Why don’t we talk to our friends about Jesus?

4 April 2011 | Author Brad Konemann

Why is it that so many of us are nervous about sharing our faith? In the next few posts, we’ll consider two fears we have concerning evangelism, and two excuses we make to justify our non-evangelism.

Fear #1: They’ll Reject Me

Dave Miers writes:

Fitting in is a big deal… Not fitting in is an even bigger deal. That’s why peer pressure exists. You know that you’ve done dumb things because your mates were doing dumb things. Part of fitting in is working out who you are and where you belong.

All of us want to belong somewhere. We all want to fit in. We want our friends to like us for who we are.

But as Christians in this world, we don’t fit in – we are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20), we are aliens and strangers in this world (1 Peter 2:11). Our lives do not look the same as the world around us – we are shaped by Jesus and the counter-cultural values of His Kingdom.

If our priority is to fit in here, then we won’t share the Gospel because there will be a cost. All too often, we’re just like the guys in John 12:42-43; we are afraid to confess our faith because we fear men more than we fear God. We love praise from our friends and family more than we love praise from God.

We are all called to be frontline Christians and we need to be prepared to count the cost. Being known as a Christian will make us look foolish in the eyes of the world. When we share the Gospel, some people will laugh or mock us.

But this is nothing compared to what Christians like Said Musa from Afghanistan have to cope with. Said was arrested for his faith in May last year. In February 2011, Said was told he would be hanged if he did not renounce his faith in Christ and turn back to Islam.

I laughed and replied, ‘I can’t deny my Saviour’s name. Because my life is just service to Jesus Christ and my death is going to heaven [where] Jesus Christ is. I am a hundred percent ready to die.’ …It’s a great [privilege] to me to be called Jesus Christ’s disciple…’ They pushed me much and much. I refused their demands.

Said Musa knows there is a cost, but it is for a great reward.

In Christ, we are a part of God’s family. We belong to Christ. We are deeply loved. We already fit in! Even if we lose family or friends for the sake of the Gospel, Jesus promises that we will gain an even bigger family and reward (Mark 10:29-30).

When you are rejected or teased for being a Christian, remember that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God – “not hardship or persecution or famine…or danger or sword” (Romans 8:31-39).

Are you willing to be called a fool for being a Christian and sharing the good news of forgiveness of sins and life in Christ, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus?

Digg Digg

Posted in Following Jesus

2 Responses to “Why don’t we talk to our friends about Jesus?”

Josh Maule:

7 April 2011 at 11:58 PM

I’ve been thinking about this. Probably one of the main reasons we don’t share our faith is we don’t dwell deeply enough on God’s mercy to us.

It’s like with your favourite sport, video game, film, book, activity – you don’t need to think about whether or not your will tell others about it. You just do. You get excited and you proclaim it.

While this isn’t the whole story of evangelism, I think it’s a lot of the story. If we really reflect on the message, believe in our hearts that it is good news, are emboldened by the Spirit, then we will share it, despite opposition and the opinions of others.
Brad Konemann:

8 April 2011 at 12:37 AM

Some challenging reflections Josh. Can you share how you have been pumped for evangelism by reflecting on God’s mercy to us?

Some other thoughts:

In Australia, life is good. Life is easy. People are friendly. We’re all “mates”. It’s easy to think that people don’t really need saving. If we don’t understand the reality and depth of sin rightly, then we don’t understand that people really need a Saviour (and like you pointed to, this means we don’t have a big enough view of God’s incredible mercy to us in Christ).

Instead of living as if the Gospel is Good News for all people, it’s easy in Australia to hang out in our Christian hideouts with our Christian friends, forgetting the urgency and priority of bringing the light of the Gospel into the darkness of a perishing world. It is a costly mission. It is a dangerous mission. But we carry the light of life and we have Christ in us, the hope of glory.