How Can I be more effective in evangelism?
Believers can only be effective in evangelism if they emulate Christ. Jesus Christ came to the Earth and died for humanity to guarantee their eternity (John 3:16). This action is akin to an investor who risks all his resources on a venture and delegates the duty of managing the business to employees who are prone to many shortcomings. Jesus gave His life for mankind’s redemption and entrusted the same sensitive and important duty of evangelizing to humans. When done effectively, evangelism can have exceptional impacts on individuals and the broader society, as explained here and here. How then can we be effective in this important task?
1. Show compassion first
Effective evangelism is predicated on compassion. Believers whom the Father entrusts with the gospel (all of us are expected to win souls), should show the same heart as God. In John 3:16, the Bible says that “for God so LOVED the world.” Based on this scripture, we can see that LOVE alone motivated God to give His all. Similarly, all those who join evangelism ministry must present the gospel with compassion. Since compassion involves love in action, God gives evangelists the power to heal, cast demons, and deliver people. If you cannot perform miracles, you can be kind to someone. Even before telling anyone about Christ, show them love in the office or neighborhood.
2. Avoid judgmental attitudes
Evangelists should not appear to condemn people. While it is important to point out the danger of sin and its eternal implications, soul-winning is more about what Christ did than condemning sinners. There is a need for balance here. Jesus expressed compassion to the woman caught in adultery but did not necessarily condone her sinful behavior (John 8:1-11). He expressly warned her against sinning again. Even as we warn people about sin, we should avoid getting personal. I find it unethical to directly tell a non-believer that they must quit smoking or drinking to get saved. Jesus in John 16:9-11 states that the sin He holds against the world is unbelief. Our focus as evangelists should not be on the specific sins that people commit, but the sin that leads to death- the sin of unbelief.
3. Present the gospel with simplicity, urgency, and accuracy
Evangelism is about saving a person faced with the reality of eternal condemnation. Think about an emergency like a fire in your workplace. How would you communicate with your colleagues if you wanted to save them? First, you would speak coherently. Second, you would speak with a sense of urgency because the fire can overwhelm them at any time. Third, you would provide accurate instructions about fire exits. Similarly, evangelism involves snatching people from fire (Jude 1:23). We must, therefore, present it like Paul, who said that he did not approach the Corinthian community with eloquence but a demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). The things we say should also be accurate. Evangelism is not complicated. It is simply telling people what Christ did for them.
4. Work on your interpersonal skills
Interpersonal skills are the competencies we need to communicate and interact with others more productively, and they include negotiation, conflict resolution, active listening, and empathy. Although we rely on the Holy Spirit to do evangelism work, it is important to learn how to communicate more effectively and engage others better. Paul says that he did not go to Corinth with eloquence, but this must not be interpreted to mean he had communication issues. On the contrary, a closer review of many scriptures reveals that the apostle was quite eloquent and effective in interpersonal skills. For example, in Galatians 4:12-14, Paul reminds the people how they received him despite his illness. How did he convince them to treat him kindly? The answer is that Paul had exceptional interpersonal skills.
5. Let your life reflect Christ
We also evangelize by living as Christ did. In Acts 11:26, the Bible explains how the apostles were called Christians. Many scholars believe that the term was derogatory, although the Bible is not clear on that part. Either way, the people were called Christians because their lives reflected Christ. I am not suggesting the disciples were perfect or sinless, but it seems like their actions conformed to the character of Christ.
Conclusion
A zeal for winning souls is not enough; we need to know how to do it. Proverbs 19:2 warns us against being zealous without knowledge and acting hastily. Each of the mentioned qualities is important, although the list is not exhaustive. Compassion will drive you to reach and pray for the lost while shunning judgmental tendencies will create a friendly atmosphere with your “target.” Preaching the gospel with simplicity will help you reach even the most uneducated individuals, while a sense of urgency will inspire them to accept Christ sooner. Contrary to the popular notion that we have entertained in the church, evangelism is everyone’s duty. Some believers may appear to have more “power” to evangelize, but I believe that this capacity depends on the hunger one has for the lost. Not everyone can occupy the office of an evangelist, but all of us have a part in evangelism.
