Tonight I attended Living Waters, which is a campus ministry on Taylor's campus. The message was about evangelism.
His message was hard to swallow. He was passionately calling everyone to evangelize with more intention and fervor. I felt myself curling into a ball for protection. My soul kept whispering, "No, I don't want to evangelize." Now I realize that the popular church would call my resistance "diabolical" and "blasphemous". After all, isn't evangelism at the center of the Gospel? Isn't Jesus's heart to reach a dying world?
Yes! Jesus's mission was to save the world. That is why He went to the cross.
However, Tamara's mission is less defined. As this man spoke about witnessing to those around him, I thought: I can't do that. I have attempted it in the past. It isn't pretty. It only looks like an argument. I misrepresent the Gospel every time I "try to witness". Jesus alone has the words of life! Tamara has the words of a puny human.
For me, evangelism feels like the first "I love you!" in a relationship. It isn't something casually done. It is done with forethought and preparation. I don't just want to evangelize because a pastor told me it was a good idea. I want to be led by the Spirit and moved by the heart of Christ.
My soul was in turmoil during the sermon, so I decided to approach the speaker after the sermon. He told me to pray for souls before I witness, which I LOVE to do. He also told me not to listen to the enemy's lies. My attempts at evangelism are probably more fruitful then I have come to believe. Fair enough.
Evangelism is a holy endeavor. Evangelism is a sacred calling. When others rally around this calling, I approach it with more fear and trepidation. I know non-Christians reject Christ and deny Him over and over again. I am wounded from past experiences, so I am more guarded. I will pray, in the coming weeks, that God will soften my heart for the lost. I will admit I seek the ministry of the Holy Spirit for my own selfish needs more than I seek Him for empowerment to help others. I simply love His presence. I jealously want His affection. It is hard to give it away.
His message was hard to swallow. He was passionately calling everyone to evangelize with more intention and fervor. I felt myself curling into a ball for protection. My soul kept whispering, "No, I don't want to evangelize." Now I realize that the popular church would call my resistance "diabolical" and "blasphemous". After all, isn't evangelism at the center of the Gospel? Isn't Jesus's heart to reach a dying world?
Yes! Jesus's mission was to save the world. That is why He went to the cross.
However, Tamara's mission is less defined. As this man spoke about witnessing to those around him, I thought: I can't do that. I have attempted it in the past. It isn't pretty. It only looks like an argument. I misrepresent the Gospel every time I "try to witness". Jesus alone has the words of life! Tamara has the words of a puny human.
For me, evangelism feels like the first "I love you!" in a relationship. It isn't something casually done. It is done with forethought and preparation. I don't just want to evangelize because a pastor told me it was a good idea. I want to be led by the Spirit and moved by the heart of Christ.
My soul was in turmoil during the sermon, so I decided to approach the speaker after the sermon. He told me to pray for souls before I witness, which I LOVE to do. He also told me not to listen to the enemy's lies. My attempts at evangelism are probably more fruitful then I have come to believe. Fair enough.
Evangelism is a holy endeavor. Evangelism is a sacred calling. When others rally around this calling, I approach it with more fear and trepidation. I know non-Christians reject Christ and deny Him over and over again. I am wounded from past experiences, so I am more guarded. I will pray, in the coming weeks, that God will soften my heart for the lost. I will admit I seek the ministry of the Holy Spirit for my own selfish needs more than I seek Him for empowerment to help others. I simply love His presence. I jealously want His affection. It is hard to give it away.
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