True Evangelism.

True evangelism. Romans 9:1-5.

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. Romans 9:1-5 (NKJV)

The motives that a person shares Christ with are not always clearly understood and are often the reason why people do not respond favorably to the gospel shared with them. Paul thought it important to tell those he wrote to, why he was trying to pursued them away from Judaism and into Christianity. Paul had a deep passion and love for his countrymen and this is what is often missing when evangelizing.

In a store, looking at the menu on the wall, I was trying to decide what sandwich I would order when approached by a middle 20's woman who asked if I wanted to support their church by buying candy. So many thoughts ran through my head as I took inventory of those in the store who were watching with anticipation that they would be asked next.

The woman had a very careless approach and rushed her question so fast that I could not tell if she was truly sincere or running a con. I was caught in an unpredicted moment and shaking my head, I replied "No."

Immediately, I was no longer important and she went person to person asking for money. Later, at my car in the parking lot another young lady approached me and asked if I would like to help the church by buying candy. Again, I looked at her questioning her sincerity and answered honestly that I did not want to buy candy. Walking away she shouted can you give anything, change; a nickel, dime, quarter? To that I stared in wonderment of their motives and she walked away.

As I drove away, I almost felt cheap by not helping; there again, I did not have the information I needed to make a contribution. What would the money be used for? What church did they represent? Mostly, I wondered how a church could come so far as to begging on the street for money. Something was wrong and it was their approach that became a waning, directing my answer to them.

Have you watched the reactions of people who see a person carrying a sign saying "Jesus saves from Hell"? Most pass by with no real reaction. Many scorn the attempt because there is no sincerity. Yes, the fact is that Jesus saved from Hell, but why?

Adding another line to the statement is not going to answer their questions of why Jesus saves from Hell; nor will it answer the question of who is going to hell or why Jesus saves from Hell. I wish we could add up the ratio of people who trusted Jesus for their salvation because they saw a sign and compare it to people saved by a sincere Christian who approached with love in their heart.

What is a sincere approach? Paul is our example that God wanted us to see. In his approach, he fully explained why they should turn to Jesus and then explains to them that he earnestly has a love in his heart for them. Even to the extent of saying that he wished he could pay the penalty for their rejection of Christ, that they might not suffer the horrible results of dying in their sin.

Even these words written in the description does not suffice the feeling that Paul had deep within his heart and that leads us to why people are insincere.

Before a person successfully shares Christ, they must have the love of God working in their life; they must see His burden for the lost. Many Christians do not seek to know this. They read the scriptures, absorb what it is saying, know it in their head, and yet never become affected by their knowledge.

The inches between the head and the heart become a block that hurts an approach to reach people. This is why there are so many students who graduate seminary and take jobs in churches only to be frustrated trying to grow a ministry. They cannot keep people in the pews because the people can feel the difference between sincerity and insincerity.

Eight to ten hours a day, I studied the scriptures cramming my head with as much knowledge about God that I could. For years I kept up a frantic pace to know more and as I embarked on ministry opportunities, I found that they did not take off like I wanted them to.

I prayed, I worshiped, I tithed, I did everything I was supposed to do yet my heart was not affected by it. Yes, I loved God, I loved the church, and I loved God's people; but I did not see the unsaved through the eyes of Christ.

To me, outreaches were tasks planned for; they had a date, a time, and a method. Weather it was going door to door or one on one, I had a formulated approach to sharing the gospel and the results were frustrating. What did I do wrong? What should I do different? I analyzed everything I did and worked to perfect my approaches, yet it was always with the same results.

It was not until I had several ministries fail that a pastor took interest and told me the truth. "You are full of head knowledge and have no heart knowledge," he said. Then quoted from 1^st Corinthians, saying Knowledge puffeth up, but charity (love) edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

In the depths of my failure, these words haunted me and I vowed never to pursue another ministry attempt until God brought it to me. This attitude led to many years sitting in the pew listening and as I waited on God, I found that people began to approach me to talk about God. Slowly I would start to share with them about God's love for me and they began to feel God's love for them. I did not have to quote a scripture, hold up a sign, or push upon them the knowledge that I had. I only needed to pray for them and be their friend. After all is not God to be our friend?

Today, if each Christian around the world would select one person to become their friend, praying for them and loving them, within a short time the church could double in size. Even if it took a whole year for the conversion of the one soul, the church would increase dramatically. There would be no shortage of finances, and no bad witness on the street. People would stop viewing Christians as pushy people that have a goal to reach and they would begin to feel God's love for them.