Transcription
Many Christians struggle with the fear of being rejected or ridiculed when it comes to evangelism or sharing their faith with others. They may worry that they will be perceived as pushy or judgmental if they try to evangelize, and this fear can hold them back from sharing the gospel with others.
However, it is important to remember that the fear of rejection is a natural human fear and that we all experience it to some extent. And, while it is understandable to feel anxious about sharing our faith with others, it is important to not let this fear control us.
One way to overcome the fear of being rejected is to remember that it is not about us. Evangelism is not about our own reputation or acceptance, but about sharing the message of the gospel with others. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Our focus should be on Jesus and the message of the gospel, not on ourselves and our own fear of rejection.
Additionally, it is important to remember that we are not alone in our evangelism efforts. We have the support and guidance of the Holy Spirit, who is with us every step of the way (John 14:16). And, we have the support of the wider body of believers, who can encourage and pray for us as we share the gospel with others.
Another way to overcome the fear of being rejected is to focus on the needs of the people we are sharing the gospel with. Instead of being focused on our own fears, we can focus on the needs of the people we are sharing with and the hope that the gospel brings. In doing so, we can take the focus off ourselves and our own fears and instead be motivated by a desire to see others come to faith in Jesus.
Finally, it can be helpful to practice evangelism in small and safe ways. This can help build our confidence and give us the opportunity to learn and grow in our evangelism skills. We can start by sharing our faith with friends and family, and then gradually expand to sharing with others in our community and the world at large.
In summary, the fear of being rejected is a natural fear that we all experience. However, it is important to not let this fear control us and hold us back from sharing the gospel with others. Instead, we can focus on the message of the gospel and the needs of the people we are sharing with and rely on the support and guidance of the Holy Spirit and the body of believers. Also, we can start small and gradually build our confidence in sharing the gospel with others.