Evangelism. Not exactly my forte. I have a hard time believing if someone is really serious about receiving Christ or if they just want the free bracelet you are handing out to those that pray “the prayer.” Call me a “doubting Thomas” but its true. I struggle with going door-to-door. I want to have a relationship with the person first, I want to know their story. But then the relationships I have built hoping to “show them the love of Christ” have actually hindered me from actually speaking the truth of the Gospel to them.
I admit the first two days of evangelism, my motives were selfish. When we were told after lunch we will go back out for one more hour, I thought “is that even worth it? We would probably only make it into one more home anyways.” The Lord gently spoke to me and said, “But Kristin that is one more person that I love that could possibly choose to spend eternity with me.” How could I deny that opportunity to someone? I knew my heart was in the wrong place so I kept praying for God to change my heart. He didn’t do it right away. No, He patiently waited till I was done with my temper-tantrum.
The next morning I woke up to a new peace and desire for people to know the Truth…
Meet Leonard. He knows a little bit about salvation from one of the pastors at his church, but he doesn’t know if he wants to receive Christ because this pastor he knows, who is supposed to represent Christ, is sleeping around with other men’s wives. Some of the members of his church say they have a relationship with Christ, but then will also visit a witch doctor when their child is sick. He has a warped view of theology. I burned with anger and sadness because I know how that can cause people to be so turned off to the Gospel. There is a DC talk song that sums it up best: “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians, who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door and deny Him with their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” I totally understand and I am not saying that I live this perfect life. I know I have caused some to stumble, but the truth is that when Leonard gives an account of his life and he says, “but Lord this person did this or that…” well unfortunately there are no excuses – You are either with Christ or you are not.
Before we went out that day, Pastor Steve prayed for God to remove the stronghold of religion in the lives of this community. I met some really great people that day. They thought they were saved because they were baptized when they were a baby, they go to church every sunday, and they are nice to their neighbors. They know all about God, but they do not have a relationship with Christ.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast (Eph. 2:8-9).”
They have been deceived. Why? Because Satan does not want them to know the Truth and to have eternal life with Christ. He doesn’t want to be lonely in Hell! He has already been judged and it is too late for him, but it is not too late for those on the earth.
