Most of us know a believing brother or sister who is uniquely gifted and talented in sharing the gospel. They speak wisely and persuasively and seem able to rebut every criticism of the Bible and the Christian faith. “These are the people who should be sharing the gospel,” we might think, “They have extraordinary gifts. We lack these gifts, so we’re clearly not called to this work.”
Friends, you too are called to this task of bearing witness to our risen Lord. Let me give you a few encouragements along the way.
We don’t have to all be street preachers in order to share the Gospel.
We certainly do need to open our mouths in order to share the good news of Jesus Christ, but the Bible doesn't specify how exactly we do that. Do we pour it all into one conversation? Do we listen in order to better engage objections? Are we there to plant seeds, water, or see the growth (1 Cor. 3:5–9)? These are ultimately matters of prayerful wisdom.
But we can reasonably conclude that if God had wanted us all to be street preachers, he would’ve made us so. That all Christians must have a gift of evangelism to bear witness to Christ flies in the face of what the Apostle Paul teaches us about being part of the body of Christ: “But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body” (1 Cor. 12:18–20).
Even among those who have evangelistic gifts, there is great diversity. There are plenty of introverts, deep thinkers, and cautious speakers. Let’s put it more forcefully, sharing the gospel has nothing to do with the power of a person’s gifts and everything to do with the power of God’s word. Paul makes this very point when he describes himself as the worst of sinners and explains that God chooses the worst in order to display his patience for those who might believe (1 Tim. 1:15–17).
Toward the close of his life, Paul explained that he was suffering for the gospel, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But, he adds, the word of God is not chained. Therefore, he endures (2 Tim. 2:8-10). In a very real sense, we do not carry the word to others, the word carries us.
We do need the whole body of Christ in order to effectively reach the lost.
Consider how all parts of the body come together in both worship and fellowship. People hand out bulletins, tend children in the nursery, arrange chairs, play instruments, bake snacks—all in support of the body of Christ coming together to hear the preaching of word and for the ultimate glory of God. All parts of the body work together to exalt Christ, our head.
Now the same applies as we face out toward the world. We love our co-workers and neighbors and can invite them into fellowship and worship where they can behold the wisdom and love of God through his people as they use their various gifts. To use the earlier example, what do we do with the person who comes to Christ through the work of a street preacher? Who will befriend her, show her hospitality, disciple her, or pray for her?
It is the whole church that was called from light unto darkness then the whole church, guided by the word of God, is called to be light in the darkness. It is worth noting that, under threat of persecution, it was the whole church that was scattered and brought the gospel from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria (Acts 8:1). And I doubt they were all street preachers.
But what is the point in sharing the gospel if it is God alone who saves?
It is one thing to say we don’t need to be street preachers to be Christ’s witnesses and that we all have a responsibility to share the gospel, but why do we have this responsibility? In fact, some Christian friends will tell us that those who believe that salvation is entirely of the Lord have no reason to share the gospel. Before going further, let us reassert that salvation is entirely of the Lord’s work:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will… (Eph. 1:3–5, italics mine)
As Christ’s sheep, we belong to God because we have always belonged to God. His love for us stretches through all of eternity past and it cannot be removed. The Lord does not require us for his saving work, but he does delight to use us. Paul writes “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom. 10:14) We walk by faith, not by sight, and faith comes through hearing the word.
And it is God’s saving grace that turns this responsibility into a joy and a privilege. I don’t share the gospel with my coworker to spare her from the flames of hell—I share the gospel because I know my God’s heart in Christ and I long for my coworker to join me in worship of such a great God. As John Piper once said, “Missions exists because worship does not.”
Instead of being intimidated by the gifts of other Christians, make time for the unbelievers in your life. Listen to them talk about their lives and affirm the image of God in them and the glimmers of truth they apprehend. Grieve over the brokenness of the wilderness world with them, and be bold in taking opportunities to ask to pray for or with them or to share the hope that you have in Christ (Col. 4:5–6).
Then invite them to your church small group. Let them bring something for the potluck and let them enjoy the warmth of your fellow Christians’ home. Welcome their thoughts and their questions. Be patient with them. Remind them through your acts of friendship—even as you remind yourself—that you are not trying to make a convert. You are hoping to hear another voice in the chorus of God’s praise. And your hope is well-placed in the sovereign, loving God of the universe.
