You were born again for evangelism. Jesus said if we follow him, we will be fishers of men (Matt. 4:19). He also promised that we would receive the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). Both passages remind us that every Christian is called to share the gospel. Our witness to others, however, should be that of a satisfied customer rather than a commissioned salesperson.
THE SALESPERSON STRATEGY
Consider the approach of a skilled car salesman. When you walk onto a lot, he knows exactly how to place you in a vehicle. You sit in the driver’s seat while he highlights the car’s features—its intuitive control center, entertainment system, network of cameras, and heated seats. He pops the hood to display the powerful, factory-polished engine, emphasizing the many desirable benefits. He makes the offer sound so irresistible that you feel like a fool to say no.
While he may believe in his product, the salesman has one overarching desire: to close the deal. Whether you buy the car or the next person does is irrelevant, as long as he receives credit for the sale. In ministry, it is vital to distinguish outreach from evangelism, as your approach significantly impacts the outcome. By focusing on genuine connection, we ensure that evangelism and discipleship go hand in hand.
THE SATISFIED CUSTOMER
Now, let’s say you decide to buy. You drive your new car to work. You’re happy with your purchase. You listen to the radio and enjoy the smooth ride and the new car smell. One of your co-workers walks over to you as you’re getting out and asks about your new car.
You open the door and point out the same features and accessories the salesman did. But you’re not trying to sell your coworker on all these bells and whistles. You’re talking about why you love the car and why your friend might like it too.
PARTICIPATING IN THE MISSION
Evangelism is more like the office parking lot than the car dealership. You talk about what you’ve been blessed with. You share about your experiences. You tell a few of the things you understand but admit there’s plenty you still don’t understand. There’s no pressure to turn your friend into a buyer, and if he’s not interested, that’s fine. Even if he doesn’t like your new car, it’s fine. You like it, and you’re really satisfied with it. And in the future, if your friend does decide he’d like to know where you got such a good car, you’d certainly love talking with him about it and giving it your highest recommendation.
Jesus said to his disciples, “Just as the Father sent me, so do I send you” (John 20:21). God has given you the incredible opportunity to participate in his mission of reconciliation through announcing the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Our lives have been changed by the gospel, and we are satisfied customers. We don’t share Christ with others in order to earn credit with God. We tell others of the hope, joy, forgiveness and purpose we’ve found in Jesus. We have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord.
We love them, and we love him—our evangelism should be an effort to bring these two loves together.
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This post originally appeared on LifeWayVoices.com and is adapted from Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, 2nd ed. For more information about this book, free teaching resources, and bulk-buying discounts, go to BHAcademic.com/sharingjesus/