Evangelism and the Gospel

Evangelism

In the Christian world, there’s often a strange reluctance for everyday believers to actually talk about their faith. It’s like we’re scared to open our mouths unless we’ve got a theology degree or are a professional apologist with significant biblical knowledge and perfectly polished answers. Some Christians never share the good news of Jesus with a nonbeliever throughout their entire lives. And no, I’m not talking about virtue-signaling on social media or turning Facebook into a theological battleground.

If God is genuinely transforming our lives, if our values and actions are shifting because of our faith, shouldn’t that be something worth talking about? I’m not talking about those awkward door-to-door pairs in matching outfits, forcefully shoving their beliefs down your throat (yeah, that’s a hard pass).

In the tech world, companies hire ‘product evangelists’ whose sole job is to get people excited about their products. But think about it, we’re all brand evangelists in our daily lives. I can’t go a month without someone trying to convert me to the Apple ecosystem. I’m a Google Pixel guy myself; I’ll gladly brag about the camera quality to anyone who creates an opportunity. I do this for free, with zero commission from Google, and no heavenly reward points awaiting me. We do this all the time! We share what we love, whether it’s a car, a restaurant, or a new Netflix show. Why should sharing our faith be any different?

It’s not about a memorized five-minute sermon ending with an altar call. It’s about letting God’s work in your life spill over into everyday conversations. It’s about those brief glimpses into how God is at work in you. Had a tough week but felt God’s peace? Share that! When God is truly a part of our lives, it will naturally spill into our conversations. It’s about authenticity, not preaching. It is important to be intentional in our conversations.

The most powerful gospel presentations aren’t scripted; they’re lived. The way we treat our family, the way we talk about others, even the way we handle life’s curveballs – it all becomes a living testimony to the good news. So, let’s stop leaving evangelism to the professionals and start sharing our own stories.

What is the Gospel?

John 3:16–17 – ¹⁶ “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. (NLT)

Many would go to John 3:16 to summarize the gospel as it’s iconic and powerful. But the gospel is so much more than a single verse, even one as iconic as that. The gospel, or good news, is a vibrant, multi-faceted tapestry woven throughout the entire narrative of Jesus’ life and ministry.

Even before the cross, Jesus sent his disciples out proclaiming the good news (Matthew 10:7). Jesus discipled didn’t even grasp the crucifixion yet, but they were spreading the gospel! So, what was this “good news” they were preaching?

It was a proclamation of a kingdom that was breaking into the world, a victorious kingdom of justice, peace, and abundant life. It was an invitation to experience the transformative power of Jesus’ kingship, a power that conquers not just sin and death, but also the fear, despair, and oppression that so often plague our lives as well as power over the demonic realm.

It was an offer of radical mercy, a chance to have our minds renewed, our wounds healed, and our relationship with God restored. Jesus didn’t just come to forgive our sins, He came to show us what true love looks like, to give us a glimpse of the Father’s heart.

And it was a call to freedom – freedom from guilt and shame, freedom from the suffocating weight of religious rules, freedom to live as beloved children, not slaves to a system. Jesus didn’t come to start a new religion. He came to build a family, a community where everyone is welcomed, known, and empowered to live out their God-given purpose.

This is the Gospel in its fullness: a message of hope, healing, liberation, and community that speaks to the deepest needs of every human heart. It’s not just about going to heaven when we die, it’s about experiencing heaven on earth, right here, right now. It’s about partnering with Jesus to bring His Kingdom to intertwine into every sphere of our lives, from our personal relationships to our communities to the world at large.

Let’s not reduce the gospel to a single event, no matter how significant. Let’s embrace its richness and complexity, and let’s share it with the world in all its transformative power.

A Hell of a Problem

The usage of “hell” within traditional gospel presentations should be addressed. The conventional depiction of hell, as often promoted within Christian circles, presents several theological and practical challenges.

The Fear Factor

First, introducing the gospel by leveraging hell can be perceived as a fear-based tactic, which contradicts the biblical principle that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Fear is often associated with manipulation and coercion, tools that seem incongruent with the message of God’s grace and love.

The Problem of Divine Goodness

Furthermore, the notion of eternal conscious torment inflicted or allowed by a loving God creates a significant theological dilemma. The concept of a God who possesses infinite love and mercy, yet simultaneously consigns individuals to eternal suffering based on their earthly choices, raises questions about divine justice and compassion. This discrepancy can lead to a glaring sense of cognitive dissonance for those exploring faith in Christ, hindering their ability to reconcile a loving God with the concept of eternal punishment. This is especially concerning when considering the countless lives marred by abuse, injustice, or simply a lack of genuine exposure to encounter Christ.

The Disconnect Between Belief and Reality

In a previous post discussing belief, I related a story in which individuals were aware of the correct response but did not truly hold those values. While the doctrine of hell is widely taught, one could argue that most Christians do not genuinely internalize it. The discrepancy between professed belief and behavior suggests a disconnect. While many profess a belief in hell, their lives rarely reflect the urgency and compassion that such a belief would necessitate. It’s easy to get caught up in the mundane routines of life, prioritizing weekend gardening plans over sharing the gospel with those supposedly destined for eternal conscious torment. The fear of social awkwardness seems to exceed the concern of eternal damnation for many. This disconnect raises questions about the authenticity of our faith and should challenge us to examine whether our actions align with our professed beliefs.

Atheist Penn Jillette is one half of Penn and Teller, a duo that has been headlining Vegas shows for years with comedy and the art of illusion. Penn has never been shy about his disbelief in God, often writing about his conviction in articles and best-selling books. Yet in an on-line video blog that can be found on YouTube, Penn shares a story about the time a gracious Christian businessman gave him a Bible as a gift. Penn goes on to use the story as an opportunity to point out that Christians who don’t evangelize must really hate people. Here’s the direct quote from his video blog:

“I’ve always said, you know, that I don’t respect people who do not proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, uh, well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think that people shouldn’t proselytize, [saying] “Just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself”—uh, how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize them? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming to hit you, and you didn’t believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”[1]

Either Christians should reevaluate their position on hell or radically change their actions so that they are consistent with their beliefs about hell while loving their neighbor as themselves. Nonetheless, I recommend the first option. In order for our professed beliefs and actions to be consistent, whenever there is inconsistency, we should consider whether to alter our professed beliefs or to better understand and internalize the belief to the point that it alters are actions in alignment with our values.

A Hopeful Alternative – Real Good News

An alternative interpretation of hell, one that emphasizes God’s relentless pursuit of all humanity, and one that I cover in another blog post, can offer a more compelling and consistent message. This understanding aligns with the biblical emphasis on God’s desire to restore all creation and His unwavering love for every individual. It provides a framework for understanding divine justice and mercy while inspiring a genuine desire to share the good news with compassion and confidence. It allows for a more nuanced understanding of the consequences of sin, recognizing the potential for temporal repercussions while upholding the hope of ultimate redemption for all to turn to God. This view empowers us to love radically, to extend compassion even to those we’ve deemed “enemies” of God. I contend that many haven’t rejected God, but a distorted caricature of Him. Many have been presented a God that is painted with judgment and condemnation, quick to anger, and eternally retributive. Perhaps when they finally meet God, face-to-face, their hearts will be much more open to Him than we estimate.

Conclusion

Shifting the focus of gospel presentations away from fear and towards the transformative power of God’s love presents a more compelling invitation to embrace Christ and His Kingdom. By emphasizing hope, grace, and the relentless pursuit of every soul, we can present a message that resonates with the deepest longings of the human heart.

Go Forth and Proclaim the Good News

Evangelism is not a task limited to missionaries and pastors. We don’t need degrees in theological seminary. The most compelling testimony to the gospel is a life transformed by Christ’s power. Let us embrace the authenticity of our own faith journeys and share the hope, healing, and freedom we have found in Christ. By allowing the light of His love to radiate through our actions and words, we invite others to experience the abundant life He offers, not just in the hereafter, but in the present reality of their lives.

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[1] “Atheist-Illusionist Penn Jillette on Christians Who Don’t Evangelize.” Preaching Today, May 11, 2009. https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2009/may/2051109.html.