Overcoming Fear in Evangelism
Fear is something that we all wrestle with in evangelism.
I was very fearful when I first began to evangelize. I was afraid that people would reject me. I was afraid that people would ask me questions that I didn’t know how to answer. I was afraid that people would think of me as ‘weird’ if they realized that I believed these things.
If you’ve ever had any of these concerns, the Bible has something to say to you: “Do not fear.” That’s a phrase that you will find directly more than 50 times in the Scripture – and that point is reinforced scores of other times, in different wording. Clearly it is important for us.
So, how do we fight against fear in our evangelistic efforts?
Recognize God’s Presence
Remember that God has promised to be with you at all times (just take a look, for example, at Hebrews 13:5)…but this promise is ESPECIALLY true when you are proclaiming the gospel! You can see Jesus restate this promise specifically in the Great Commission:
“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 28:18-20)
Remember that God has sovereignly ordained the circumstances that you are in. None of your circumstances are accidental. He directly brought you into that situation. He is the one who gives you opportunities to speak about him. When you have these opportunities, be encouraged that this must be evidence that he is with you, right now!
Why, then, would you doubt that God cares for you? He even cares for the sparrows – so you can be confident that he cares for you. Jesus says,
“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. “So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31)
What is interesting to remember is that Jesus is saying this in the context of confessing him and speaking about him. He is reminding the disciples that, even in their evangelistic efforts, God is taking care of them and nothing will happen to them apart from God’s good pleasure.
Reframe Opposition as Success
This may seem odd at first, but I want you to recognize that opposition – the thing that we probably fear the most – is likely to come at some point, if you are faithfully proclaiming the gospel to people.
How did Jesus encourage his disciples, when he sent them out on a mission to talk about him?
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles” (Matthew 10:16-18)
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!” (Matthew 10:24-25)
So, obviously, you can see that opposition is supposed to be expected.
Why is this important? Because it is the punch that you don’t see coming that takes you out. If you know what to expect, you won’t be surprised or overly troubled by it.
Now, how is that going to be an encouragement for us?
When we stop viewing opposition as a negative, and start viewing it as a positive. This is what even Peter tells us:
“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:13-15)
Here again we have teaching about doing what is good, even in the context of making a defense of what you believe. And do you notice how it says that if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed?
So, change your mindset about what is an evangelistic failure. Sharing Jesus and losing a friend is NOT evangelistic failure; being afraid to talk about Jesus IS an evangelistic failure.
Remember God’s Promises
Finally, remember God’s promises. Let them motivate you. They are many, and they are specific. For example:
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)
“Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)
“Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me — for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.” (1 Samuel 2:30)
Conclusion
In conclusion, God doesn’t call us to fear in our evangelism. He says that we should not fear! And we can fight that fear in three ways:
Recognize God’s Presence
Reframe Opposition as Success
Remember God’s Promises
Do you resonate with fear in evangelism? Then led me conclude by telling you that you are in good company! Listen to the words of one of the most famous evangelists in history. He said,
“When I came to you…I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God…I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.”
Who was this? The apostle Paul! Even he struggled to fight fear.
But did he let that stop him from sharing the gospel?
No. In fact, it motivated him even more. Because he didn’t come with human confidence and boldness, he knew that the message that he proclaimed was divine. When people were saved, they wouldn’t point to Paul’s great eloquence or confidence. They would instead point to God’s divine message. And that is why Paul kept proclaiming it.
In place of comments, I would love to hear from you personally. Please reach out to me via the Contact Page to share your thoughts and perspectives on this post!
