Uptight About Evangelism
"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness."
Acts 4:29
"Christians and non-Christians have something in common: We're both uptight about evangelism." So says Becky Pippert, author of "Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World." She argues in the book for a natural, non-offensive, yet bold manner of sharing Christ with the people we interface with day after day. This is a word you and I need: bold, but not unnecessarily offensive. Witnessing does not equate with offending, although it will offend some. Martin Luther once said, "I find it impossible to avoid offending guilty people." Some will take offense even is you don't give it! Still don't try and offend. Just know that some will be offended. Witness boldly anyway.
The Christians in the first century prayed that God would give them boldness to speak God's word. Remember, they were in a climate hostile to Christianity. They were involved in a crime whenever they witnessed. Some would take such offence at the speech of the first Christians that they would persecute them, even kill them. You and I don't need to worry about that! Still, we need boldness. We don't need offensiveness, insensitivity, or rudeness. We do need boldness to share the good news. May God help us to be bold.