Throw away your guilt about evangelism

This home assignment has been rich in terms of books read. I've read some great ones (and some not so great ones too). I recently read "Promoting the Gospel" by John Dickson. It shone light on a wrong belief I've had since I was quite young. One that the church must have instilled into me, I don't think it came from Mum and Dad.

The belief that Christians who aren't fabulous evangelists are not quite making the grade. Not that they're in danger of losing their salvation, but they should be trying harder in this area.

I've felt guilty about this for a long time. Compounded by the fact that now I call myself a missionary people tend to expect that I've "converted" lots of folk. That I'm an expert on evangelism. (And they ask questions backed by this assumption!) Not so.

This book takes a broader and, I think, more Biblical perspective of the topic of evangelism. The author points out that "evangelists" have a special gift of evangelism (Ephesians 4:11) - much like pastors have a special teaching gift, some have the gift of prayer and other have the gift of serving. 

This is the book's main idea:

'So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God ..." (1 Corinthians 10:31) ... The Lord is not asking you to be a superstar evangelist who preaches the gospel to everyone you meet (though, if you are wired that way, go for it). Reaching out to your friends and neighbours is a broad task. It is not an optional extra of the Christian life like attending an evangelism course, going on an outreach trip or reading a Christian book on promoting the gospel! It is an orientation of 'whatever you do'. p 51

That comes as a relief. Permission to throw away the debris of guilt I'd been hoarding.

He goes on to write about other ways (other than preaching the gospel) that all Christians should 'promote the gospel'. Through praying for non-Christians, through giving to those in need and to those in ministry, through compassionate deeds, through Christian behaviour, through public worship (not just seeker sensitive services) and through daily conversation.

I was so encouraged by this that my husband will tell you it came up in almost every conversation I had outside our family for more than a week.

It fits with my experience and understanding of the Bible. That we are part of God's gospel work regardless of where we are and what we are doing, if we are living how he wants us and designed us to live.

We've been going around to churches, speaking about Teams. Telling folk that they are a part of getting the gospel to Japan if they pray for us. We are not evangelists. We don't do an evangelist's job in Japan (or Australia). But we do pray for those who do. We give to those who do. We support evangelists in other ways (like David teaching their kids). We worship publicly. We have non-Christian friends, family and acquaintances - we behave in a Christian-like fashion among them. And I'm sure you do too. Be encouraged. I encourage you to get a hold of this book too.