The sport of wrestling provides
an interesting comparative to evangelism. This article will address some of
these similitudes. Perhaps applying this analogy will elicit further important
spiritual insights to the reader.
(1) Just like wrestling,
learning evangelism not a large group activity, it’s one-on-one.
Learning to share the gospel is
a one-on-one activity. Where there are some large group or small group aspects
to teaching evangelism, like wrestling, it is only effectively learned when
being practiced one-on-one. In wrestling, there is no shortcut to the need for
practicing wrestling moves on an opponent. Likewise, there is no shortcut to experiencing
evangelism. The Christian must encounter responses to various concepts. It is
only when hearing these reactions that the Christian can grow in understanding
how best to give an answer. These lessons cannot be learned in the one-way
communication of a large group setting. Once the Christian experiences,
understands, and properly replies to individuals, then they become lessons he
can apply to the large group settings. Learning evangelism is a one-on-one
activity.
(2) Learning evangelism, like
wrestling, focuses on application.
Much like the words of Jesus in
the Great Commission in Matthew, wrestling is “teaching to obey.” Matthew 28:20.
When a person makes this move, you need to counter with that move. If your
opponent leans too heavily on this foot, then you can use an Ankle Pick on that
foot. If your opponent drops his head, he might be a prime candidate for a
Reverse Cradle. In each move, your opponent opens the door to a panorama of
countermoves.
Similarly in personal
evangelism, the Christian attacks the principalities and powers of evil. He
experiences the need for the moves and countermoves provided in the Bible. It
is as he “sits on thorns” and “dwells among scorpions” that he learns not to
fear them:
“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel 2:6.
One-on-one evangelism acts as
spiritual bodybuilding. The Christian’s forehead grows stronger than his
opponent’s forehead:
“Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel 3:8-9.
It is by one-on-one contact with
opponents of the gospel that the power and beauty of the gospel become evident.
These lessons can only be learned through one-on-one evangelistic encounters.
Evangelism, like wrestling,
involves “teaching to obey.” Jesus inseparably linked teaching and obedience.
Teaching is confirmed and fructified by the practice of obedience. Both are
non-negotiable parts of spiritual learning.
(3) There is a goal in
wrestling, just as there is a goal in evangelism.
The goal in wrestling is to win
the match. In order to win the match, the wrestler must take down his opponent
in the first period. In the second period, his goal is to reverse his opponent
if he is found in the bottom position. If in the top position, the wrestler’s
goal is to apply a pining combination on his opponent. He can earn back points
or he can pin his opponent. In the end, the wrestler wants the referee to raise
his hand as the winner at the end of the match.
In evangelism, as the Christian
wrestles against the principalities and powers of sin and false ideas. His goal
is to win the other person to Christ. He makes every effort, using every
argument that comes to his mind, guiding the contact to every Bible verse that
is available to him at the time, that the contact may repent and believe the
gospel. His is in a spiritual wrestling match. Yes, there will be a raising and
a lowering of hands at the end of life. The Christian wants everyone that he
can to be won to Christ, so that they will have the victory of Jesus
transferred over their sin debt. The Christian’s goal is to bring every contact
to the point of decision.
“To the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22.
(4) More participatory than
spectator.
Wrestling is not so much a
spectator sport. Yes, perhaps “Big Time Wrestling” gets crowds. But
nitty-gritty high school and college wresting does not attract large crowds
like other sports. Wresting is not a sport to be enjoyed. It is rather a sport
that forms individual discipline, character, and drive.
Quite similarly, evangelism is
best when it is not done to be seen by others. True evangelism is most powerful
when the Great Commission is applied out of sheer obedience to the Master,
without any view to human accolades from other Christians. The unsaved perceive
a phony evangelist. God does not encourage us to seek to win brownie points
with men. Evangelism is best when, like prayer, it is acted upon with a sole
audience of God—along with the person with whom we are seeking to share the
gospel.
(5) Like wrestling is best
learned in one on one practice and matches, so evangelism.
Other than conditioning, the
most important part of wrestling practice is found in pairing up with a
teammate of a similar weight, and working through moves with that teammate.
After the practice of the move, then the effort applied to the move goes to
half-go. Then, finally, when in order to fully learn the move, the opponent
needs to fully fight the move. Only when practicing full-go are the moves and
countermoves really learned.
In evangelism, there is a need
for a mentor to take out the learner and show him how to start gospel
conversations. The fellow Christian sees his mentor share the gospel, and
learns how people respond to certain questions and comments. He begins to
emulate his trainer. Soon he is comfortable sharing the gospel, and he can begin to train someone else. Yes,
evangelism is best learned through being paired up two-by-two sharing the gospel
in initiative situations, where one person can be a formal or informal mentor.
(6) The close proximity of
wrestling allows for eye-to-eye contact with the enemy.
At the beginning of the
wrestling match, the wrestler looks at his opponent in the eye, and the referee
raises his hand, and says, “Ready, Wrestle.” With those two words, the match goes
live. The two opponents crouch like ferocious beasts seeking to discern their
opponent’s vulnerabilities.
So, in evangelism, one sadly
encounters those whose lives have been destroyed by the enemy of our souls,
Satan. The Christian regularly encounters persons who are caught in the
clutches of terrible sins. They have a certain look in their eye. Some have terrible hatred in their eyes and heart as soon as the name Jesus is mentioned. Others are so vehemently antagonistic to the gospel
that it appears that there may some form of demonic activity involved. All
these types of people are regularly encountered when involved in street
evangelism or door-to-door. God uses these negative experiences as reality therapy. The herald is warned of pitfalls to avoid. He observes the enemy’s playbook in operation in
other people’s lives. He learns the tricks and moves of his prime enemy, the
devil.
(7) The wrestler can apply the
moves he has learned in practice with success.
In a wrestling match, the
wrestler has the opportunity to learn the power and effectiveness of certain
moves against his opponents. I remember when I first used a Sit-Out to get away
from an opponent in a match when I was in the bottom of the Referees Position.
It worked. I got away from my opponent. Earned two points. Now came the hard
work of trying to take him down again. Later I learned that I could use the
Sit-Out to lead to a reversal on my opponent. As I practiced, there were
certain moves that came to me as if by second nature.
Evangelism takes practice. Yes,
evangelism can become second nature to the Christian. He can lovingly and
naturally start conversations and move them into the gospel. It is not easy. It
requires repetition and constant dedication. But it is possible.
Further, as the Christian uses
Sword of the Lord, the Word of God, with success, he becomes more agile in
wielding that Sword. He observes the impact of the Word of God. He experiences
it melting a heart. He notices the Holy Spirit convicting of sin, judgment, and
righteousness. His practice and repetition spur him on.
And lastly, the Christian has
the privilege of leading other persons to repent of their sins and place their
faith in Jesus Christ. He is there when a person calls on the name of the Lord
to be saved. He notes the tears and marks the conviction. He empathizes with
the spiritual pain. God gifts the Christian with the opportunity to lead the
convicted one to request forgiveness and cry out to follow after Christ. These
last occasions are perhaps the most elating experiences of my life. All glory
to God!
So, there are some interesting
links between evangelism and wrestling.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:10-12.
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