1. Fear

This is probably the most obvious reason.  We are intimidated when it comes to sharing the gospel.  We are afraid of rejection.  We are afraid that we don’t know the right answers.  Someone may ask a question that I cannot answer.  We are afraid that we may lose a friend.  Fear plays a part in evangelism.  We have all been afraid at times when it comes to sharing Christ. 

Some of us are shy by nature and we allow this to keep us from sharing the gospel.  How may shy folks do I have here today?  You are not alone.  Some of this is natural. 

Paul wrote to a young man by the name of Timothy who was dealing with fear.  He dealt with fear to the point of having stomach ulcers. 

2 Timothy 1:7-8, God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed to tell people about our Lord Jesus. (NCV)

God does not give us fear.  Timothy, I know you are afraid, but here is what I want you to understand.  God gave you the power or he ability to do.  God has given us power to be able to share our story.

Then he said this: God has given you love.  The antidote for fear is love.  When you love someone you will press through your fear.  The bible says that perfect love casts out fear.  The issue is how much do we love?  How much do we care?  Most people will say that church people do not care about us.  This is the perception.  Why?  Every time something is shown in the media it is negative.  They show someone who does not show love.  Then everyone who is not a Christian lumps all Christians into this category. 

Here is what I know: None of us would listen to any advice from a person that we think don’t like us.  People will not listen to people who they feel do not like them.  People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. 

God has given us power and love.  Power and love give us self-control. 

2. Lack of Relationships with Non-Christians

The longer we are a Christian the less Christian friends we have.  You could pull out your cell phone and look at your contact list and you would probably find that most of them are Christians.  This is especially true for pastors. 

I thought we were supposed to be separated from the world.  You would have a problem with Jesus. 

Luke 7:34, Look at Him! He is a friend of sinners! (NCV)

He went to their parties and hung out with sinners.  It is the one who is sick that needs the physician.  It is the sinner who needs a Savior.  What do we do?  Christians are supposed to live a separated life, but there is a difference between separation and isolation.  This is a challenge for all of us. 

Here is a question that must be asked: How do I build meaningful, true authentic relationships with people who do not know Jesus?  Not for the purpose of getting them saved, but being a picture of Jesus in their life.  This is not accomplished by pointing fingers or buying a bull horn.  The people Jesus hung out with liked him.  

The mark of holiness is not how many people you make mad.  Jesus was the holiest person who ever lived and sinners liked him.  Sinners were drawn to him. 

This is the exact opposite of what we think.  Tim Keller said if we are going to reach our culture we have to become extremely like our culture and extremely unlike our culture.  We cannot be so different that sinners cannot identify with our life. 

Successful missionaries have to adapt to the culture they are in in order to relate to them.  Jesus became like us to reach us.  Jesus is our mentor and we are his apprentices.  We need to do evangelism like Jesus did.  How can I be separated without being isolated? 

3. Apathy

This is the worst reason.  I got my ticket to heaven.  I don’t care about anyone else.  This is not what Christianity is.  When we became Christians we joined the mission of God.  What is the mission of God?  His mission is to seek and to save that which is lost. 

If there is one thing that pierces the saviors heart with grief it is not the world’s iniquity, but it is the church’s indifference.

Revelation 3:16, You are lukewarm—neither hot, nor cold. (NCV)

You got a lot of stuff, but you are lukewarm.  It almost sounds like he would rather us be lost.  We are too warm to be under conviction.  I don’t want Bethesda to be a church that doesn’t care. 

One thing Jesus didn’t do: here is the minimum requirements necessary to go to heaven.  Jesus said take up your cross and follow me.  Give up some stuff so you can be a part of a greater mission.  Christianity is not a religion, it is a movement.  We have made it a religion of practicing minimum requirements so that we can go to heaven.

Which one of these fits you the most?  Fear, lack of relationships, or apathy?

Over the next several weeks I want you to come with an open mind so that we can start reaching more people.