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Here I Go Again

Most of us in the Church have been trained well beyond our obedience. So when it comes to telling others about Jesus, what are we so afraid of?

We know about the Power Band bracelets with colored beads that symbolize a different step in the gospel. We’ve heard a version of “The Romans Road” or some other witnessing tool. But I’m not sure we all truly understand how God saves people.

I can say I believe salvation is all of God, but if that were my belief I’d have no problem sharing my faith. Somewhere between my brain and my heart are some atheistic tendencies. I once heard Pastor Johnny Hunt of First Baptist Church of Woodstock (Georgia) say, “In many areas of our lives we are practical atheists.” I tell students all the time, “You can say what you think, but you’ll live what you believe.”

When I share Jesus, most likely all I’m doing is watering a seed someone else planted, and God does the saving. (1 Corinthians 3:7) So here is a crucial point to work into our hearts and minds: We cannot save anybody. I’ve never saved anyone in my life. I cannot look at a witnessing opportunity and consider myself the person who is going to make or break this eternal moment. I am charged only with loving them like Jesus. God does the heavy lifting. That’s what my brain tells me and what Scripture tells me.

Yet my life tells me I obviously don’t believe that. Instead, I fear I will say or do something that won’t be good enough or strong enough or convincing enough, which is a scary thought—to think I can convince somebody. The consistent evidence suggests that I believe I’m going to do something wrong or prompt too many difficult questions. I think I’m not ready. Consequently, I hold back and don’t share. So that means I don’t believe what I say. For many of us, it is a source of constant spiritual friction.

It often boils down to pride rooted in the sobering reality that I probably have not lived for Christ in front of this person. My fear is that what I share will sound so different from my normal behavior and attitude that they’re going to look at me and laugh because I haven’t lived the eternal life I’m now professing.

All of these shortcomings—a misunderstanding of Scripture, a fear of rejection, and pride—are steeped in some form of fear, which isn’t from God anyway. To fear sharing your faith is to misunderstand the gospel, our role, and God’s role. God is love, and perfect love cast out fear—so we can speak the words of life with God’s fire in our eyes. And just love ‘em like Jesus.