Attitudes of Evangelism
Attitude of evangelism: “As we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.” (2 Corinthians 4:1) Focus on the fact that God was motivated by compassion to fix my flaws (the definition of mercy). This is parallel to the thought in 4:16, that my physical body is falling apart, but my eternal part is gaining daily. This allows us to endure the fact that 99% of the people we try to reach do not care about God. We can do this because God is transforming us.
“We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience.” (2 Corinthians 4:2) We need to present all the facts, not emotional appeals or proof-text sound bytes. The light is clear and simple. Complexity and cleverness are our cultural baggage.
“Even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 4:3) If we are honorable and factual, we can be certain that the low response rate is not due to us. I’m not sure that makes me feel any better. But, if I have been patient, kind, gentle, and accurate, I can refrain from blaming myself or changing the message.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7) The context is evangelism. People are drawn to God by His kindness and by the character and virtue of Jesus. The proof comes from the faithful whose characters are clearly beyond that which humans normally can do, so the power of God must be in them. Until we expect the humanly impossible to become routine, effective evangelism will elude us.
“Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2 Corinthians 5:11) The faithful have confident positive expectations about themselves, but terror for those on the outside. Love compels us to reach out.“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 5:16) Instead, the faithful are to see spirits and think as spirits.
[God] “has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18 – 20) Our message is pre-paid reconciliation, not guilt or penance or low expectations.
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