We’ve all heard the expression. We all know what people mean when they say it. Seems like every time you challenge Christians to become pro-active in sharing their faith, someone quips, “I believe in lifestyle evangelism.” We all know what the picture is that they are trying to paint for us. All we really need to do in order to be the salt and light Jesus called us to be is to live out our lives here on earth and hope that someday somebody will see our wonderful deeds and somehow know that its because of Jesus, and this is supposed to compel them to become a Christian.
Of course, this sounds like a great plan to our flesh, that part of us that is too lazy to be bothered by going out of our way to reach out to the lost. That same part of us that feels awkward bringing up the subjects of death, sin, hell, repentance, salvation, etc to our friends and co-workers. It’s a huge relief to those of us who feel a very real sense of anxiety and fear at the thought of being rejected by our family and friends, or even worse, people we don’t even know!
What is it that strikes this fear in our hearts? Do you think its easy or that it comes naturally to anyone? Where do these attacks come from? Obviously, we have our own dirty, uncompassionate hearts to deal with. But aside from that, there is a very real enemy who will give us every flimsy excuse to avoid getting the gospel to lost souls. How many of us can identify with the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 when he says, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” Does that adequately describe how you feel about the notion of openly sharing your faith? Weakness, fear, and not just trembling, but much trembling? That’s how I feel about it. But listen to what he says in the entire passage. Pay attention to how he overcame his fear.
“And I, bretheren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
Paul didn’t rely on his own ability to be persuasive or use compelling arguments based on his own wisdom. He determined not to know anything among them except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Paul stuck to the message. The gospel is power in itself. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Faith does not come by seeing someone lead a good, moral life. It comes by hearing the word of God. “How then shall they call on him in who they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14
The entire book of Acts is recorded history of a church that was zealously active in bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth. The Apostles had a sense of urgency as they traveled form city to city, proclaiming the testimony of Jesus Christ. They believed that the Lord would return at any moment, and this knowledge motivated them to reach out to those around them.
Do you believe that Jesus could come at any moment? Are you convinced that we are living in the last days? How many people do you know that are in need of the salvation that you have in Christ? What would you think of a doctor who found a cure to cancer, but wouldn’t share it with the world because he was on to further studies in medicine? The parallel I am making is obvious. What would you think of a fire station that never bothered to fight fires because they were too busy polishing up the fire trucks?
What would you think of the crew of a ship, who bragged about how much they loved their captain. They even wrote songs about him. One day, as they were out to sea, the captain shouted, “A boat is sinking in the water. Let down the lifeboats!” But rather than doing what the captain said, the crew said among themselves,” Did you hear the captain’s voice? Praise the captain! Glory to the captain!” If they love the captain, they will do what he says.
Suppose you took a late night stroll, and you happened upon a two story house with a family inside sleeping upstairs. And you noticed a fire was building downstairs, with smoke beginning to pour out of the windows. How do you react? Do you fluff up your hair, straighten your jacket, walk up and down the street and try to convince them to come out by your lifestyle? This is absurd, I know. But how much more absurd is it to watch our family, friends, neighbors, etc, continue to walk blindly towards the Day of Judgment, where their fate will be infinitely worse that that of dying in a house fire, and not say anything? How would you feel if you were on your way to hell and someone you knew had the way of salvation but wouldn’t tell you because they were too afraid that you wouldn’t be interested, or they couldn’t be bothered with taking a few moments to let you know how to be saved?
If we truly love our Lord Jesus Christ, and if we truly love our neighbor as ourselves, we should spare no effort to reach out to the lost. When people tell us we should practice “lifestyle evangelism”, we should wholeheartedly agree with them. We should tell them that evangelism is a way of life for us. We are so consumed with the love of God, and so filled with a compassion for the lost, we can’t help but have a burning fire for urgent zealous evangelism. It is an essential part of our lifestyle as a follower of Jesus Christ.
“Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time” Col 4:5 KJV “Make the most of your chances to tell others the good news.” Col 4:5 LB
See you on the streets!