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Many Christians today fear preaching and sharing the gospel because it might offend other people. Some worry that they might lose their friends, or be considered ‘weird’ by others. In some places, people fear preaching the gospel because they might invite harsh treatment: in Muslim nations, they might be persecuted or even killed; in America they might be persecuted even through lawsuits; and in communist countries they might be given harsh treatment, too.
Despite the sad realities that we face today, we have to realise that preaching the gospel in Jesus’ and the book of Acts’ times weren’t easy. Jesus was persecuted by the religious authorities, and the disciples in Acts were also persecuted. Let’s face it, there will be persecution.
In some regions where there is freedom of religion, the situation is different. Some Christians are not sharing the gospel not because they are persecuted. Rather, it’s because of the fear to offend others, or perhaps the fear of being offended for being “too religious” or “weird.”
The truth about it
The truth is that the gospel will always hurt people who are in sin. We can’t preach the gospel to unbelievers and expect to receive a warm reception complete with a grand applause. No, we simply cannot.
Why?
The gospel message slaps us with the following truths:
● That we are sinners without hope, but because of Christ we have a hope;
●That there is nothing we can do to merit salvation, but because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice we can be saved;
● That no matter what we achieve or do, we are still going to hell because of our sin, but because Christ carried all of our sin on the cross of Calvary and became a curse for us, we are given the way to be forgiven and reconciled to our heavenly Father who loves us so much; and
● That we are sinners no matter how much we try to be good. At the same time it gives us hope because Christ has overcome the world for our sake (see Hebrews 12:2).
No pain no gain
Friends, the gospel is a very painful message, but the only one that sets us free from sin and death. And just like the saying goes “no pain, no gain,” without Christ’s pain we would have no gain.
Let us not be ashamed of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the power of God that saved us. It is also the only thing that can save others (see Romans 1:16).
