SUFFER REJECTION

Easy for you to say. Personally, I am allergic to rejection. I break out in hives. I get a stomach ache. I want nothing more in all the world than to be accepted by all those who are around me. I'm very insecure. I don't like controversy and I don't take criticism well. So then, why title this post SUFFER REJECTION? Because Jesus asks us to. He made it quite clear that those who would come after Him would suffer for His name. He said, "if they persecuted me, they will persecute you also." John 15:20b.

This discomfort, this putting ourselves at risk for the sake of the gospel, is part of the reason that evangelism is unpopular. In our hearts we say,---boy, anything but evangelism. We will volunteer for almost any Christian duty, but evangelism !!!!----let someone else better qualified, tackle that one. I wasn't called to be an evangelist.

Those who kinda know their way around the Bible are quick to quote Ephesians 4:11, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers." So you see; they will say, I wasn't called to do that, I don't have that gift, it just isn't my nature. Or better yet, there is the famous quote by St. Francis of Assisi, that goes something like this, "share God with everyone you meet, and if you have to, even use words." This is an extremely popular quote because it suggests to the hearer that your good deeds are sufficient for others to somehow absorb the gospel from that. I don't know about you, but I have never in my life had a man come up to me and say, --you know,-- you live such a good life, would you tell me your secret?

Underneath all of this is fear. And this is where training comes in. This common fear can be defeated with a little simple training and some practice. Be intentional. Get with a guy who has experience and ask him to coach you. Then, put yourself into a situation where sharing the gospel is expected. On a short term mission trip perhaps, or prison ministry, or a soup kitchen.

When Jesus was walking on the shores of Galilee, the first thing He said to the fisherman there was, "follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Then when he was leaving those men the last thing He said was, "go and make disciples." It's really that simple. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. After you have done that go and make disciples.

Sure there are a lot of things that make up a Christian walk, things that require much attention and regular sacrifice, but the primary thing is "go and make disciples." Look, here's the deal. You are saved because somebody was obedient to the Holy Spirit and shared the gospel with you. In fact, probably several somebodies shared the gospel with you before you really got it. A number of men faced your rejection and perhaps your scorn all because they knew the importance of evangelism.

Recently I was at a large gathering of Christian men. The question was posed, how many of you men were saved in church? Several stood up. Then the question, how many of you men were saved at an evangelistic event. Once again, several stood up. Then the question, how many of you were saved because a man shared the gospel with you, thousands stood up. It is for that very reason that we share Christ. Men want to hear about the gospel from another man, one on one. That's what makes our personal testimony so important. That's why we need training and practice. With training and practice, sharing the gospel becomes a natural part of who you are.

Be willing to love your lost friends enough to suffer rejection. Love them enough to be willing to offend them, if that's what it takes to get them into the kingdom. Then leave the mysterious work of the conversion to God.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2007