragement, a heart to care and a hand to help.” This, it strikes me, is the heart of the Christian life, the heart of evangelism, based on the example of Christ. Is this not how our God treats us?

Matthew 28:19-20 (the great commission), Matthew 9:36-38 (Jesus’ compassion for others), 2 Corinthians 5:20 (we are ambassadors for Christ)

—Dennis Lacoss