Why Christians Struggle to Share Their Faith

I read the results of recent studies, which showed that anywhere from 75-90% of churchgoers started attending because someone invited them. 

Now I gotta be honest, my parents invited me to church as I grew up – as a kid I didn’t really have an option. It was an invitation to either go to church or not have a place to live. 

I love what one man said about his drug problems growing up. He said, “My mother drug me to Sunday School, and she drug me to church…”

For those of you who didn’t grow up in a believing family, and many of you are first-generation Christians – it was interesting to me that one survey revealed that 82% of non-churched individualssaid they would consider attending a church service if they were invited by someone they knew.

Now obviously, that doesn’t mean church services are the answer. But it’s a great place to start with those around you – simply inviting them to come along.

Another survey I read was disheartening because it revealed less than 30% of people who call themselves born again Christians ever talk about the gospel with their colleagues or acquaintances. Only 2 outta 10 even talk about the Lord.

I remember hearing a comedian years ago where someone asked him about his religion. He said, “I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness, but I now consider myself a Jehovah’s Bystander. I’m more comfortable being a bystander than a witness.”

I’m not endorsing Jehovah’s Witnesses, by the way . . . I am concerned that so many Christians today are effectively “Jehovah’s Bystanders.” 

How would you answer these questions today?

• Have you ever invited someone to a church service or event? 
• Have you told an unbeliever you know about your relationship with Jesus Christ?
• Have you ever showed someone the plan of salvation from scripture?

If we’re the average church in America:

• Less than 50% of the congregation has invited someone to a church service.
• Less than 20% have told an unbeliever about their faith in Christ.
• Less than 5% have shown someone how to be saved. 

Now my goal today, beloved, is not to discourage you with these statistics; it’s my prayer that you will be inspired today, to move from bystander to Ambassador. 

And that at the end of this service, you will make a commitment to invite an unbeliever from your job, or your school, or your neighborhood to a church service. That’s a great place to start – that’s an easy place to start – just invite them to church. 

Now I’m hoping that 1,000 of you get turned down, because I don’t know where we’d put them. But we’ll figure it out. 

I’m also praying that you will prepare yourself to show someone from scripture how they can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

And if you’re memory is like mine, let me give you a tip – go to the first verse you want to show that person, and write into the margin the reference to the next verse – and then at that verse, write in the margin the next reference. You only need to remember that first verse.

Now let’s get real here on this subject of evangelism. Although we know that as ambassadors, we’re supposed to talk to people about Christ – if it was easy, everybody would do it.

Seven Reminders for Courageous Witnessing

So let me address several discouragements to witnessing – I’ll put them in the form of 7 reminders we need to keep in mind as we witness for Christ. 

Relationships with unbelievers are vital, but they may be unfruitful after all.

Faithfulness Doesn’t Always Produce Visible Results

I think of the apostle Paul, who invested in Demas, only to have Demas abandon him after what may have been years of discipleship. 

In Colossians, Paul includes greetings from Dr. Luke, his traveling companion and personal physician. Paul adds that Demas also sends his greetings. 

In Philemon Paul refers to Demas as a fellow worker (1:24).

But in his last letter, 2 Timothy, years later – Paul writes one of the most surprising verses for the early church to read: Paul writes, “Demas, in love with this present world, has forsaken me.” (2 Timothy 4:10)

All that effort, without true spiritual conversion. 

I think of a more modern example – George Whitfield, one of the architects of the Great Awakening in the mid-1700’s. 

He was a friend of Benjamin Franklin, to whom he often gave the gospel. Franklin would seem interested – even coming to meetings to hear Whitfield preach. Franklin even financially supported Whitfield’s orphanage. 

But Benjamin Franklin never moved past his deism – the belief in the existence of God – to a personal faith in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus.

When Whitfield died, Franklin wrote a letter to a friend, and said, “Ours was a mere civil friendship; sincere on both sides and lasted to his death. Mr. Whitfield used to pray for my conversion, but he never had the satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard.” Benjamin Franklin, 1780 (SOURCE: ^{Arnold Dallimore, George Whitefield: Volume Two (Cornerstone Books, 1979p. 441)}

I think Whitfield would have been surprised by Benjamin’s view of their friendship – certainly his sarcasm about being on Whitfield’s prayer list.

Witnessing for Christ does not always result in spiritual fruit.

Noah preached for 120 years and no one outside his family believed his warning of God’s coming judgement. Not one friend or acquaintance believed him. No extended family members joined him – the parents of his three daughters-in-law did not believe him. 

The prophet Jeremiah was told the people to whom he would give his life to reach would refuse to listen to him. God commissioned Jeremiah in chapter 7 and told him:

So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. And you shall say to them, “This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline . . . truth has perished . . .” Jeremiah 7:27-28

Think of the Lord, who knew already the heart of everyone to whom He spoke – yet He spoke to them.

On one occasion, Jesus was being followed by a large contingent of disciples – numbering several hundred or more. 

The apostle John recorded an event where Jesus challenged the genuineness of their commitment – and here’s what happened: 

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life . . .” John 6:66-68

Don’t be discouraged when you tell someone the gospel and they don’t believe you – Jesus Himself is delivering the gospel and they don’t believe Him! 

“They no longer walked with Him.”

And that leads me to a second reminder:

Sharing the Gospel Requires Obedience, Not Outcomes

Remember that while witnessing for Christ does not require a favorable response, it requires faithful obedience.

• The issue is not the response of the world. 
• The issue is our obedience to the Word. 

The truth is, you may never know the end result – the response of someone to whom you’ve shared your testimony on that campus, in that corporate setting, or in that shop until the day you stand before Christ and are stunned by what the Lord did with only a word of testimony from you.

Don’t focus on their response – focus on your obedience.

Here’s a third reminder: 

The Gospel Reveals Truth—And Exposes Resistance

Witnessing must depend on the Spirit of God because people are not honest, even with themselves.

The Bible says they’re blinded to the truth of the gospel by the god of this world – the devil himself (2 Corinthians 4:4).

And they’re not about to open up to you, unless the Spirit of God begins to open their eyes not only to the truth of the gospel, but first, to the truth about themselves. 

They are sinners – they are in trouble with God!

People don’t wanna hear that!

The world is skillful at deflection – at self-defense. I’ve witnessed to many people and after 5 minutes they’re telling me about their grandfather who started a church, or some mystical experience they had.

Think about it – witnessing means you are asking them to open up to the idea that they are in need of saving.

I came across a humorous illustration where an old man was walking along a country lane, leading his mule, and his dog was walking alongside. Suddenly a speeding truck careened around the corner, knocking the man, his mule and the dog into the ditch.

The old man decided to sue the driver of that truck, seeking to recoup the cost of medical bills and everything he’d lost. It ended up in court. 

While the old man was on the stand, the defense attorney said, “Sir, I want you to answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the following question: Did you or did you not say at the time of the accident that you were ‘perfectly fine’”?

The man said, “Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road…” The attorney said, “Stop, stop – I asked you to tell me ‘yes’ or ‘no’ – did you say you were quote ‘perfectly fine’ at the time of the accident?”

“Well, me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road…” And the attorney appealed to the judge – “Your honor, this man is not answering my question.” The judge said, “Well, he obviously wants to tell us something, so let him speak.”

The old man continued, “Me and my dog and my mule were walking along the road and this truck came around the corner too fast and knocked us all in the ditch. The driver here got out of his truck, saw my dog was terribly injured, went back to his truck, got his rifle and he shot my dog dead. Then he saw that my mule had broken his leg so he shot it too. Then he came over to me and said, “How are you feeling?” And I said, “I am perfectly fine.”

Look, you ask the average person on the street:

• “How do you feel about yourself?” They’re gonna respond – “I’m fine!” 
• What are your chances of getting into heaven?” “Pretty good . . . I think I’m perfectly fine.”

The Bible does not portray us as perfectly fine, but entirely fallen.

It is the gospel, through the power of the Holy Spirit, that penetrates this dishonesty with themselves. 

And with that, here’s a fourth reminder for us:

Don’t Be Surprised by Rejection or Defensiveness

We need to expect the gospel to expose guilt over sin and produce a defensive attitude in the unbeliever.

God isn’t gonna judge me – I’m not a sinner.

Be encouraged by the fact that you are delivering the true gospel. Which means if they don’t repent, they may very well turn on you: 

• Who are you to judge me? 
• Who are you to tell me that what I’m doing is sinful! They’re often angry and defensive!

Just remember the Bible says the law of God is written on everyone’s heart (Romans 2:15) – they know what they’re doing is sinful – whether they admit it or not – they know they are guilty – 

And they might hate you for telling them who they really are.

And keep in mind that it isn’t just because of what you said, it’s because they know where you stand! 

Listen to these insights (Proverbs 29:27):

An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous (and we get that – but get this), but one whose way is upright in his life is an abomination to the wicked.

Violent people hate the one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright. Proverbs 29:10

The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him. Psalm 37:12

I love the way Eugene Peterson paraphrases it:

“Bad guys have it in for the good guys, obsessed with doing them in.”

Is that true? Jesus said it would be, for those who live and preach and offer people the true gospel. 

Your very lifestyle will be offensive.

Jesus said, recorded in John 3:

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. John 3:19-20

You represent a light that exposes their darkness.

Have you ever thought about the fact that the very first criminal act in human history – the murder of Abel by his brother Cain – that murder was for this very reason.

John provides this insight into the motive of Cain, in 1 John 3 – John writes:

We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 1 John 3:12-13

Cain hated Abel because he knew in his heart and guilty conscience that Abel was right – and Abel’s lifestyle was a daily, convicting reminder of his own ungodliness – and Cain had to get rid of that reminder.

So how do respond to a world that hates you for your witness – for your stand?

Let me put it this way – reminder number 5:

Respond with Pity, Not Hostility

Unbelief and hatred that persists should not develop in us hostility, but pity.

The disciples were challenged for this very issue on one occasion. In Luke chapter 9 a Samaritan village refused to allow Jesus and his disciples to lodge there, primarily because they made it known that they were on their way to Jerusalem. 

The Samaritans and the Jews hated each other and because Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, the Samaritans effectively told Jesus to get lost.

And James and John said to the Lord, why don’t we call down fire from heaven and consume them all.

How’s that for an evangelistic strategy – if you don’t follow Jesus, we’re gonna toast you alive. We’ve got Pokimon powers. I’ve learned this from my grandsons – I got a fireball and you can’t stop it!

I think that could be effective evangelism. You burn up one village – what do you think the next village is gonna do? 

No – this is the gospel of warning – of patience – of mercy . . . fire and judgment come later.

Which is why unbelief – hatred – mockery – should produce in us pity, not hostility.

Number 6:

Witnessing Is a Work of God, Not a Performance

Witnessing isn’t so much about technique – it’s about simple trust in the supernatural work of God.

It’s about understanding that the people God has brought into the traffic pattern of your life are divine appointments. 

So it isn’t how much you know – it’s Who you know – and you simply tell people what Christ has freed you from – what He has done for you.

One more reminder:

Heaven Measures Success by Faithfulness

Witnessing to others comes with no guarantee except the affirmation and approval of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says, 

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news”  Romans 10:15

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 10:

“Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32

This isn’t a threat that you’re not getting into heaven if you weren’t a faithful witness; this is a promise that you will be especially honored by the Lord, if you were.

This is a legacy of light from the life of a man who had made a decision to tell people about Christ, as God gave him health and strength.

The Legacy of Frank Jenner

His name was Frank Jenner, and he made a commitment to tell someone about Jesus Christ every day, as God gave him the opportunity.

Frank lived in Sydney, Australia. After retiring from the Royal Australian Navy in 1937, he spent nearly every day witnessing at a busy shopping district in his hometown. And he chose one particularly busy street named George Street. And there he spent the next 3 decades passing out tracts.

As he passed out these gospel pamphlets to people, he would aske them, “If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?” He did this for nearly 40 years, and not one person ever responded to his witness. 

Sometimes people would stop and talk for a while with him, other people would refuse the pamphlet, still others would accept it and keep walking.

I would never have heard of Frank Jenner, or be able to give you his legacy of light, had it not been for some divinely ordered encounters that led to some amazing discoveries.

It all began with a pastor named Francis Dixon. He pastored Lansdowne Baptist Chruch in the county of Dorset, England. His youth pastor had come to faith in Christ after meeting Peter Jenner downtown Syndey, on George Street. Pastor Dixon then met two British sailors who also came to faith from reading literature given to them by an older man as they were walking down George Street.

Then a new believer in Dixon’s church gave his testimony in the church service. He said, “I used to live in Sydney, Australia, and a few months ago I went back to visit relatives there. I was walking down George Street when a strange little man stepped out of a shop doorway, put a pamphlet in my hand, and asked me, ‘Excuse me sir, if you died tonight are you going to heaven?’ I was astounded by what he asked. I thought of his words all the way back to London. I called a friend who lives in this area and that friend gave me the gospel and led me to Christ.” 

Pastor Dixon flew to Adelaide, Australia, the next week where he was scheduled to speak at Bible conference. A woman came to him with some Bible questions and he asked where she stood with Christ. She said, “I was an unbeliever all my life – until a few months ago. I was visiting some friends in Sydney, Australia and we were shopping on George Street. A white-haired man asked me if I died that night, if I would go to heaven. I walked away but knew I didn’t have an answer – I didn’t know the answer. When I came back home I sought out a pastor in my neighborhood, and he led me to Christ.” 

Several times now, in just a few weeks, Pastor Dixon met people who had encountered a white-haired man passing out gospel tracts on George Street.

Sometime later, he flew to Perth, to speak at a church there. After the meetings, the senior elder of the church took him out for supper. Pastor Dixon asked this fellow elder how he had come to faith in Christ. He replied that he’d grown up in the church but had never given his life to Christ. He had eventually become a successful businessman and even was elected an elder in his church. Then he said, “Three years ago I was on a business trip, walking down George Street, a little man with white hair accosted me, gave me a religious pamphlet, and asked me, “If you die tonight are you going to heaven?’ I tried to tell him that I was an elder in a Baptist church! But he wasn’t impressed by that. All the way back home I was seething in anger. I told my pastor what had happened, thinking my pastor would sympathize with me, but he agreed with that little man! My pastor told me that he had wondered if I was truly saved. That broke me and humbled me into reality. My pastor then led me to saving faith in the Lord.”

Pastor Dixon flew back to the England, and then soon to speak at a Keswick Convention. He shared in the meeting about these testimonies of new believers who’d been confronted on George Street. After the meeting, four pastors came up to him and said that they had all come to faith in Christ some 30 years earlier after receiving a gospel pamphlet from this same whitehaired man on George Street.

It wasn’t long before Dixon traveled to the Caribbean islands to speak to a large group of missionaries. He was so excited about the fruit of this one man’s testimony that he shared it with his audience. At the close of the session, three missionaries came up and said that they had been saved fifteen years earlier through the witness of this same man.

On his way back to London, the pastor stopped in Atlanta, Georgia to speak at a Naval chaplain’s convention. When the chaplain general took him out to dinner, the pastor asked him how he had come to faith in Christ. The chaplain said, “We were doing exercises in Southeast Asia, and we docked in Sydney harbor to resupply our ship. I went out with my friends, and I got drunk – ended up on the wrong bus. It dropped me off at George Street. As I got off the bus, this elderly, white-haired man came up to me. I thought he was a ghost. He gave me a pamphlet and asked me, ‘If you die tonight, are you going to heaven?’ The fear of God hit me. I was shocked sober. I hurried back to the battleship and sought out the chaplain, who he led me, that night, to faith in Christ. He started to train me, and soon I went into ministry. Now I am the overseer of more than a thousand chaplains, and we are dedicated on leading souls to Christ.”

Six months later, Pastor Dixon flew to the northeast corner of India to speak to 5,000 missionaries. At the close of the meeting, the host pastor took him home for a meal. The London pastor asked his Indian friend how he had come to faith in Christ. The Indian pastor responded, “I was a dedicated Hindu, and I had a very privileged position. As a diplomat I traveled the world. One diplomatic assignment took me to Sydney, Australia. I was doing some last-minute shopping on George Street when a little man with white hair offered me a pamphlet and said, ‘Excuse me sir, are you saved? If you died tonight, are you going to heaven?” I thanked him, but what he said disturbed me. I sought out the Hindu priest, but he couldn’t help me. He actually recommended that I see a Christian missionary to satisfy my curiosity. . . that missionary led me to the Lord. I quit Hinduism immediately and began to study for the ministry. I left the diplomatic service. Now I am in charge of several thousand missionaries, and we are winning thousands of people to Christ.”

Eight months later Pastor Dixon was speaking in Sydney, Australia and was determined to find this little man who handed out tracts on George Street. The host pastor knew him; told him his name was Frank Jenner. But he said, “I don’t think he goes down to George Street anymore – he’s now frail and elderly – he can’t get about.” They made arrangements to meet him two nights later. 

They went to the little apartment and knocked on the door, and a frail little man invited them in and served them tea. As they sat together, the London pastor began telling Mr. Jenner all the encounters he had had with Christians from England to Australia to India to the Caribbean Islands to America who had come to faith in Christ because he had given them a tract on George Street, asking them if they were ready for heaven.

The old man sat there listening with surprise and joy. Then with tears in his eyes, he said, “I made a promise to God that I would share Christ with others. I wasn’t consistent – and I wasn’t perfect at it. But when I retired, more than 30 years ago, I began going down to George Street – I thought it was the best street because hundreds of people came to shop there every day.” Then he added this: “I never knew of even one person accepting Christ because of my witness – for nearly forty years – until today.” 

They talked into the evening – and came to the conclusion that Frank Jenner had handed out 140,000 tracts – he’d asked at least 140,000 people, “If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?” 

Two weeks after their visit, Frank Jenner died on May 8, 1977. Just two weeks before he passed away, he had been visited by these pastors who brought him the stunning news of his fruitful ministry.

He would have learned it anyway, two weeks later, when he arrived in heaven and was rewarded by Christ. 

One author wrote, “No one had responded directly to him, but heaven knew about him, and I cannot even imagine the fanfare and the joy of many when this man arrived home.”[1]

[1] This account is taken from Che Ahn, Spirit-led Evangelism (Chosen Books, 2006), 226-30. Frank Jenner’s ministry is also recounted in Raymond Wilson’s Jenner of George Street (self-published, 2000). Recollections differ on some of the details. See also, “Frank Jenner,” wikipedia.org.