Ashamed of the Gospel | GCD (2024)

I often think of Paul’s letter to the Romans, where he asserts in complete confidence, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom.1:16). Over time, this passage has become a catchphrase of sorts among Christians. It’s perhaps not as recognizable as John 3:16, but it arguably holds a candle to Jeremiah 29:11. It is “Jesus boasting” at its best, the kind that brings to mind Billy Graham filling a stadium. Who wouldn’t want to echo these words alongside Paul—especially those of us who have tasted the redemption and righteousness Jesus offers?

But when the rubber hits the road, the temptation to be ashamed of the gospel pops up like a “Whac-A-Mole” game at inopportune moments. At least it did for me. I trusted in Jesus and his payment for my sins, but the thought of approaching a stranger (or anyone really) to evangelize left my stomach queasy. I read stories of people who unnerved passersby and their loved ones with constant questions like, “Where will you spend eternity?” I could not relate. Besides writing about my Christian faith on social media, my evangelism was non-existent.

When I first understood the gospel and rested in Christ’s salvation, my lack of evangelism did not seem like a big deal. As an introvert who tends toward passivity and struggles to ask strangers for directions, I concluded that I would leave evangelism for the gregarious guys and remain in the high tower of books and writing. Both countries that form my nationality—Nigeria and the Benin Republic—are also pluralistic. A lot of intelligent people viewed evangelism as offensive. Was it appropriate to impose my beliefs on someone else?

But different voices shattered my comfort, reminding me of the Great Commission. We were called to make disciples, reach out, dive into the darkness of people’s lives, and be a signpost to the Light. Sure, some people had a specific calling in evangelism, but the commission was for us all. No exceptions.

I could not escape it.

The excuses turned to frantic reasoning. Would they listen? Won’t I be chased off with slurs? I also did not see myself being the man on the street screaming, “Repent!” at startled passersby. Evangelism became a thorn in my flesh.

If Necessary, Use Words...

Like many who struggle with evangelism, I adopted the quote often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times. Use words, if necessary.” I became committed to demonstrating the gospel with my lifestyle. It had its perks—and we should always seek to live out the gospel message. However, there are some problems inherent in this approach.

Firstly, neither Jesus nor the apostles did this. They saw words as crucial in delivering the gospel message. After all, the euangelion is a good announcement, not a lifestyle. The lifestyle backs up our message; it does not replace it.

Secondly, people don’t always make the necessary heart connection without words. Trying to preach the gospel with our lifestyle may cause others to say, “He’s such a good person!” For Christians, however, that’s not our goal. Many humans already affirm a desire to be good. This is particularly true in the Nigerian context (and West Africa as a whole), where everyone is considered either Christian, Muslim, or traditionalist. Living out the gospel is a powerful witness, but only when it is combined with words.

Another problem is that people might make the connection yet misunderstand that to be a Christian, they must do good things to earn God’s salvation. They assume they must brush up on their lives before coming to Christ, which is something they cannot achieve alone.

I now believe that the quote should read, “Preach the gospel at all times—with our words and lives.”

A Journey into Books

Thankfully, God led me into the world of books, where evangelism became less of a chore and more of an act of love. I began with the understanding that introversion was not a stumbling block to evangelism. Instead, it was a tool God needed to use. I saw evangelism not as an item to check off my list but as an integral component of the Christian lifestyle. I learned the art of listening, viewing social media as a “marketplace” and writing as a tool. I realized there is no “one size fits all” approach to evangelism, and even a pleasant restaurant or WhatsApp conversation can become an opportunity to share the Good News.

But more, I learned the importance of honesty, even before God. I had to remove the mask of rationalization and peer deeply into the reasons for my reticence toward evangelism. It was not my personality, lack of knowledge, or want of opportunity.

It was fear.

Taking My Fears to God

Stripped of all pretenses, I realized fear was the dominant factor behind my struggles with evangelism. I also knew the best person to take it to. The gospel shows us the depth of our sinfulness, such that Jesus came to die. But since Jesus’s atonement opened the door for our approval, we can run to God with our selfishness, praying that his Spirit continues to work in us. We do not rely on our efforts but on God’s work in our lives.

We must not be comfortable with lacking the desire to do what God commands. The New Covenant is described thus, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezek. 36:26–27). We should, therefore, have an overflowing passion to do God’s will. This includes reaching others with Christ.

When we hesitate to do God’s will, the next step is to run to God, knowing that he produces in us the desire and will to do what pleases him. We are his masterpieces, after all.

Taking Steps

I haven’t yet gotten where I want to be on the evangelism route. However, I find that beginning steps develop into second-nature habits. So, we should take these steps. Offer to pray for someone. Invite the next person to church. Direct the credit for good acts back to God. Then speak. An encouraging word and a polite offer can open the door for a deep gospel conversation.

The contemporary world offers numerous opportunities to reach people with Christ. I imagine how excited Paul would have been in our times. We can be creative, pouring our resources into the Kingdom. The goal is to have more people receive the gospel message about Jesus. As we go on, we keep learning. I am currently understanding how to contextualize the gospel, like switching to the Nigerian pidgin or giving biblical answers to the wary feminist who sees Christianity as bad for Nigerian women.

I’m also learning to be comfortable with rejection. The Bible shows three expected responses to evangelism: Some will be convinced and accept Jesus. Others will reject him and may even be hostile toward us. The third category is the undecided, who will likely need more time to think about their response. When we expect one of these three responses, we are better equipped to meet people.

Let’s learn from the messengers of old who made good announcements. They came to declare to all who would listen that victory had been won! There was a new King! Things had changed! Like them, we are also called to proclaim, in every way that we can, that Jesus is King! He has redeemed us! Things have changed! So, let’s take the first step.

Evangelism as an Act of Love

Imagine if everyone trusted in Christ and committed to living in his ways. Imagine if we all had the Holy Spirit shaping us to be like Jesus. Imagine if sin was reduced and righteousness flowed. Imagine if more people loved God and poured that love into others. This would be a better world to live in. Even more, eternity points to a new world without a hint of sin. No one who dies in sin would inhabit there. Instead, they would be confined in the lake of fire, with evil no longer harming God’s creation.

The certainty of judgment and God’s vision of the new world should fuel our evangelistic efforts. We have tasted salvation, should we not be willing to share it with others?

May we not succumb to fear or shame as we answer the call to evangelism. Instead, with prayersand little steps, let’s confidently point others to the Light.