Is Sharing Our Faith Optional?

[Lady Vizsla]

by Ken Ham

Do we as Christians have a personal responsibility to share our faith? According to a recent Barna study, Christians are increasingly answering this question with a “no.” In 1993, just 25 years ago, 89% of Christians who had shared their faith believed it was their personal responsibility. Now only 64% of that group say so—that’s a drop of 25%!

Many Christians today seem ignorant of their calling to “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” (Matthew 28:19). They don’t realize they are to “contend for the faith” (Jude 3) and must always be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).

Roxanne Stone, the editor in chief at Barna, explains why she believes Christians seem unaware or unconcerned about their God-given mandate to share the gospel:

So what’s happening here? Why are Christians so reluctant to talk about their faith? The overarching cultural trends of secularism, relativism, pluralism and the digital age are contributing to a society that is less interested in religion and that has marginalized the place of spirituality in everyday life. . . . As a result, Christians in America today have to live in the tension between Jesus’ commands to tell others the good news and growing cultural taboos against proselytizing—a core part of Christianity from its origins and, many practicing Christians believe, is essential for the salvation of their listeners.

She claims it’s partly because Christians have been so influenced by the culture that they no longer think biblically on this issue. Instead, they think like the culture around them. If you struggle to think biblically about evangelism, I encourage you to get equipped with biblical teaching, evangelism resources, and techniques by visiting LivingWaters.com. We love Living Waters—they have a real heart for the lost and provide excellent, high-quality witnessing resources.

A big part of evangelism is apologetics (faith-defense). You must be prepared to answer people’s questions (or to follow-up if you don’t know the answer). And a big part of what we do is equip believers for evangelism, providing answers to the skeptical questions of our day, so that Christians feel emboldened to share the good news of Christ to a dying world.  

[TsukikuroiMai]

I feel that sharing our faith is not optional. Christ didn't say that 'maybe' you should share your faith and the Gospel. He said clearly in Matthew 28, Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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 everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The 'Great Commission' is a command, not advice to be taken as a "when you can" kind of thing.  

[Ahrma]

Was just listening to that exact sermon today.