Evangelism is hard for me. While some people effortlessly direct conversations to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I flounder with words, doubt the efficacy of my testimony, and sometimes hesitate to talk about my faith because I fear it may offend or the timing may not be appropriate.
Most of us know someone for whom evangelism seems natural as they clearly and boldly share the gospel with strangers and loved ones alike. We think of the apostles in the book of Acts and marvel at their courage in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, even risking their lives. Indeed, these “evangelism heavyweights” exemplify effective evangelism. But their example can intimidate those like myself who find our evangelism muscle weak.
However, we can be encouraged because, according to the Bible, evangelism involves more than explicit gospel declarations. Identifying common misconceptions about evangelism can help us overcome discouragement about our evangelistic attempts.
Misconception #1: Effective Evangelism Requires Only Words
God’s Word clearly states that, as disciples of Christ, we are to share the gospel with others—directly and with our words (Matt. 28:29; 1 Pet. 3:15). But the Bible also tells us that our mere existence as Christians—our Christ-likeness—impacts the world. For example, Paul referred to the Corinthian believers as “a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor. 3:3). Our lives declare something to the world around us.
This truth became clearer to me when a neighbor tearfully thanked me for not “preaching at” her. For years, she had seen our family pile into the car every Sunday morning to attend worship services. She observed how we raised our children, shepherding their hearts and training them up in the way they should go (Prov. 22:6). As our relationship with her grew, we openly shared some of our struggles and how God sustained, guided, and provided for us.
One day, she admitted that watching us live our lives convicted her and stirred up a desire for Christ. She believed that if I had witnessed directly to her from the beginning, she wouldn’t have listened. She needed to see my faith in action, to find out if it was authentic before she would believe a word I said. This opened a door for me to share the gospel with her, and she began to read the Bible.
Jesus taught the value of our lifestyles in reaching the world for Christ when he said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14–16). The apostle Peter exhorted us similarly: “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that… they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Pet. 2:12). Evangelism involves speech, but our actions matter, too. Let’s not minimize the gospel impact of everyday faithfulness in an ungodly world.
Read the full article—including two more misconceptions—at Gospel-Centered Discipleship.
