December 14, 2008
-
Are You 3%?
This afternoon, we participated in Angel Tree with the Youth Group. What I enjoy most about the way our church does Angel Tree is that the teens get the opportunity to share the gospel with other kids when they deliver the presents.A lady in my Sunday school shared the statistic that 97% of Christians will never share the gospel with another person. Wow. That’s sobering. But, how many times have I shared this month? This year? This lifetime? What a joy and blessing it is to give teens the opportunity and mandate to share with someone else!
How about you? Who are you sharing with? Have you ever sat down and shared the message of salvation with someone? One way that I have “sneaked in” sharing the gospel was to tell someone I needed to practice my testimony and sharing Christ. (Which was totally true. I did and do!) I then got to sit down with the person (a friend or relative) and explain salvation without all the pressure. It was just “practice” after all!
Don’t let fear rule you. You’d tell where you got the best bargains for Christmas shopping, wouldn’t you? Or if someone were giving away free $100 bills, you’d let everyone know. Why not share the love of Christ? It’s not our job to convince people. We just have to be faithful to share.
Ezekiel 2:4-7
“I am sending you to them who are stubborn and obstinate children, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ “As for them, whether they listen or not–for they are a rebellious house–they will know that a prophet has been among them.”And you, son of man, neither fear them nor fear their words, though thistles and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions; neither fear their words nor be dismayed at their presence, for they are a rebellious house. “But you shall speak My words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.
Comments (11)
Well, this question comes a good time for me. I’ve spent this whole weekend folding, proofing, counting and packaging gospel literature in 3 different languages to send to Africa and foreign missions!!! So, although I’m not going to be there face to face- I can say that I helped share the Gospel.
A lot of times it’s just “telling your story”, not always giving a “Roman Road” presentation or something. I think people are scared of failure or being laughed at, or being asked hard questions.
WOW, 97% of people who are supposedly followers of Christ don’t love Him, don’t obey Him, don’t talk about Him, and appearantly don’t sound much like little Christs. Do you think that perhaps her definition of “share the gospel” is a little narrow, or her definition of a Christian a little broad? It is almost like saying that 97% of all registered voters don’t vote or will ever vote. It would be interesting to see her source.
And the hardest people to talk to about it is family (because they know you so well)….
Hello! I generally like the be able to give an answer gently and respectfully if you are asked about your faith approach. I know that verse is in there somewhere, but I’ve never been good at memorizing! Also, I figure I should be a walking example,that Christ’s light and love should shine in me…and THAT my friend, is truly scary. I have trouble doing that, being that! ESPECIALLY with those who know me best…who know I get crabby, cranky, can be testy and unreasonable!
Wow, that’s a sobering statistic. I don’t actually share face to face much, but I write better than I speak, I think, and have been blessed to find hungry souls on the Internet.
This is a good reminder. I have really been pursuing my co-workers that are my age. And I even got one of them to listen to a favorite song of mine that has really been helping me with my Walk. She said she got goosebumps at least three times from the lyrics. Yay. She says she wants to come to my youth group, but whether or not she does, remains to be seen. Yet, I keep getting to share why my day is good or not good, through Jesus. And it has been a blessing just to share, but in a non-churchy way, if you know what I mean. We as Christians need to be more ‘out-there’ and fearless. Thank you for those verses!!!
I’m not in the 97%, but I wish I had the opportunity more often….it’s one of my major prayer requests.
Your vote is confusing! You sound like I think much of the time!
“A lady in my Sunday school shared the statistic that 97% of Christians will never share the gospel with another person.”
I hate to be the dead fish in the tank, but this is a bogus statistic. How on earth could that possibly be determined? We all fall short of what we ought to be doing in service to our Lord. I appreciate the sentiment of encouraging one another to not be reticent in sharing the gospel. That is something we all need to hear, but the lady should have omitted the implied criticism of other Christians.
I simply can’t believe that statistic. St. Francis of Assisi (inventor of nativity scenes) said, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” I wonder if the lady who came up with that statistic was putting “sharing the gospel” in a box. For instance, as a public school teacher, I wasn’t allowed to proselytise (however you spell it). But I was given some rein as to what literature I chose to teach. I chose stuff with Judeo-Christian values that would (I hoped) spark discussion. If a student brings something up, a teacher is allowed to let conversation go places. Another example is “evangelization of environments” meaning that a Christian can change their environment simply by standing his/her ground on moral issues. Being special ops, my husband traveled among some “rough” characters. He was known as a Christian who made a difference, though he told me he never opened his mouth about it. Simply not getting drunk, not watching porn and not visiting prostitutes (when all of the above was readily available) affected those around him.