Go Tell It on the Mountains, the Seashores, the Plains, and Everywhere!
By Lynette Kittle
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? – Romans 10:14
Years ago, in one of my college communication courses, a substitute professor brought in tarot cards and wanted to pass them out to each one of us. As soon as she made her announcement, my hand shot up, and I gently explained to her how I am a Christian and God tells us not to have anything to do with the cards.
To my great surprise, at my confession, more hands shot up all over the room, with other students saying they, too, were Christians. If it had not been for that incident, sad to say, I would have had no idea the other students were Christians. It was very eye-opening and caused me to ask how it could be so.
Here we were in a communication class, yet these students didn’t seem to be communicating their faith in a way that could be detected.
Words Are Needed
Saint Francis of Assisi is quoted as saying, “Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”
It’s a popular saying but one that makes me cringe because words are needed. Even though some believers think how we live our lives should be enough to draw people to Jesus.
Some Christians believe it’s enough to just let others see how we are living, so that they’ll be impressed enough to ask why we’re different. True, some may ask, but the majority of people probably will not.
It isn’t enough, but it’s exactly what the devil wants us to believe. He wants nothing more than to shut us up from telling others about Jesus, and what better way than to convince us that’s what God wants us to do?
Faith Comes by Hearing
If we’re smiling and waving to our neighbors each day, sharing our garden harvest with them, and putting their trash cans away when they’re away, it’s nice, but it’s not enough.
Once we understand who Jesus is, our hearts want to share Him with everyone we can. At Jesus’ birth, Luke 2:17 describes how the shepherds responded after the angels told them about Him. “When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child.”
Like the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing. “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”
Likewise, Galatians 3:5 emphasizes how faith comes through hearing “So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?”
Additionally, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 explains, “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.”
Jesus Calls Us to Go Tell
Some of Jesus’ last words on earth are found in Mark 16:15, where He said to His followers, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”
Sad to say, during high school, I knew Jesus, but I didn’t tell anyone, so I didn’t lead anyone around me to faith in Him.
On the other hand, my future husband, was telling everyone he saw at school, to the extent some tried to avoid him. Even so, he led more people to faith in Jesus Christ, than his preaching of the Good News scared them away.
People who knew Dr. D. James Kennedy, the late pastor of Coral Ridge Ministries and founder of Evangelism Explosion, know that he was bold and fearless in sharing the Gospel with everyone he met. He didn’t let individuals’ religions or positions in life keep him from sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them.
Because of his fearlessness, countless souls have been saved and continue to be saved through Dr. Kennedy’s ministries, which continue to teach others to be bold in sharing the Gospel.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
If you’re shy or feel awkward or uncomfortable using words to communicate the Gospel, ask God to strengthen, encourage, and lead you to be courageous in sharing His truth with those around you.
Further Reading:
A Prayer to Make the Most of Our Time with People
Photo Credit: Joshua Earle
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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