2 Truths and a Lie: Preaching the Gospel
Lately, it feels like the world views vocalizing an opinion and sharing your personal beliefs as delinquent. As a follower of Christ, that can feel very overwhelming when our mission given to us by Christ Himself was clear, “go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19 NIV).
How can we lean into our calling and proclaim the Gospel, if the world is making it out to be a crime?
There is so much power in the Gospel when it is preached. It changes lives, saves lost souls, and redeems the broken hearted. It guides us on the path to eternal life.
The Lie
There is a reason that the Christian community is under scrutiny. The devil wants us to believe that followers of Christ don’t have the right to speak our minds.
We see this everywhere, far too often. We see it with public figures being persecuted over their views. We even see this in our personal interactions with friends, family, and strangers who have differing opinions. Think of how common it is to have a family gathering or holiday feel “ruined” over silly disagreements over something as simple as differing opinions with an aunt you only see twice a year.
The devil wants us to believe that if we have different ideas, that we have to be at odds and cannot coexist or be kind. The devil manipulates many into thinking instead of discussing to understand, you must argue to be either “right” or “wrong.”
The First Truth: Stand Firm and Be Bold
Conducting conversation with others who may not yet know Jesus, must be done in a manner that Jesus himself would do. Discuss to understand. Be compassionate. Be empathetic. Be kind and respectful. But most important, stand firm and be bold in your faith through it all. This is how we are intended to plant seeds.
Reflect on the Parable of the Sower:
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” (Matthew 13:3-9 NIV)
Nowhere in this parable does it say, “plant the seeds, stay there, keep watering it, and hover until they are fully grown.” We are only charged to plant the seeds. Once the seeds are planted, they have to grow without our help. Or they just don’t grow at all. Being at peace with that is difficult, but necessary.
We need to remember that the seeds we plant should all be done with love, and care, in hope that they will grow into something that bears good fruit. Sometimes the seeds we plant are fortunate and are in rich soil and grow into beautiful plants that bear fruit. But others don’t grow at all, or they try and fail because of bad soil. But we planted the seeds all the same.
The Second Truth: Hated Because of The Son of Man
When the seeds that we planted with love and care, end up producing an abundance of fruit, there is so much joy we feel from the positive outcome. But when the seeds we plant with the same love and care bear no fruit, wither, or never even stand a chance, it doesn’t give that same feeling of joy.
But remember Christ’s words in these times:
“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.” (Luke 6:22 NIV).
Jesus never said that following Him would be easy. In fact, He warned many times we will be persecuted and hated because of Him. The charge to preach the gospel to all creation (See Mark 16:15 NIV), means we are supposed to lean into our calling as disciples, but knowing and accepting that we may be hated and slandered for speaking truth.
Remember to still “rejoice” and “leap for joy” even in the face of adversity, because the Lord has prepared a seat in His Kingdom for those who remain faithful and endure to the end.
How to Share the Gospel
Stand firm on the Word of God. Be kind and respectful. Listen to understand. Be okay knowing you planted the seed and that it is out of your control after that.
Know your audience. Try to understand who you are speaking to before sharing the Good News. There may be specific scripture, life experience, or illustrations that may resonate or speak to your listener more personally.
Pray before, during and after, to ensure the Holy Spirit leads you through each conversation while you’re planting seeds.
Encouragement
When the world is telling you that your voice doesn’t matter, that you should keep your views to yourself, or that your beliefs are not welcome, respond how Christ would.
Speak truth. Be Bold. Stand Firm. Rejoice.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in Heaven” (Luke 6:23 NIV).
