It's Never a "Good Time" to Preach the Gospel
I have come to recognize that there is something utterly lacking in the way that people perceive “the gospel.” In my opinion, I believe we are currently reaping the ugly fruit of a shallow evangelism that has presented the gospel as mere fire insurance. I am sure that is not what any sincere evangelist intends, but that is the inevitable consequence of oversimplifying it.
The second consequence is the belief that “accepting Christ” may or may not lead to godly living. The unfortunate perception is that accepting Jesus is mainly about ensuring people that “they will go to heaven when they die.” I simply do not believe this was the attitude of the apostolic church. I am sure volumes could be written on this, but I offer these thoughts and I do so having spent some considerable time personally witnessing to people door-to-door.
Thought #1: You don’t need permission when you’ve been commissioned.
The reality is that according to the unbeliever it’s never a good time for them to hear the gospel so forget trying to find a good time. The lost don’t like that you knock on their door to preach. If they wanted to hear preaching then they would be in church, but they weren’t in church. That’s why you are at their door. You are on a rescue mission to save people from their sin (Matt. 1:21). God means to save sinners and he will save all who have been “appointed to eternal life” (Acts 13:48). So let us “not be afraid, but go on speaking and…not be silent” (Acts 18:7) because God is with us. The Lord told Paul to continue preaching because he had "many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:7). We may assume the same thing. Let us not forget God's promise to Abraham in saying, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be" (Gen. 15:4-5).
Thought #2: We don’t need to “earn the right” to “share" the gospel.
Then there’s those who believe one must “earn the right” to “share” the gospel. This is nonsense. First, the Gospel is proclamation by nature. Yes, it is sharing, but it is first an announcement about what God has done. Secondly, God has the right to do as he pleases. Just ask Nebuchadnezzar.
The second consequence is the belief that “accepting Christ” may or may not lead to godly living. The unfortunate perception is that accepting Jesus is mainly about ensuring people that “they will go to heaven when they die.” I simply do not believe this was the attitude of the apostolic church. I am sure volumes could be written on this, but I offer these thoughts and I do so having spent some considerable time personally witnessing to people door-to-door.
Thought #1: You don’t need permission when you’ve been commissioned.
The reality is that according to the unbeliever it’s never a good time for them to hear the gospel so forget trying to find a good time. The lost don’t like that you knock on their door to preach. If they wanted to hear preaching then they would be in church, but they weren’t in church. That’s why you are at their door. You are on a rescue mission to save people from their sin (Matt. 1:21). God means to save sinners and he will save all who have been “appointed to eternal life” (Acts 13:48). So let us “not be afraid, but go on speaking and…not be silent” (Acts 18:7) because God is with us. The Lord told Paul to continue preaching because he had "many in this city who are my people” (Acts 18:7). We may assume the same thing. Let us not forget God's promise to Abraham in saying, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring be" (Gen. 15:4-5).
Thought #2: We don’t need to “earn the right” to “share" the gospel.
Then there’s those who believe one must “earn the right” to “share” the gospel. This is nonsense. First, the Gospel is proclamation by nature. Yes, it is sharing, but it is first an announcement about what God has done. Secondly, God has the right to do as he pleases. Just ask Nebuchadnezzar.
For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:34, 35God the Son has commanded his disciples to preach unconditionally. Period!
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
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