“Preach the gospel…use words with necessary”
Over the years I have come to really dislike this phrase that so many christians today seem to make their life motto. To me that phrase has reinforced a culture that says we can simply love people to christ without actually telling them about Christ. Now, hear me out. Truth without love won’t work either. That fact seems to be widely accepted and agreed upon, however many christ followers today have accepted a lifestyle of with love and no truth. I have countless friends who use the excuse that they are just not “evangelistic” and that they want to show people Christ by how they love. Loving people is important, but it isn’t enough.
That might seem like a bold statement to make but, hey, the gospel is offensive. What’s sad is that I have some non-christian friends who actually love me better than some of my so called “christian” friends. People are not going to assume you love because you are compelled by christ unless you TELL THEM. Romans 10:14 says “But how can they call on him to be saved unless they believe in him? and how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone TELLS them?” I am fully aware that God reveals himself to people in a variety of circumstances. He can show up in a dream or knock people off donkeys on a lonely road but most of the time God uses ordinary people to reveal him.
My host this month who lives full time in a closed country pointed out “In many cultures abroad, love and respect are very important. If I love as radically as I say I do then people are going to assume I’m trying to be a good person, the same as them.” Love & truth are a both/and when talking about advancing God’s kingdom and saving souls. Humanitarian groups love and serve, and they do incredible things. However, missions trips serve compelled by love yet the key difference is the (out loud) spoken truth of the gospel that leads to salvations. Loving people is a prerequisite to the truth. Love opens doors so that the gospel and the truth of the reality of our fallen world needing a savior can be presented.
Several years ago in Peru I had the honor of hearing a testimony of a young girl who had worked with previous teams. On the sideline of a soccer field she asked my friend Meagan why she was always so happy and smiling. That question opened the door for Meagan to explain about the joy she has from Christ alone. She shared her testimony and the gospel with this girl and lead her to christ! She now works with the church plant in Peru and is radically transformed. Meagan could’ve said anything in that moment. She could’ve been afraid she was gonna shove her religion down her throat and ruined a friendship she was trying to create, but she didn’t. With practice it’s actually immensely easy to sneak Jesus into just about any conversation.
I know so many amazing men and women of God who make excuses why they can’t share the gospel. They pray for their friends and are diligent in believing for their salvations but they never fully open their mouth for lot’s of reasons. There is wisdom in discernment and creating a foundation of friendship first, don’t get me wrong. But many people wait YEARS before share their faith with their friends. I have been challenged in my walk with the Lord to stop presenting christianity as something that “works for me” and allowing others to believe what they want as if salvation isn’t needed for them too. I would argue most christians in America today believe it’s their pastor’s job to present the hard parts of the gospel story. They invite their friends to church and consider their job done. Yet scripture says “I have appointed YOU for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and spread my name throughout the earth” (Romans 10:17)
Being full time on the mission field for 6 months has taught me a lot of things. In some ways I needed to expand my ideas of what ministry looks like. I underestimated the power of bringing lift to ministry hosts by home schooling their kids. I have learned to find value in holding rejected street children and giving them attention and physical touch. There is something to be said about physically serving others and meeting needs. Jesus fed the hungry and showed compassion through touch. Sometimes he just sat with his disciplines and showed love through quality time. But more often than not Jesus made a point to demonstrate his power and point people to the Father.
We need to come along side others and love them until they are at a place to receive what they didn’t even know they needed. I don’t want anyone to think I’m writing this to say we need to knock down every door and force them to hear the gospel. But what I am saying is that we can’t stop at simply meeting needs of this world. There are thousands of non-profits full of people with dozens of beliefs that will feed the poor and build houses or offer similar aid. Those are incredible things and we should continue to do them. What I am saying If you build a poor family a home it’s not going to save them.
Again love and truth are not either/or they are BOTH/AND . I want to be known as a someone who loved people long and hard whilst simultaneously opening their eyes to their condition and offering them eternal life. Eternal life isn’t living forever. John 17:3 says “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” Eternal life isn’t immortality at all it’s KNOWING JESUS! Through Jesus we are a new creation. He’s the one that offers forgiveness of sins. He is the one that takes away shame and replaces it with hope. Our best efforts at helping others through acts of service is like putting a bandaid on a bullet wound. Jesus is the only hope at a changed life.
Sharing the gospel is awkward. The gospel is offensive. Yet, the gospel is life. The world needs to know what Jesus did. I am ashamed to say I have made mistakes before and been guilty of preaching a “get out of jail free” gospel. I have presented christianity like it makes life better and you suddenly feel love and life is great. However, over the years I have come to respect the full nature of the gospel. I was never fully set free of my shame and guilt until I entirely accepted my condition and my need for a savior. The truth is I’m a sinner. The truth is that I have absolutely no hope of going to heaven without repenting of my sins and giving my life to God. All of those things I wouldn’t know for myself until someone had told me. I am so grateful that God placed people in my life who loved me where I was at but loved me even more by refusing to let me stay there and calling me higher towards the Father.
When we can get over ourselves and our fear of rejection there is something beautiful that can happen when we tell the gospel story. It is actually possible to speak truth in a loving way. It is, however, also very possible to love people all the way to hell. When we don’t step up and fulfill the great commission by telling people about who Jesus is and how why came to earth, that’s exactly what we are doing. It’s essentially like walking along side with someone until they walk off a cliff because we were too afraid to get in their way and help them see the errors of their way and encourage them turn around.
I’m here to say its possible to have a civil conversation about religion. It’s also very possible you will be rejected and persecuted, in fact Jesus promises it. That’s where love comes in. If you are truly being “compelled” by the love of christ then you’ll keep at it. Love doesn’t give up. Love is an action and truth needs to be spoken.
