# The world's response to Christian evangelism Take extra effort to clearly understand that person's specific reason for not following Jesus. - Ask questions to learn where *their* relationship with [God](theology-god.md) is, not just to share your experience. - Before even bringing up Jesus, learn how much they'd even want to hear about Him. - If they resist, drop it completely and don't mention it again. - Only try again later when you've grown to be more [gentle and loving](people-identity.md). Pay very, *very* close attention to what anyone has to say about what you're sharing. - People know when you're not paying attention to them. - If you're doing it to gain God's favor, you're sharing the Gospel for the wrong reason. *Never*, *ever* try to force a conversion. - [Identifying with Christ](people-identity.md) requires a long-term commitment to give up *everything* ([Matthew 10:39](https://www.bible.com/bible/206/mat.10.39)), which is too much of a sacrifice for most people ([Matthew 7:13-14](https://biblehub.com/matthew/7.htm)). - Successfully converting someone to Christianity in a fit of [emotional intensity](mind-feelings.md) will *not* create good [disciples](spiritual-discipleship.md) ([Matthew 13:5](https://biblehub.com/matthew/13-5.htm)). - A non-believer typically needs to hear the Gospel message about 12 times before they convert. - Christians who give a sense of urgency in an evangelistic presentation don't trust God will protect them if He has plans for them ([Matthew 6:26](https://biblehub.com/matthew/6-26.htm)). Once a culture has been exposed to *lots* of evangelism, that society becomes post-Christian. - Typically, post-Christian culture comes from generations raised in the [moralism](morality.md) of Christianity but without the parents stressing the importance of a [relationship with Jesus](https://theologos.site/gospel/). - Post-Christian cultures typically need a *lot* of evidence, with can *only* come through a demonstrated lifestyle. - Break through the apprehension by openly discussing your own unpleasant experiences with cultural Christianity and the Church. - The only answer to clearly connect with post-Christianity is to have legitimate love and compassion for their suffering, *without* defending or condemning what happened to them. - Defending a group may be misplaced, since you weren't there and there may have been a [legitimate sin](theology-sins.md) involved. - Condemning the group may be misplaced, since that person may have experienced a misplaced memory or had an isolated experience. - Their [feelings](mind-feelings.md) are legitimate, irrespective of [reality](reality.md). ## Response types There are a few possible, predictable ways a non-Christian will respond to a Gospel presentation. The least likely response will be curiosity mixed with hesitant [hope](mind-trust.md). - To some effect, they see a potential opportunity for redemption and healing. - They'll often distrust many elements of it, since [Jesus' sacrifice](https://theologos.site/gospel/) does *not* require them to give [something back for the exchange](people-contracts.md). - However, they're fully ready to follow Jesus. - If they have questions, and you're at least somewhat educated in [apologetics](spiritual-exercises-evangelism-apologetics.md), openly answer any questions they have. They'll frequently feel severe remorse over their past [sins](theology-sins.md). - They'll have enough shame to believe they *can't* be forgiven. - They need someone to show how much God will forgive and restore, either through your experiences or people in the Bible (e.g., Paul, Samson, Moses). - You can only show them through how Jesus has conquered your [shame](hardship-ptsd.md), which typically comes after [tremendous work on your end](https://theologos.site/devotion-chaos/). They may have unease or anxiety about the risks of becoming a Christian. - At that point in their lives, they want comfort more than truth. - Only God can change their situation, typically by exposing them to [hardship or loss](hardship.md). - Feel free to [coexist](people-friends.md) around them as long as they'll accept you, but spending [too much time](people-friends.md) with them may make you complacent. They may simply be bitter or angry regarding [past trauma](hardship-ptsd.md) or [unconfessed sins](theology-sins.md). - They'll often attribute their suffering to God, even when someone else had hurt them. - They're in no way ready to hear the Gospel, and merely witnessing your lifestyle will be enough to morally convict them. - Jesus didn't come for people who don't want Him, so don't waste your time with people who mock and condemn Him ([Mark 2:17](https://biblehub.com/mark/2-17.htm)). - Most of the Church's [persecution](hardship-persecution-church.md) comes through these people (frequently under [evil](morality-evil.md) leadership), but they still need God's love. - If there's a strong Christian presence in that [culture](people-culture.md), they may have severe issues with their understanding of [Christianity](https://theologos.site/testimony/), even when they don't have an issue with the concept of following Jesus. Occasionally, they're completely uninterested in the discussion. - Typically, [younger life stages](maturity.md) in [developed cultures](engineering-conveniences.md) don't have to think about [death](hardship-death.md). - At that point, it's a [philosophical thought experiment](philosophy-paradoxes.md) or hobby to them. - The best thing is to share with them if they want to hear it, and move on. Some non-believers defend their views through elaborate thinking that they're typically unaware of. - Many of them believe a few possible delusions: - [God](theology-god.md) is a reckless child in a playground or an angry man in the clouds. - [Sin](theology-sins.md) is simply a perception, and doesn't exist, or doesn't apply. - The [spiritual world](spiritual-warfare.md) can be just as easily [understood](understanding.md) as the physical world. - Nobody, whatsoever, is [trustworthy](mind-trust.md). - Many of them are *very* skilled at making Christians lose their patience and dragging out an argument. - Other people are legitimately seeking Jesus, and your joy is more important (and likely) than winning an argument with them. ## Conversions A Christian's conversion is *not* simply a goal, and is the beginning of a long journey. - Jesus' Great Commission was first to preach the Gospel ([Mark 16:15](https://biblehub.com/mark/16-15.htm)), but also to make disciples ([Matthew 28:19-20](https://biblehub.com/matthew/28.htm)). The Sinner's Prayer comes in a variety of forms (including [Psalm 51](https://biblehub.com/psalms/51.htm)), and effectively covers the first part of [receiving the Gospel](https://theologos.site/gospel/): - "Lord, I admit I am a sinner. I need and want Your forgiveness. I accept Your death as the penalty for my sin, and recognize that Your mercy and grace is a gift You offer to me because of Your great love, not based on anything I have done. Cleanse me and make me Your child. I receive You by faith into my heart as the Son of God and as Savior and Lord of my life. From now on, help me live for You, with You in control. In Your precious name, Amen." However, that conversion requires a *lot* more work, in the form of [discipleship](spiritual-discipleship.md). ## Evangelism and politics Christians are ambassadors for Christ and [citizens of God's kingdom](https://theologos.site/millennium/). - The world's issues shouldn't frustrate or distract us ([John 18:36](https://biblehub.com/john/18-36.htm), [2 Corinthians 5:20](https://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-20.htm)). Your reputation serves to magnify your message, so make sure your conduct is appropriate as a follower of Christ ([1 Peter 2:12-20](https://biblehub.com/1_peter/2.htm)). Your *[ministry](mgmt-church.md)* may attempt to address a problem in the world, but never let your central message distract from [eternity](theology-godandman-humanity.md). By honoring authority, you're showing the world how we should honor God. - God told us to honor them, irrespective of whether they hate or love Christians ([Luke 6:27-36](https://biblehub.com/luke/6.htm)). - A permissive government provides opportunities to share the Gospel message, but an oppressive government gives room for God to work through Christians prevailing over hardship. - The world's laws were designed for the wicked, so believers have nothing to fear ([1 Timothy 1:8-10](https://biblehub.com/1_timothy/1.htm)). If you start becoming severely affected by the troubles in this world: 1. Stop ministering. 2. [Devote yourself to Him](spiritual-exercises.md) more thoroughly. 3. Trust that He will heal you. 4. Engage in ministry again when you've [found joy in Him](https://theologos.site/devotion-chaos/). ### Be careful with your freedom Don't stop appropriately sharing the Gospel. It's awful [optics](marketing.md) and detrimental to the Gospel message to use [political activism](power-types.md) tactics (e.g., publicly screaming, making demands). - [Jesus died for everyone](https://theologos.site/gospel/), and takes it *very* personally when people are mistreated ([Matthew 25:41-45](https://biblehub.com/matthew/25.htm)). Sins like homosexuality aren't necessarily worse than fornication or adultery. - Homosexuality and every other variety of sexual deviation need Jesus and the Gospel as much as everyone else. - Even the most dogmatic Christians tend to fail at seeing that homosexuality simply God permitting a symptom of self-worship ([Romans 1:22-28](https://biblehub.com/romans/1.htm)). Take a stand against abortion, suicide, and murder. - Life is God's creation, and every person is an image of God ([Genesis 1:27](https://biblehub.com/genesis/1.htm)). - Outside of fulfilling [justice](morality-justice.md), only God is entitled to give or take it away. - Instead of protesting or condemning abortion, adopt the children or help them find good homes. Christians should *always* oppose explicit, apparent [evil](morality-evil.md): - Genocide - Sex trafficking - Pedophilia Many political issues have very few grounds for a Christian to make an opinion on, and even less for political activism: - Gun rights - Recreational drug use or legalization (except *maybe* [1 Peter 5:8](https://biblehub.com/1_peter/5-8.htm)) - [Privacy](faang.md) rights - The [economy](money-economics.md) - [Climate change](politics-leftism.md) (except that God has full control of it all) - Government decisions and spending - The government's use of the death penalty - Immigration - Foreign policy - [Election systems](politics-systems.md) and ballot fraud - Gay marriage (though gay [parenting](parenting-children.md) may have precedent) - Violence and sexual content in media - [War](people-conflicts-war-why.md), unless they run the country Or, to put it another way, Christians are waiting for a King that will [do away with plenty of our political issues](https://theologos.site/millennium/): - Gun rights and privacy rights are a part of [security](safety-security.md), which wouldn't be necessary with Jesus ruling fairly. - Society won't run on greed (which drives [capitalism](money-economics.md)), so economic and poverty issues would be nonexistent. - With Jesus physically present, the government's activities would be fair and thorough. This would also extend to ecological and military issues, as well as social issues like gay marriage or violence in public media. Most Christians can stand for many civil rights, they must only do it within the realm of what they can control, and must always keep [God's long-game](https://theologos.site/millennium/) in mind. - Jesus promises that [the hardships of this world](hardship.md) won't change, but that He'll still be with us ([Matthew 28:20](https://biblehub.com/matthew/28-20.htm)). ### Honor the government Christianity has a complex, predictable pattern with all authority: 1. Leaders tolerate Christians until they interfere with those leaders' power. 2. Christians are called to submit to both God and anyone He sets in authority, even under heavy persecution ([Romans 13](https://biblehub.com/romans/13.htm)). 3. Over time, a successful Christian presence creates a [politically relevant](politics-conservativeliberal.md) minority. 4. After many years, Christians are eventually in [high-ranking leadership](groups-large.md) roles. 5. Christian [values](values.md) slowly [trend](people-trends.md) into public opinion. 6. The leaders' successors maintain the [moralism](morality.md) without the Christian presence. 7. Without Jesus, [the values eventually decay](https://theologos.site/the-west/). 8. Society eventually dislikes Christianity again with an [unfair](morality-justice.md) [bias](mind-bias.md).