“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matt 28:19-20)
One of the ways we are a blessing to those around us is through evangelism and discipleship. Evangelism is sharing how to become born again. Discipleship is sharing how to live as a born again follower of Christ. Our primary mission as followers of Christ is to share these two things. Be wary of any activity that detracts from this mission. For example, part of maintaining an evangelistic lifestyle is restraining yourself from trying to defend God in current issues debates. This is a trap, and often can damage people’s ability to hear the gospel. It is the garden of Gethsemane all over again. Just as Peter cut off the ear of the slave, so we too cut off the ears of the unsaved when they come to take Jesus out of the public schools or remove the nativity scene from public property (etc.) and we oppose it. Jesus didn’t care about politics when He was here, and neither should we unless it is something really serious, like abolishing slavery or opposing great evil like Hitler or Stalin.
God has called us to be His witnesses and to make disciples – stay focused on this. I would contend that if we (evangelical christianity) had taken all of the time, money and energy spent on the political issues of the 60’s to today and invested it in evangelism and discipleship in the US, all of the “issues” we are so concerned about would have been resolved in a godly manner. The way to promote godly change is to help people connect with God and let Him change them.
Evangelism and discipleship is what Jesus has called us to do. Meet people where they are. Love them for who they are. Be real. Don’t be weird. Live your life so people can connect with you. Be accessible. Make friends with everyone. We never know whose life God is working in. We need to have saved and unsaved friends. With our born-again friends, help them grow in their walk with Christ. With our unsaved friends, help them move closer to God from wherever they are. But the friendship comes first.
Finally, be Spirit led in all of your evangelistic and discipleship activity. Ultimately it is God who is at work in the lives of those around us. It is His show. He is in charge. He saves, not us. We cannot argue or debate people into the kingdom of God. God’s Spirit must do a work in the hearts and minds of the lost in order for them to be saved. Let God’s Spirit direct everything you say and do. Because God has called us to do the work of an evangelist and to make disciples.
“Choose you this day whom you will serve…..but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Two Rivers Blog 