Not Bold Enough?

A friend told me the other night that if I was more bold with what I believe to be true when talking with other believers (especially those in my local church) that I would be silenced, shut down, or disregarded. He was referring to my conviction that the church should be regularly involved in evangelistic endeavors. 
I know that not every believer has the "gift of evangelism", but Jesus didn't specify in several passages about who should witness. He made it clear that all believers are to share their faith (and not just with friends/family!) and be a witness. Some people are gifted in evangelism and can share the gospel with more power (due to the Spirit's work in their efforts) and see more people come to faith. But every believer is called to be a witness. Just like there are only a select few professional fisherman, but that doesn't mean that the average person can't learn to use a pole and learn to use different baits (and enjoy fishing themselves). Everyone should be a witness!


Don't believe me? Read Matthew 28:18-20. Read Acts 1:8. Read Luke 24:46-47. Read Mark 16:15. Read 1 Corinthians 9:16. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10. Read John 14:21. Read John 20:21. Read 2 Timothy 4:1-2. Read Genesis 12:1-3 (God blessed Abraham so he could be a blessing to all the peoples....God has blessed us...shouldn't we bless others by telling them what the seed of Abraham - Jesus - did for them by dying on the cross for their sins?)


None of those verses talk about sharing the gospel being only for a select few. I used to read in James chapter one where it talks about being a "doer" of what you read in the Bible and not merely a "hearer" and know that I wasn't being a "doer" of what I was reading because I wasn't bold and out doing the things that the early church was doing in the book of Acts. 


So I know what it is like to be lukewarm in my attitude towards the lost or to assume that it was someone else's job to go tell them (the lost) about Jesus. 


Going back to what my friend said. 
It struck me.
I know that I can seem outspoken at home when I am in the comforts of my home and where I know that Nicole agrees with me.
I know that I can seem outspoken on Friday nights when we are doing PIE.


But am I not bold enough?


Do I not challenge people enough to put into action the things they learn in the Scriptures?


Things to think about.


I guess my attitude has always been that I don't want to force or coerce someone into doing something that requires the power of God through His Spirit (witnessing). I want people to take an evangelism course at my church and be so stirred on the inside by God that they can't help but share the good news with not only their friend and family, but also with strangers and other people in their communities (or perhaps on the mission field). 


Isaiah is one of my favorite books in the Bible (if not my favorite...it's pretty close). Read this part from this wonderful book.

Isaiah 6:1-8 "In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty, and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And on called out to another and said,  "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory." And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling smoke. Then I said "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts." Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, "Behold this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven. Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here I am. Send me!"

   

Isaiah had an encounter with God. He saw God in all of His glory. He had his iniquity removed (what a wonderful experience it is to have our sins forgiven!). He wanted to be used by God.

Wow.
Here I am. Send me.
I want that to be the attitude of the global church.


I want that to be my attitude.


Here I am. Send me.


What do you want your attitude to be in regard to the instructions written down in Scripture?


-Fei