Four Unchangeable Realities in Evangelism

Sometimes involvement in evangelism can be like a roller coaster. There are spiritual highs, and there are discouraging lows. At times it can be difficult to gauge if we are engaged in the proper style of evangelism.

There can be self-doubt, especially at the low times. Even the Apostle Paul had trouble from “false brethren” in his ministry. How can we be sure that our evangelism methodology is correct, especially when we face difficult times, persecution, and even capital punishment?

The New Testament communicates timeless truths to encourage us to persevere in evangelism, even through times of testing. Here are four “Unchangeable Realities” in evangelism, from the Bible:

(1) Fear Is Inevitable!

There is no magic bullet to remove fear from evangelism. It is inevitable. Being with other people to evangelize can be helpful. But fear is a nagging emotion which must be overcome in evangelism.

Consider what God told Paul by night:

Acts 18:9-10 (ESV), “And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.’”

God had many people in the city of Corinth. And He needed Paul to keep on speaking, and not to be silent. Paul, the veteran missionary-evangelist, had fear.

If we have fear, we are in good company. Paul had fear. Peter had fear. It’s not a problem to have fear, it is a problem to let fear rule us—so that we do not speak and so that we are silent. God has many people for you to reach—so press on through the fear!

(2) Difficulties Are Inevitable!

True New Testament evangelism draws difficulties and adversaries. Paul had this interesting statement to make about his ministry in Ephesus:

1 Cor 16:8-9, “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Here Paul shares the paradoxical interrelationship between effective ministry and adversaries. Rather than effective ministry being proven by no problems or issues, the opposite is true. Effective ministry for Paul included many adversaries.

Again, when we are involved in effective work or effective evangelism, we can expect adversaries to come our way. We don’t look for them. We don’t incite them. But their existence does not mean that our ministry is over or is ineffective.

We must remain “Wise as serpents and gentle as doves” (Matt 10:16), remembering that adversaries may actually be a sign of effective ministry!

(3) Antagonism Is Inevitable!

Closely at the heels of difficulties comes antagonism. Paul, in the last letter shared about a certain Alexander the Coppersmith. Listen to the words of Paul:

2 Tim 4:14-15, “Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.”

The last word in these verses, “message,” is actually a translation of “logois” or words. Because of the words of Paul, Alexander opposed Paul, resulting in a great deal of harm to Paul.

Many of you who read this will agree that Paul’s ministry was effective and approved of God. And yet, God allowed that this certain Alexander did Paul “great harm.” Perhaps the result was one of Paul “beatings times without number” (2 Cor 11:23).

Truly effective and God-ordained ministry does not exonerate us from antagonism!

(4) Persecution Is Inevitable!

Fear, difficulties, antagonism, and now persecution: this is a tough list. But it is reality therapy for the true minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul reminds Timothy of the difficulties of the second missionary journey that they experienced together. Then he makes this statement:

2 Tim 3:12, “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”

He broadens the scope of persecution beyond mere evangelizing or ministry, and generalizes to living godly in Christ Jesus. All who want to live godly lives under the lordship of Christ will suffer persecution.

While these four inevitable or unchangeable realities are more convicting than they are comforting, nevertheless, they are biblical and real. They match up with real life.

Be gone the idea that evangelism is always fun and easy. That is not always the case. We quite often “sow with tears” (Psalm 126:5). If we understand in advance that there will be hardships, we do not need to be scandalized “when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word” (Mark 4:17).

[For further information, see: http://www.evangelismunlimited.com/documents/evangelizology/evangelizology-2014-chapter-04.pdf]