In my local church a couple of nights ago, the pastor gave a lesson on sharing your testimony. I was reminded that some folk are just not so willing to speak about Jesus as others. I know some extremely shy people, quiet as a church mouse. I know others who simply don’t want to be the subject of ridicule. I suppose that they are afraid that they will be seen as a “church lady,” a “Bible thumper,” or a “lunatic.” If that’s the case, then so be it. As for me, let folks think that I am a lunatic; I will not deny Jesus Christ, and I will not pass up an opportunity to share the Gospel with someone who needs to hear it.
I have heard all kinds of excuses for not sharing the Good News: “Well, I just didn’t feel led.” “There simply wasn’t time.” “They looked too busy.” “They seem like good people; they were probably already a Christian.”
It seems to me that Christians may not share the Good News of Jesus Christ because they have never been taught how, or because they don’t know how to intelligently speak of God’s Word.
Here’s the thing, many of the readers who contact me have called themselves Christians for most of their lives, but have never followed Jesus. If we want to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, we need to study God’s Word; we need to know it inside/out. We need to commit it to heart. If we “hide God’s Word in our hearts,” then we will be less likely to sin and more likely to share that Word when God steers someone to us.
Before we can share it, we must know it. The motto of the missionary Frank Laubach was “Each One Teach One.” That is a pretty good thing to put in practice. Are you afraid of sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ?
Fear Not, Just Study.