Matthew 5:13-16 Why Do Evangelism Feb 28, 2010
This morning, we gave out packets of salt to everyone on the left side of the sanctuary. I would like you to get in little groups of two or three people and talk for a minute. I want you to talk about everything you know about salt and what it does and how it is used. Now the folks on the right side, I am sorry you did not get any salt. But I want you to look around you at the lights in this room. Get in groups of two or three and talk about what you know about light. What does it do and how does it work? Everyone go ahead.
(Come back in a minute and get some reports.)
In today’s scripture, Jesus said that we, his disciples, are to be the salt and light of the world. What did he mean? Let’s figure it out. We are in the second Sunday of Lent and in the midst of a series on evangelism. Last Sunday, we said that evangelism is sharing the good news of the love of God so people’s lives are changed and the world is transformed. Now why would we want to do that? Why would we want to see changed lives and a transformed world? Because we are the salt and light of the world. The other day on the radio, I heard the old Neil Diamond top five hit from 1971, “I am, I said.” Some of you remember that song. “I am, I cried! I am, said I. And I am lost, and I can't even say why ...” There are so many people like that around us.
Think with me for a moment about the many people whom you know. Friends, family, co-workers, or fellow students. How many of them are living in a dark place in life? How many of them need a new flavor? We are the salt of the world but too many of us are keeping our salt in the saltshaker. It is locked up. We need to get out of the salt shaker and into the world. If you and I do not do this work of God, then it will not be done.
But listen, before we can ever talk about how to do evangelism, how to touch people’s lives with change, we must first know why we do evangelism. Listen, when we realize why we share the good news of God’s love, then we will find the how of doing it. When we are fully motivated by the why, then we will discover the how. For most Christians, it is not a matter of knowing how, we just do not know why it is even important.
Now I know that many of us have been turned off by evangelism. Some of you are uncomfortable with this whole sermon series. Why is that? In national surveys, here are some reasons people say they are uncomfortable about evangelism: “I do not want to knock on a stranger’s door and give out pamphlets.” “Evangelists are those preachers on TV who always beg for money.” “I had a friend once who always hammered everyone about getting saved.” “I remember when I used to drive everyone crazy asking them if they were saved.” “I do not want to think about evangelism. My church is doing a bad job of it and I feel bad.” “I know we are supposed to invite people to church but I am afraid of losing my friends.”
But in that same survey, there was the one person in ten who said, “I had this amazing experience last year with a friend at work who was having problems and he came to know Christ because of our friendship. It was incredible!” Listen. I know for a fact that many people have done a bad job at evangelism. But that should not stop us from doing a good job of telling people about the love of God. When we have these negative thoughts about sharing the good news, it just drains all our motivation. And when we are negatively drained of all motivation, then we will not tell people the good news of God’s love.
Now some of you may think, “Well so what? Is it important that we tell people about the love of God? Does it really matter that people have faith in God?” For some Christians and for some denominations, it seems the main and perhaps the only motivating reason for evangelism is because of Hell. In many a Hell Fire sermon, people are dying and going to Hell and we have to save them. Now the Bible does say that our lives and actions lead to consequences. There are horrible things done in this world and God will someday set all things right. But listen, Hell is not the main, primary, chief, major, crucial reason in the Bible for telling people about God. The most important reason we do evangelism is to tell people about the love of God that changes lives and transforms the world. And if our church is ever going to do evangelism well, then each of us here has to know what the reason is. Why do we do evangelism?
Let me ask you—How does being a Christian matter in your life? Think about that a moment. Then think about—How could being a Christian matter in someone else’s life? These questions can begin to give us some motivation and reasons. These questions can help us know why we do evangelism.
Some Christians who do share their faith in an effective manner say, “A relationship with Jesus helps life make sense.” “I love God so much that I want other people to know this joy.” “Being in a church community gives you a way to serve and grow.” “I used to have many fears but now I am at peace. I want others to have that peace.” “Children need to know about God and parents need help raising children.” “I used to feel guilty about the things I had done. I now know forgiveness and I want others to know that forgiveness.” “God healed me of a serious illness and I want others to know.” “I can’t tell you what it felt like to see my 30 year old sister baptized in faith after all the hard times she had been through.” “I started inviting people to church and now nine of my friends attend my church. I love these people and it means so much to me to have them here.” “I believe so strongly in Christ and in His Church to heal people’s lives of problems, addictions, and fears.”
Think with me for a minute. I told you some reasons that people said they did not like evangelism. “I do not want to knock on a stranger’s door and give out pamphlets.” “I had a friend once who always hammered everyone about getting saved.” “I heard too many Hell Fire sermons when I was a kid.” You probably have some negative feelings like that. Now imagine replacing those feelings with these other positive thoughts. “I used to have many fears but now I am at peace. I want others to have that peace.” “I can’t tell you what it felt like to see my 30 year old sister baptized in faith after all the hard times she had been through.” “I tell people about God because I believe so strongly in Christ and in His Church to heal people’s lives of problems, addictions, and fears.”
Our church and many of you are very active in sharing the love of God in this community by your actions. You repair roofs, sort clothes, give out food, work with children. And our actions in this church are wonderful works of God’s love. But at some point, we have to put the love of God into words. I once saw a three year old child who often screamed and banged on the table to get what he wanted to eat. One day, his mom would not give it to him. He made a lot of noise. He turned red in the face. But the mom just calmly said, “Say it in words.” The child finally said, “I want some mac and cheese.” We too have to say it in words. Not screaming at people and beating them in the head. Just calmly telling them in words that God loves them and we would like to invite them to a place where they can hear more about that love of God that changes lives and transforms the world. We are the salt and light of the world. But this salt has to get out of the saltshaker and into the world. We have to figure out a positive reason for telling people about the wonderful love of God. Amen.