What Prevents Us from Evangelizing?
I recently came across a social media post titled "How to Kill a Church." The first bullet point struck me deeply: “Stop evangelizing.”
Evangelism is one of the central calls of the Christian church, which is to share our faith and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Yet today, it remains one of the least practiced aspects of our Christian identity. And yes, I say "our" identity because evangelism is not merely something we do, but it reflects who we are as followers of Christ. So, the question is, why don’t we evangelize?
We Don’t Make the Time to Share Our Faith
Time is one of our most valuable resources and one of our most common excuses. The reality is that evangelism requires intentionality. Sharing our faith won’t happen accidentally. It takes time to engage in conversation, build relationships, and create space for spiritual dialogue. Unfortunately, we often choose not to make that time.
We’re Consumed by Other Priorities
Let’s face it, life is busy. Work demands, family obligations, and endless to-do lists can leave us spiritually drained and distracted. We may ask, “When am I supposed to study Scripture, pray, or share my faith outside of Sunday morning?” The truth is, if evangelism isn’t a priority, it won’t become a practice. We must reorder our lives so that kingdom work doesn’t remain optional but rather, it becomes essential.
We Haven’t Developed an Appetite for Evangelism
Some might say, “I have a spiritual appetite, isn’t that enough?” Not quite. A spiritual appetite may feed personal growth, but an appetite for evangelism longs to see lives transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ. This desire is cultivated over time through prayer, exposure, training, and witnessing the impact of the gospel in the lives of others. Evangelism isn’t fueled by duty alone. It’s sustained by a holy hunger to see souls saved.
Is Evangelism Risky? Maybe, But No Risk, No Reward
Faith Sharing pushes us to grow deeper in our faith, to seek intentional development, and to engage more consistently with God’s Word and God’s people. However, whatever the risk, it’s worth it. Consider this, when the church stops evangelizing, it begins to die. When the church is evangelism, it begins to live.
