Evangelism is a command; we must not avoid it. Read about how you can overcome your fear of talking about God.
by rev Janré van Jaarsveld
Some Christians do not think that they know the Bible well enough to talk about the Lord. Other people feel that they are too sinful to talk about what they believe. The biggest fear Christians have is the reaction of unbelievers. Reactions like anger, rejection, hate speech or perhaps physical violence.
However, evangelism is both a calling and a command. God gives all of us the command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” (Matthew 28:19). We are tasked with telling other people about the good news of Jesus Christ. He calls us to tell other people about our sin before the Lord, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross and how He alone is our Savior. God calls us to preach to other people that they should repent and put their trust in Jesus Christ and believe in him.
4 principles to overcome the fear of evangelism
1. Know where your fear is from
There are many opportunities that the Lord brings our way to preach the gospel, but many times we are shy or afraid. So, when we feel we want to flee we must not, because the Lord gives us the strength to preach his Name.
Fear is one of the many tactics satan uses to keep us silent about the good news of Jesus Christ. It is his greatest desire that all should perish and that none should repent. It is important to realize that this fear is not coming from God, but from the enemy. As Christians, let us never give satan the pleasure of silencing us for the gospel.
2. Trust in the Lord
Satan may well have power, but his power is limited. We can hold onto the knowledge that satan is not all-seeing. But God is. God is all over and almighty.
Praise the Lord that He has infinitely more power than satan. And, the Lord also lives in us through his Spirit. He is with you every moment of every day. He will never fail you and never leave you alone. Trust the Lord that He is in control and is almighty. Ask the Lord to give you the strength to preach his gospel to all those He sends across your life’s path.
3. Know the Bible
The best way to beat the fear of talking about the Lord is to know the Bible and trust the Lord. By studying the Bible we learn precisely who the Lord is and what He does. We learn about his greatness and his almighty power. We learn of his grace and his mercy.
Practically, we have to do the following:
- Read your Bible regularly and make time for the Lord, even if it is only for 10 to 15 minutes a day.
- Do personal Bible study and hold Bible study with other believers. This will help you understand what the Bible teaches, and what the Lord expects of you as his servant.
- Learn and memorize the Bible. Make sure you know a few Bible verses by heart, so that the Holy Spirit can remind you of them when you have the opportunity to preach the gospel.
4. Share your passion for Jesus Christ
Many people use the excuse that they are too shy or don’t have the gifts to preach the gospel. It’s always amazing how even shy people and introverts can talk about the things they like and have a passion for. We must let our love for the Lord set our hearts on fire.
Let the glory of Jesus Christ overwhelm you so that you will have a passion for the Word and for the gospel. As we stand in awe of the Lord and are captured by his rule and glory then we will also speak with conviction about the Lord.
We must not avoid evangelism
Remember, Jesus’ great command (Matthew 28:18-20) is not optional. This is an assignment! Evangelism is not something we can choose to avoid. It is a command that comes with a wonderful promise: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
