In Luke 15 Jesus tells three parables to emphasize the value God places on sinners. In each story there is something that has been lost that is of value: the sheep, the coin, and the son. In each story that which was lost is sought after, though the father in the third parable thought it best to stay home and watch for his son’s return. Also in each story there is celebration and rejoicing when that which was lost is found.
So too should it be when a man or woman is living separated from God. That person is valuable to God and should be sought after and rejoiced over when he or she is rescued from his or her lost state by trusting in Christ. Because all people are valuable to God, Christians ought to be seeking out those who are lost, sharing with them the great value that God has placed on them by sending His Son, and leading them into the kingdom of God amidst much rejoicing. Anyone who is valuable to God should be valuable to believers.
That is not usually the case, however. Christians often see their own temporal lives as more valuable than the eternal lives of those around them. Sometimes they think that those who have already trusted Christ are more useful to God than sinners, perhaps because God has chosen us already beforehand to belong to Him through faith. Jesus’ words while hanging on the cross to a man dying for his own sins shatter any notion that God does not care for the sinner. In Matthew 9:12-13, Jesus said, “‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.... I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” God came to earth not for the sake of the righteous but for sinners. In fact, there is more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than 99 righteous men (Luke 15:7).
If sinners are so valuable to God, then believers ought to do more than haphazardly go through life hoping that people will just come to them out of the blue and ask how to receive the great salvation of God. A concentrated effort is required not only in order to be effective evangelists, but also because God’s will, His very heart, is the driving motivation. The focus of this book is a four-part formula:
This equation is derived from Matthew 5:13-16 where Jesus called His disciples “salt” and “light.” If salt loses its potency, it is able to do nothing, except to be thrown out and walked all over. If one lights a candle or lamp for light, he would not set it far off and still try to read by its light. Instead, the light makes clear what he is looking at so that he can understand it.
Believers will be most potent if they concentrate on three key lifestyles. The first lifestyle is one of authenticity. Authenticity can be clearly exhibited in four ways. The first is through one’s personal identity—just be yourself! Seekers will be relaxed by the fact that becoming a Christian doesn’t mean becoming a clone. The second way is through expressing emotions. If Christians continue to suppress their emotions, nonbelievers will think that a good Christian is an inhuman, dispassionate, callous person. The third way to show authenticity is through confession. Confession can be “the single most impressive demonstration of true Christianity” that a lost person will ever witness (62). The final sign of authenticity is conviction. Seekers are looking for something to be enthusiastic about, not something they will have to hide.
The second key lifestyle that produces high potency is one of compassion. This world is not a breeding ground for kindness. In fact it tries to abate our compassion by its atmosphere and its allure. Compassion generates compassion, and the world is very hard; for some Christians there are very few sources of compassion to spur them on. Also, the business of life can zap away the time, energy, and resources needed for exercising compassion. In addition to outside forces, inside feelings of burnout or apathy will keep a believer from sharing God’s love.
The third key lifestyle is one of sacrifice. The highest potency obtainable by this method comes from giving out of the three most valuable commodities: time, money, and liberty. Time and money seem to be obvious candidates, but the most significant sacrifice to unbelieving spouses, family members, relatives, or long-time associates will be giving up one’s pursuit of freedom for the sake of living up to their expectations. Some people may only be won over by witnessing a long-term, consistent walk.
The second element in the equation is Close Proximity. Since not everyone has the same personality, not everyone will share the gospel in the same way. Each individual should develop his or her own style for bringing the gospel close to people that is consistent with his or her personality and background. Though the variety of methods is not limited to these, there are six different biblical examples of evangelism styles. Peter blasted his audiences with the hard truths of the gospel in a confrontational method. Paul reasoned with the Greeks, employing intellectual thought and logic. The blind man who was healed in John 9 used his testimony to bring up the issue of faith in Christ. Matthew hosted a party where people could meet Jesus and hear from Him. The Samaritan woman in John 4 invited all of the townspeople to come meet the man who told her everything she had ever done. Finally, Dorcas in Acts 9 performed good works of service, making clothing for the widows of Joppa.
Getting close enough to unbelievers to make an impact is hard and risky work. It is not easy to run around with the same crowd from times past because they practice habits contrary to the new way of life the young believer is striving for. The Christian may be accused of guilt by association or even of living a sinful lifestyle. He or she might also actually be influenced by the people and places he or she visits. Following Jesus’ model, however, believers should spread out into the world to win others over.
All of the effort needed to optimize these first two elements makes the third all the more desirable and necessary. Without Clear Communication, the goal of conversion cannot be reached. The lost need to see the results of faith in Christ and to hear the reason for faith in Christ. Also, they need to hear the gospel message in just a few memorable sentences. The author recommends focusing on four people: God, everyone, Christ, and the individual. God is loving and He cares for us deeply, but He is also holy and just. Everyone has rebelled against God by committing wrongs, and these wrongs must be punished by death. Jesus Christ took upon Himself the punishment that we deserve by His crucifixion as a sinless man. Now it is up to each individual to trust in the work Christ has already done for salvation from eternal death. The author offers several methods of presenting this material, some emphasizing a certain point more than the others; they may be used in combination with each other to offer a seeker the clearest understanding of faith and the gospel.
One’s manner in presenting the gospel can be as equally important as the method. An unwelcome sermon is not likely to win an enthusiastic hearing. According to the author, it is unnecessary to share the whole gospel up front and then push for a decision. It is more important to build relationships and be prepared when opportunities present themselves.
Since receiving Christ’s forgiveness is the most important and most life-altering decision a person can ever make, it is natural that the gospel message will meet with resistance in the mind of an unbeliever. First, he or she might have faulty ideas about what Christianity is really about. Many people might think that Christians are all rule-following simpletons, that God is a mean old man with a big stick, and that they stand to lose a lot more than they will gain by getting on board. Some others might be unconvinced of Christianity’s compatibility with history, science, and logic. Others might be held back by an overwhelming sense of unworthiness because of their sin. Believers must keep these obstacles in mind and prove themselves by studying up on the answers to many common questions and objections. After assisting in the conversion process, the Christian’s responsibility does not end. The new believer has yet to be discipled, baptized, and taught all of the commands of Christ. The author suggests immediately instructing a new convert to pray, read the Bible, attend a church, and share his decision with his unbelieving friends and family. It is interesting that the author left out baptism, but baptism does not mean the same now culturally that it did in the first century.
