Recently I had lunch with Midwestern Baptist Seminary student Noah Long, and he shared with me these four evangelism (EV) motives that spoke to my heart. I hope they do so to yours also...
1. Glory- We are motivated to evangelize because it brings God glory. We desire to see our Creator and Savior be rightly worshipped in our community and around the world. When we cease to open our mouthes about the Gospel, God is robbed of glory. (Psalm 51:13-15; 96; 105:1-2)
2. Obedience- We are motivated to evangelize because we have been commanded to do so. All Christians are called to make disciples, to be ministers of reconciliation, to be salt and light, to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. When we cease to share the Gospel, it is impossible to make disciples or live out any of these callings that the Lord has called us to. (Matt. 5:13-16; 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, 2 Cor. 5:17-20)
3. Imitation- We are motivated to evangelize because we desire to be conformed to the image of Christ. God is a missionary God who came to seek and save the lost. In the same way that Christ pursued us when we were rebelling against Him, we are to mimic Him by pursuing those who are lost. (Matt. 5:45-48; Luke 19:10, Romans 5:6-8, 1 Cor. 11:1)
4. Love- We are motivated to evangelize because we are called to love our neighbor as self which includes those outside of the church. The primary and most urgent way that we can love our neighbors is by meeting their greatest need; their greatest need is spiritual brokenness, and the only anecdote for their spiritual need is the Gospel. (Lev. 19:33-34, Matt. 5:44, Mark 12:28-31)
