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Answer
Humans have a tendency to self-classify based on certain identifiers and to group together with others who are alike. For example, we might define ourselves or others based on ethnicity, interests, political affiliations, countries of origin, lifestyles, or similar factors. In discussions about sharing the gospel, we sometimes question if there is an optimal way to share the gospel with individuals from these various groups.
While there are similarities among individuals with shared cultural backgrounds or other group affiliations, it is also true that certain aspects of the gospel message may resonate more deeply with one group than another, and some groups may exhibit resistance to receiving the gospel. However, the gospel message is universal. Every human is created in God’s image, as stated in Genesis 1:27. Every person is born in sin and separated from God, as highlighted in Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23. The path to forgiveness and eternal life is solely through Jesus—this truth applies to all individuals, as emphasized in John 14:6 and Acts 4:12. It is unnecessary to view others solely through the lens of group classifications. Our life’s purpose is to fulfill the Great Commission. Christians are tasked with spreading the gospel, the good news of Jesus, to all, as mentioned in Luke 24:47.
First Peter 3:15–16 instructs us, “In your hearts, honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to provide an answer to everyone who asks you to explain the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, maintaining a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” Our lives should mirror the reality of the gospel. We live in submission to Christ as Lord. In part, this means that we treat others with gentleness and respect, regardless of the group they identify with. Sharing the gospel is an act of compassion. It is not about pinpointing areas of dissimilarity but about conveying a universal message to address a universal need.
The issue of sharing the gospel with a ______ often becomes complex when dealing with individuals engaged in a particularly evident sin that appears to be ingrained in their lifestyle—or even their identity. For instance, when witnessing to homosexuals or to heterosexual couples cohabiting outside of marriage, we tend to denounce the sin and attempt to alter the person’s behavior before introducing them to Jesus. While we must acknowledge sin for what it is, we should also bear in mind that the Holy Spirit is the One who convicts «And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: », (John 16:8). Typically, there is no need to list a person’s sins, or even highlight one, to communicate that Christ died for sinners. Trying to “clean up one’s act” or cease a specific sin will not secure eternal life for anyone. Homosexuals and fornicators are not saved by halting their sexual sin but by accepting Christ through faith; the sin will cease after they are transformed and renewed in Christ «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Another instance where sharing the gospel with a person can become complex is when we engage with someone of a different faith. We may lean towards apologetics and start highlighting all the inaccuracies in the other religion, but this approach is usually counterproductive. While apologetics and understanding the individual’s beliefs and how they contrast with the teachings of the Bible are valuable, the most effective way to bring light into the darkness is simply by directing the person to Christ. Once individuals grasp who Jesus is and what He has accomplished, they will naturally recognize the flaws in their own religion.
Jesus was described as “full of grace and truth” «And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. », (John 1:14), and His followers should emulate this. We should not share the gospel from a standpoint of spiritual arrogance or superiority. While we address sin when necessary and challenge beliefs that contradict the Bible, we must be mindful of our approach: “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
If we mistreat or belittle those who are different from us, we hinder our own ability to share the gospel with them. Why would individuals want to turn to Jesus Christ if His followers behave rudely and dismissively towards them? We are tasked with being representatives of Christ, regardless of the audience we are addressing (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). If we areTo be loving, kind, and express concern for all humanity, then we are true reflections of Jesus Christ. Salvation is open to all who will believe: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” «For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. », (John 3:17).
When sharing the gospel with a person, we should show our genuine compassion and concern for him or her as an individual, regardless of the group he or she identifies with. We care about what’s going on in his or her life; we are truly concerned for the troubles he or she is facing. In the context of relationship, we can teach him or her of the need for a Savior while pointing to Scripture and explaining how all humanity is lost and in need of Jesus Christ.
In sharing the gospel, it is good to remember that the good news is the “power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” «For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. », (Romans 1:16). It is the message that truly changes lives.
