(continued from part one)

Four things relating to sharing the Good News:

1. Barriers – excuses I give myself

~ ‘I don’t want to be a hypocrite’ 👺

The heart often isn’t synched to our knowledge of truth.  I used to hear and sometimes also think that if my heart isn’t there, then I shouldn’t do it or else it’s hypocrisy. 

But I came to learn the difference between:

1. hypocrisy (doing something you don’t mean) vs
2. self-denial (doing something you know you should be doing, although you don’t feel like it).   

Do I not evangelise because I don’t want to be a hypocrite, or I just don’t want to deny myself? Likewise, do I not serve in certain areas because I don’t want to be a hypocrite or am I just giving myself excuse to deny myself? 🤔

It’s obviously better when the heart 🫀 and head 🧠 are synched, but also remember that what we often feel like is simply a manifestation or a reflection of our sinful nature, which means what we don’t feel like doing is perhaps the very thing we need to do. 

It’s definitely possible to evangelise without love (although we’re called to evangelise out of love), but not so the other way around. It’s not possible to love without evangelizing. Just like outward good actions don’t mean the heart is necessarily good, but a good heart necessarily works itself out in action. So while you can’t tell what’s in the heart, you can actually tell what’s not in the heart if it never shows up in action.

The modern church often stops short at the first part, i.e., good actions doesn’t necessarily reflect the heart. And that wrongly becomes an excuse to be a bum. Instead we have to take it further that what’s good in the heart will after all shows itself in action.

~ Too busy 🐝🐝🐝

Like everyone else!

⛪ Building God’s kingdom is lots of work for sure. A reason I hadn’t started earlier was that I was too busy building my own.  I was invested in my life, or just my immediate family, my own home, my future, my desire, my goal in life –> it’s all me. I wasn’t looking out, thinking of others, nor concerned about their conditions, it’s always just me and my own need. But I gradually came to see the self-centredness and childishness in that. And that’s really what kids do: the world is all about me. Or else! Throw tantrum 😠

I only started to grow when I realised there are other lives and not just my life.  Others’ interests, not just mine. And other’s families too, not just mine.  And then there’s God, not just me. 

I’ve learnt that Christians are the very people who should have a big heart, not narrow, because we are about the kingdom of God, which is broad indeed.  It widens your horizon as you get caught up in the grand plan of God. You realise He doesn’t just create you nor just concern Himself with you (or me).  He is the great God who creates the universe from end to end, the Alpha and Omega – He’s not concerned with just here and now, or just today, or in your town, city, or country, or even the whole world, or even just in this generation – but from everlasting to everlasting. 

If you know you are redeemed, and that your life is not your own (nor is mine), then neither your career, relationships, hobbies, family or anything else has the right to monopolise your life.  Yes, granted, we bear particular responsibilities in our different roles.  But we’re called to build the kingdom of God, not our own.  And to glorify God, not ourselves. 

The last commandment that is the great commission is the first priority.  So I can’t be too busy for that. Else, whatever else I’m doing, I’m not really living.

2. Reminders – what I caution myself‼

~ The power is in the Word 📖

In evangelism, I personally learn a lot from Tim Keller especially in the early days. Nowadays, we do learn many methods and there’s a place for that (Jesus Himself used different approaches with different audience), but it’s easy to forget that the power is in the Word i.e., not in the method, my eloquence or convincing power.  If there’s THE method, then we really won’t need to rely on God’s Word and work anymore and just use the right method. 

I heard someone said recently that the Gospel can’t be improved, but we can definitely reduce it, misrepresent it, and depart from it.  So, let’s not do that.

~ The nature of the Gospel

What we have in the true Gospel is the uniqueness of the Christian faith that the natural world doesn’t understand.  Expect it to clash with human’s fallen reason. 

I had talked to people who followed along up until the resurrection, or the radical call to leave everything behind and follow Jesus. It’s not surprising because it’s irrational, foolishness, and stumbling block to the human mind and heart. 🙅‍♀️

When I convey a clear Gospel, risk of rejection is expected.  In fact, when someone keeps keeping up with what I say, I’d be careful to distinguish that it’s either the work of the Spirit or I’m compromising the message. I’m also very concerned whenever I witness a Christian too hastily asked, ‘do you want to be a child of God? Do you want to trust Jesus as your Saviour?’ when the person doesn’t even understand what ‘child of God’ meant or just who this ‘Jesus’ is. You can’t be seriously glad when they say yes to something they really d.o. n.o.t. understand.. 🤨

Also, keep in mind the Gospel has the power to polarize (it’s just the way it is). The way it looks outwardly to us are those:

• Who receive it
• Who reject it

Or more correctly, those who are received and those rejected (in God’s sovereignty).  Either way, God is glorified.

3. Perspective – when things are difficult 😥

~ ⛽ Resources to keep going

What drives our evangelism? Other’s response or God’s kindness to us?

😨 You’ll be stressed if it’s the former, because we receive all kinds of responses (which is expected as they’re people, not robots, so all different).  And anyway, it’s really none of our business what God chooses to do with them – what’s His part is His, what’s ours is ours to do.

I learn very slowly not to be controlled by acceptance from audience.  Jesus was always consistent in preaching the kingdom of God and didn’t stay just where He’s popular.  Also, He withdrew to secluded places to refocus on God – probably very important for Him to be firmly grounded.  I find that prioritising time alone with God is very important.  If you’re always with the crowd, you’ll naturally be controlled by them instead of being led by the Spirit.

~ 🎖 Remember it as a privilege

I’m inspired by friends who set good examples and at a great cost to themselves share the Good News. While it’s not wrong, it needs to be said that’s just normal Christian life. 

I wonder if we’re living such a sub-standard Christian life that when we see normal obedience, we stand in awe and deem such people to be great indeed.  And then when we see what’s less than normal (everyday comfortable us) -> we think that’s normal. 

That’s not the right perspective.

When it’s difficult and I’m hurt, sometimes I forgot the privilege to take part in God’s work – because I’m actually very disposable (we all are).  Indeed, when I don’t do it due to laziness, busyness, illness etc, does the Kingdom work then stop?  It continues with or without me.  It’s whether I get to be a part of it or I’m left out of it. So, while I am still used as a vessel, I should be thankful.  It is a privilege, really.

4. Exhortation

When I feel –

~ I can’t be bothered 🤷‍♀️

I remind myself I may not always have the opportunity.  I’ve heard that it’s when I feel I have more opportunities that the more I will miss the opportunities God gives.  It may be the last time that I get to share or it may be the last time that person will get to hear. 

If I call myself a Christian, my philosophy of life cannot be: I already believe, live whatever, for when I die, I’ll go to heaven – all good.

For we know people who truly believe, they die as martyrs. While not every Christian is called to die as martyrs, all are supposed to lay down their lives daily.  It may not mean martyrdom, but it always mean denying yourself. 

Also, if I can’t be bothered because I don’t feel comfortable, how comfortable do I want to get before I’ll share?  And if I only do it when it’s comfortable, where’s the self-denial?

So, the exhortation is not to remain a rhetorical Christian, for that is no Christian.

~ Inadequate 😟

If you feel completely inadequate, then funnily you are actually the right person God can use.  Feeling inadequate is about the right point to start.

I say so from experience. Not only that, the more I do it, the more I see I can’t do it.  Then also the more you witness and experience God at work.  I certainly know it’s not me – He makes sure I know that!  

Lastly, if you need some more encouragement, just look at yourself.  If I was in the business of making new Christians cry, and God can bring me over to this side and continue to grow me – He can do that with anyone.  (And you’ll have your own version of the same story)

Closing

In closing, let’s start where we are and keep going.  Let’s encourage, share and support each other in making and maturing disciples of Jesus together. 

Wherever we are, we can learn to see human souls. At home, when going out to study, to work, to travel and play.  We may set ourselves apart from this narcissistic generation and learn to not mainly see the great sceneries or architectures where we go, or busy being impressed with display of the newest stuffs, or busy take selfies to mark our experience – but instead, see human lives (as Paul did as he went about in Athens, and his spirit was provoked that they’re lost – that should be our visions too as we go out). 

Since God abides in us Christians, He will teach us what to do.  In evangelism, in Christian walk.

Lastly, some things can be better understood once you do them, that’s the case with evangelism too – so, let’s get cracking! 🥚🐣