Why should I evangelize?

Answer

To evangelize means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else. Personal evangelism should be the lifestyle of every true Christian. We have been given a great gift, and our Master left us with clear instructions: “Go into all the world and make disciples of every nation” «Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: », (Matthew 28:19). Before we can “make disciples,” we must evangelize. There are other reasons, besides Jesus’ command, that should also motivate us to share the greatest news in the world with people who haven’t heard it:

1. Evangelism is an act of love. Love must be the defining characteristic of every follower of Jesus Christ (John 13:35;1 Corinthians 13:1-7). It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so anyone who walks in the Spirit will demonstrate love in dealing with people (Galatians 5:16,22-23). We possess the best news in the world, and love propels us to share it with those who haven’t heard. Love wants everyone to have a chance to respond to God’s offer of salvation. Withholding news that could save someone’s life is the utmost cruelty; therefore, those who truly love God will love the people whom Jesus came to save (John 3:16-18;1 John 4:20).

2. Evangelism builds our own faith. Nothing helps us learn a subject like teaching it to someone else. When we make a practice of sharing our faith with those in our lives, we strengthen our own beliefs. Regular evangelism forces us to wrestle through the hard questions, find answers for ourselves.

And prepare to respond to the questions of others. We should “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” «but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: », (1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God’s Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another «Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. », (Galatians 6:1).

3. Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to “store up treasure in heaven” « Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: », (Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own «And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.», (Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ (Luke 16:1-13).

4. Evangelism is an overflow of the “hope that is within us” (Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. Similarly, when we have fallen in love with Jesus, we cannot resist sharing about Him every chance we get. He is constantly on our minds. We are drawn to His Word, worship services, and fellow believers who share our love for Him. We actively seek opportunities to share His truth with those who are distant from Him. If Jesus is not the focal point of our thoughts, we have a spiritual issue that needs addressing before we can share the “hope that is within us.”

5. Evangelism brings pleasure to the Lord. The Christian life should not be driven by a sense of obligation. However, the word “should” often creeps into discussions about reading the Bible, praying, attending church, and other spiritual disciplines. “I should do that, but . . .” The “but” presents a more significant challenge than we may realize. God’s children naturally desire to bring joy to their Heavenly Father; it is their greatest joy. Therefore, our moral compass is aligned with God as our true north. In all our actions, we feel drawn to please God. Even routine tasks can be carried out with happiness because we are fulfilling the tasks assigned by God (1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:9). Teaching others how to cultivate a relationship with Jesus is a way to bring Him pleasure. By pleasing Him, we find our greatest fulfillment. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

(Galatians 2:20).