TOPIC

Believers are often intimidated by the questions and comments of unsaved people. However, they are not nearly as intimidating as many Christians think. An understanding of several principles will help you to respond effectively.

First, it is important to take the offensive and not the defensive in evangelism. This helps to show the unsaved person the fallacy of his thinking. For example, as I begin to explain the Gospel, he might say, “But I don’t believe the Bible. It has too many contradictions in it.” To that, I respond, “Thanks for being honest about your feelings. Show me one of these contradictions and let’s discuss it.” You will be surprised at how many times they are unable to do so. Sometimes they are simply putting up a smoke screen to avoid dealing with the issue of their sin.

Remembering these simple principles, though, can help you relax, think, and respond to the unsaved.

It is also important to remember that it is the preaching of the Cross that God uses to bring people to Himself. This is one reason that Paul did not engage in philosophical debates (1 Corinthians 2:1, 2). Center your conversation around the Cross. For example, unbelievers sometimes point to the hardship and suffering in the world and ask, “How can He be a God of love and let all of this happen?” I confess that I cannot explain why God allows everything He does, but I have proof that He is a God of love. I then direct them to Romans 5:6-8, which teaches that what we wouldn’t do for the best, He did for the least — He died for sinners. On many occasions, I’ve seen the Cross remove their doubts about His character.

A third thing that is important is to let truth, not emotions, be your authority. Sometimes, Christians are bothered not only by the comments unsaved people make, but also by their attitude.

The problem is intensified when you respond in the same manner. Instead, recognize that the lost person is dead in trespasses and sins and a slave to Satan (Ephesians 2:1-3). Look beyond the person to the problem, and calmly and confidently lay the truth before him and let it speak for itself. The more worked up you get, the less authority the truth appears to have. Let truth, not your emotions, be your authority.

Sometimes, unsaved people do not need a theological answer, they need a practical one. I’ve had unsaved people say, “If I trust Christ, I’ll have to face the fact that my mother went to hell.” Christians are often quick to point to the righteousness and justice of God. Although that may be what some lost people need, sometimes they need only to be reminded of something so practical as, “Wait a minute. I sincerely hope your mother trusted Christ before she died and there is always the possibility that she did. But, let’s assume you are right. If there is one thing she would say if she could, it is ‘Please trust Christ!’” I then continue, “Let’s turn it around. Suppose you had died first and gone to hell. The one thing you would want more than anything else is for your mother to trust Christ.” That simple realization has caused many to do what God and their loved one want them to do — trust Christ.

Many times, we make things more difficult than they are. Remembering these simple principles, though, can help you relax, think, and respond to the unsaved. In so doing, you could be used to bring someone to a saving knowledge of Christ, or at least one step closer! ¢

R. Larry Moyer is an expository evangelist and executive director of Evan Tell, Inc., in Dallas, TX. This article was taken from his newsletter, "The Toolbox." (Summer, 1999)