"Imagine how different our lives would be if we were to wake up every morning and remind ourselves that we are sinners equal to the worst offenders, but the Father has loved us, Christ has redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit resides in us. "
Growing up as a pastor’s kid and having been saved at the age of six, I was pleasantly surprised when a Christian started to witness to me during my seminary years. I thought it would be fun to play along, so I let him try to convert me. He started off with a typical presentation. “Have you ever lied?” I answered honestly, “Yes.” “Have you ever looked at a woman lustfully?” Again, “Yes.” “Have you ever been so angry at someone you wanted to hurt them?” “Yes.” He went on, “Then by your own admission and what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, you’re a lying, cheating, murderer.” I was making it easy for him, but he kept missing the opportunities to turn the conversation to the good news of salvation. After a while, I threw him a curve ball and asked him a political question. Wouldn’t you know it? He started to debate with me and the conversation never got back around to the gospel.
This incident stands as a reminder to me of just how easy it is to get off track in our evangelism. If we don’t get to the good news, then what are we actually communicating?
What is the Gospel?
The gospel is first and foremost news. It entails all of the good news about what Christ has accomplished in reconciling us toward God. The Bible is rich with this message. It is seen in the blessing that God has revealed Himself to us in His Word and that this very Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. It is the good news that Christ has lived a sinless life and became the sacrifice for our sins on the cross. It is the announcement that Christ has risen from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father where He is advocating for us, preparing a place in heaven, and planning His return to establish His Kingdom on earth. All of that is the good news of the gospel. If our evangelistic presentation does not include any part of these truths, then we have failed to share the true gospel.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us an insight about how to keep the gospel front and center in our daily lives. In turn, this helps us stay motivated to witness. Jesus teaches three key principles in this text that we can apply to evangelism.
Don’t Be Judgmental
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
The world likes this text because it fits within the modern cultural narrative of tolerance. However, these verses are not suggesting that Christians should suspend judgment between right and wrong, but instead it addresses how we approach our neighbor with gospel perspective.
Earlier in this sermon, when Jesus taught us how to pray, He modeled it this way, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” and later elaborates, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Jesus is not saying that our salvation is tied to our ability to love our neighbor, but He is showing us that the message we present is the message that we have applied to our own lives. If we are judging others, it is because we feel we are living under judgment ourselves.
This happens because we have not fully grasped what the good news of the gospel entails. Even if we don’t feel forgiven, the gospel declares that we have been justified. If we do not acknowledge and accept that grace for ourselves then we are declaring that God’s promise and Christ’s work was not enough.
If we approach our neighbor with a judgmental spirit, we will present to them a gospel that is based on the level of righteousness that we have attained and no higher. We will essentially be asking them to model their lives after us rather than Christ.
This sounds rather foolish, but isn’t that what we often do in our witness? We downplay our faults and talk about our achievements, as if our efforts have given us more of God’s grace. This falls short in drawing the attention of those who have tried to make it on their own and failed.
Examine Yourself
“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”
Introspection - examining our own hearts - is the solution to counter a judgmental spirit. Understanding the gospel, and knowing how it relates to us precedes any opportunity we will ever have to effectively communicate our faith with those who are lost.
We have offended God more than our neighbors could ever offend us, and God has forgiven us more than we could ever forgive our neighbors. This should compel us to want to share our greatest treasure. When we know just how much we have been forgiven and how much God loved us while we were still sinners, then we will be overwhelmed by the grace of God in such a way that we won’t be able to keep it to ourselves.
Focusing on the beam in our own eyes will cause us to reflect on the grace and mercy of God. When we personally understand the gospel, we will see more clearly how to communicate the love of God to others. This will not only motivate us to want to share our faith, but it will demonstrate the hope of Christ to those who know they are broken and are looking for healing.
Don’t Throw Pearls Before Swine
“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”
Not everyone is looking for salvation. Many have hardened their hearts to the truth. The Bible warns us not to fall into pointless arguments and endless debates. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:4-5). These verses in juxtaposition teach us that we have to know when it is appropriate to answer someone’s objections to Christianity.
This is not always easy, and our propensity to argue often reveals a desire to be right rather than to be a witness. This comes from a misapplication of the gospel in our own lives. Do you see now how easy it is to fall into the cycle of judgment and cross examination rather than repentance and self examination?
If we are going to be witnesses, it will require that we know when to walk away from a fight. It is impossible to win a fool with words. They have to see the gospel, and they won’t see it in us if we are drawn into debates over who is right. Not only do we need to understand the gospel and apply it to our lives, but we need to demonstrate the good news in our presentations as well.
Proclaim the Gospel to Yourself
In all three of these commands we are given the same instruction, apply the gospel to ourselves first. This is a discipline that could revolutionize our personal lives and motivate us to be more powerful witnesses. Imagine how different our lives would be if we were to wake up every morning and remind ourselves that we are sinners equal to the worst offenders, but the Father has loved us, Christ has redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit resides in us.
When we know the gospel, we are equipped with the most powerful weapon in this world. When we apply it to our own lives, we are empowered with strength from on high. When we share it with others, we are testifying to what Christ has first done in us. This should motivate each one of us to be a powerful witness.
Rev. Adam Miller is the President and Host of Songtime and can be heard daily on the Songtime Radio Broadcast
This article was adapted from a series of seminars entitled, “Motivation to Witness.” If you would like to have Adam come and speak on this, or another subject, at your Church or ministry, please contact the Songtime office.