When Evangelism Comes Knocking Part 1
- Tao Howard (Guest Writer)
- Jul 26, 2015
- 4 min read
When it comes to evangelism, I consider myself the “least of the apostles”, perhaps even more so after a blazing rebuke from an online devotional recently. It made mention of the quote often attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi “Go into the world and preach the gospel, and if necessary use words” asserting that “many believers have followed this command, ceasing to witness with words and instead replacing it with silence.”
Yes. Yes, that does sound about right.
Not that I wouldn’t speak about Jesus where the opportunity presented itself, mind you . . . but it's not like I've been going out of my way to broach the topic with every random individual in my neighbourhood or at the beach or anything - I’m not sure I know how to - and it's never comfortable (why does it have to be so awkward?). Instead, it’s true, I have aimed to live a life that reflects Christ, salt and peppering my conversation once in a while with the odd ‘exciting’ story about ‘what has he done for me lately’, because of course that would make anyone sit up and think about the destiny of their souls (insert sarcasm here). I leave such situations wondering how much of an impact I’ve really made, however, and with an ache on the inside suggesting I was made for more than this.
Ache notwithstanding, a cursory glance through the New Testament suggests that I was made for much more than this. The method that Jesus and the apostles and so many other ̶s̶a̶i̶n̶t̶s̶ ordinary people have modelled is one that bears strong verbal testimony of the Kingdom of God, coupled with power and demonstration, but borne on the back of personal sacrifice, humility and compassion, along with my personal fave (insert more sarcasm) - an open heart to rejection. I’ve never been a confrontational person so the thought of deliberately putting myself in the way of a brisk stupse, a long side-eye or much, much worse is not appealing. Still, desire is there: to obey His command to preach the gospel, to share who He is to me and what He’s done, to see others encounter Him in the same way and know the truth that can set them free. His love indeed has begun to compel me - the more I am exposed to it, the less I can shake it - and I am learning bit by bit that Jesus appreciates, accommodates and is strengthening and building upon my weak love as I give it back to Him.
In this ’latter day’ I believe the same thing is happening in other hearts as well - a type of fulfilment of Psalm 110:2-3:
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. Psalm 110:2–3 (NKJV)
Volunteers. Yes. That’s what I’m becoming.
A few weeks ago I was going about my Saturday chores and noticed a small crowd (in the sense of two is company, three is…) outside my gate yelling up to my neighbour’s window. Realising that they weren’t being given the time of day, they turned their sights on me and my basket of laundry asking whether they could share a few words with me, or help in any way. About that moment I started having a conversation with myself. No not in the pretend-to-be-crazy-and-maybe-they’ll-leave kinda way . . . on the inside.
“Should I let them come talk to me?”
“You know that they’re either Mormons or Jehovah’s Witnesses, right?”
“So?”
“So aint nobody got time fo dat and you aint ready fo dat; what excuse can you give them?”
“I’m hanging up clothes, I got time, and you know after watching Vigilante the Crossing I said I want to get to know some people outside my circle”
“And what are you going to say when they start in with all that doctrinal ish, you know you done forgot everything you learned in Minister Allan’s cult class”
“Well it can’t hurt to listen, I’d want to be listened to if I was out doing this”
“That’s for sure”
“And God said He’d help me in the moment with what to say”
“Alright you don’t have to start in with the scripture verses now”
And with that I...
To Be Continued...
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About The Blogger
Tao Howard is a little crazy by nature and by circumstance. The wife of one husband and the mother of three boys under six, she is 99% Bajan and 1% Trini and is a second generation purple lover. But most of all, she loves Jesus and worshipping Him through various expressions. Tao is passionate about graphic design, writing and helping young people navigate, sustain and preserve their lives and relationships. She considers her own life a reflection of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path”.
Further Reading
Psalm 110
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