I grew up in a private Christian school. In the gym, alongside championship banners, hung the many "Souls Saved" banners of seniors who came before me. They not just encouraged me, but also haunted me. Seeing all my predecessors who were so successful at evangelizing, yet I could not get up the guts to tell someone else about Jesus...
I still can't. The last time I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ was with a youth in my youth group. It was easy and comfortable. I knew her. She knew me. I was not telling her anything new, and at Youth Camp, everyone gets the picture. I just helped her along in the prayer.
The biggest fear I have with evangelism is being turned down, or rejection. I am so passionate about my love for my Savior, when others do not feel the same way, I get my feelings hurt. It is part of the fear of rejection, not just of what I have to say, but also rejection of my Jesus. Secondly, I don't put myself in evangelism opportunities. I do not seek people who do not know Jesus. Placing myself in situations of evangelism requires people who do not know Jesus. Here at ETBU, its hard to tell.
I can be more faithful by stepping off campus and work in lives who really need Jesus, no matter what their attitude towards the Gospel may be. I should be comforted with the idea that Jesus loves us ALL, no matter what. Even those who reject him...
The writings of Francis of Assisi really challenged me in the fact that he had 2 choices: live his life in prayer, or live his life in evangelism. There were no grey area choices for him. It was not both... To him, it was either or. He sincerely sought out his friends and confidants to pray for him. That is the next thing that really challenged me: Brother Masso "quickly had God's answer". How did he know? That is so hard for me! And then when he told Francis that God told him He wanted Francis to go and preach, Francis believed him and went and did it! Now that is faith in not only God, but a true and genuine friend.
My favorite part of Watchman Nee's writing is how beautifully he puts reaching out to "touch God". He gives the examples of not only the sick woman who reached to touch Jesus's feet in a large crowd and was healed, but also the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him in heaven. It is so encouraging to know that yes, evangelism is hard, but it is not really up to us to change someone's heart. That someone has to want to reach out. Like a drug addict, stuck in the addiction of his sin, but the addict has to WANT to quit, to ever really quit. Just as the sinner has to WANT to repent, to ever really be saved. It is usually said as just a joke but...
The first step is just admitting it.
You can get help from there.
I still can't. The last time I shared the gospel of Jesus Christ was with a youth in my youth group. It was easy and comfortable. I knew her. She knew me. I was not telling her anything new, and at Youth Camp, everyone gets the picture. I just helped her along in the prayer.
The biggest fear I have with evangelism is being turned down, or rejection. I am so passionate about my love for my Savior, when others do not feel the same way, I get my feelings hurt. It is part of the fear of rejection, not just of what I have to say, but also rejection of my Jesus. Secondly, I don't put myself in evangelism opportunities. I do not seek people who do not know Jesus. Placing myself in situations of evangelism requires people who do not know Jesus. Here at ETBU, its hard to tell.
I can be more faithful by stepping off campus and work in lives who really need Jesus, no matter what their attitude towards the Gospel may be. I should be comforted with the idea that Jesus loves us ALL, no matter what. Even those who reject him...
The writings of Francis of Assisi really challenged me in the fact that he had 2 choices: live his life in prayer, or live his life in evangelism. There were no grey area choices for him. It was not both... To him, it was either or. He sincerely sought out his friends and confidants to pray for him. That is the next thing that really challenged me: Brother Masso "quickly had God's answer". How did he know? That is so hard for me! And then when he told Francis that God told him He wanted Francis to go and preach, Francis believed him and went and did it! Now that is faith in not only God, but a true and genuine friend.
My favorite part of Watchman Nee's writing is how beautifully he puts reaching out to "touch God". He gives the examples of not only the sick woman who reached to touch Jesus's feet in a large crowd and was healed, but also the thief on the cross who asked Jesus to remember him in heaven. It is so encouraging to know that yes, evangelism is hard, but it is not really up to us to change someone's heart. That someone has to want to reach out. Like a drug addict, stuck in the addiction of his sin, but the addict has to WANT to quit, to ever really quit. Just as the sinner has to WANT to repent, to ever really be saved. It is usually said as just a joke but...
The first step is just admitting it.
You can get help from there.
No comments:
Post a Comment