Evangelism, Witnessing, Soul-Winning – A Lost Cause?I heard a message yesterday from a good friend of mine who is the president of a very well known organization. He shared his heart about the drastic decrease in numbers in missionaries who are being sent from the USA to foreign countries to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. He noted that we are in a serious recession in our overall giving towards missions here in the states. Furthermore, not only are we not sending missionaries to foreign countries as much as before, but now other countries are sending out more missionaries than we are. Foreign countries are even sending missionaries to US – here in the states! How sad is that.
We are the wealthiest country in the world – overall. That is not something to pride about, yet it ought to humble us when we, as the church, look at the amount of money we give towards world missions. Do we, as members of a local church, even know who our missionaries are? Do we love them? Do we contact them? Do we encourage them? Do we pray for them?
Witnessing, evangelizing, soul-winning are NOT optional for the believer in Jesus Christ. One cannot be a Christian and not be an evangelist. One cannot be a blood-bought sinner redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and be apathetic toward witnessing and soul-winning.
This does not mean, however, that every single individual has to pack his bags and go overseas – though that would be nice – but it does mean that every single person must be a witness for Christ wherever Christ has placed you in life. For some, that may mean packing the bags and going to a country to spread the good news of Christ. For others, it may mean being a witness at work. Whatever the case, let us hear the words from the Apostle Paul:
Romans 10:13-17 13 for "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved." 14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!" 16 However, they did not all heed the glad tidings; for Isaiah says, "LORD, who has believed our report?" 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Oh would it be that God would send laborers into his vineyard – both near and far. Let us remember, evangelizing the lost is not optional it is mandatory. For how can those who are dead in their trespasses and sins believe without hearing the Gospel of Christ? God has graciously left us believers with the responsibility to be evangelists to His glory whether it be here locally or overseas.
