"These People Don't Care About You."

Bob

Matt 28:18-19 (The Great Commission) - Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

When I was a new Christian, I answered a knock on my door one Saturday morning and was ambushed by a half-dozen smiling people on my porch. There were dressed in fancy church clothes and wielded big leather-bound Bibles like AK-47's - loaded and dangerous! But before they said anything, the Lord softly spoke to my heart,

"These people don't care about you!"

After listening to them for a short time, I politely thanked these modern-day Pharisees and sent them away. If I had been unsaved at the time, their visit would have been a major stumbling block, turning me away from Jesus. After they left I firmly resolved to NEVER NEVER NEVER attempt to tell anyone about Jesus unless my motives were genuine love and concern. There is no doubt in my mind that this is what God wanted me to learn out of this experience, to prepare me to work in the Harvest!

When I began to work in the Harvest, the church trained me to use various "gimmicks" to witness more effectively:

  • The Roman Road
  • The 4 Spiritual Laws
  • The 3 Circles
  • How to Give Your Testimony in 30 seconds

If things like these work for you, fine. But to me they attempt to "sell" Jesus just like salesmen attempt to sell dish detergent and electronics. The church tried to put me into the position of "making a sale" rather than into an attitude of care and concern for the other person. There was even a detailed flowchart providing ready answers for all the likely paths that a salvation conversation might take. This pretty much ensured that I would win any debate. But winning an argument is not likely to win someone's heart; it's more likely to offend them! Instead, I like the following advice:

Maintain a down-to-earth, loving attitude when talking with others about Jesus. Be yourself. Keep it short & friendly. And stay in touch with Holy Spirit the whole time! Colossians 4:5-6 (CEV) instructs us, “When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.” That means avoiding arrogance, preachiness, and debating details that miss the big picture. Your words might not always be well-received at the moment, and that’s okay! You’re planting a seed. You can trust God to water it.