Self-Imposed Barriers of Evangelism: Limits of Disobedience

The church was dying. More steeped in tradition than Scripture, it was failing to meet the heart needs of the people. Existing in small, rural America, it was more family-led than elder-led. When asked how the Lord was using the church, the examples from the 80s and 90s showed they were living off the growth of 30 years ago and had been in decline ever since. Unfortunately, this is the too frequent testimony of churches we know these days.

Yet, the significant need for the gospel speaks to the opportunities of the church. The decline does not have to be the testimony of our churches. However, the need is only met by action, calling the church to the role of evangelism. Unfortunately, you'll hear this same church say, "We're just not a church of evangelism." That statement signs the death certificate of any church.

When it comes to the Lord's work, the ultimate outcome depends on His work, not ours. That is a truth that we find rest in, not having to pressure ourselves in ways that God never intended. But neither is that a ready-made excuse. Sometimes, the most significant barrier we have to evangelism is self-imposed. We wonder why God is not working, but we haven't thoroughly examined ourselves nor acknowledged that we have placed man-made limits on what we think God can do by what we will not do.

When we make statements like, 'Evangelism just isn't who we are' or 'It just isn't what we do,' what are we saying? In biblical terms, we're saying, 'We're a disobedient church.' Perhaps that sounds harsh, but when we use man's words instead of God's terms, we tend to soften our sins, justifying or excusing them. But in using the words of God, this is sin, precisely a sin of disobedience, and attempts to place limitations on God.

It is true that God can work in whatever means He chooses, and perhaps He will strike someone like a bolt of lightning to cause them to turn to Him. However, His Word tells us that His primary means is through the obedience of His people. So when we disobey, what are we doing? We are placing a stumbling block in front of God (much like Peter and the disciples did when they were opposing Christ's death on the cross; see Mark 8:27-38). Because God has chosen the Great Commission (evangelism and discipleship together) as the means for accomplishing His will when we say we can't or won't do evangelism, we've hindered the work of God. We can wonder, ‘Why is God not working?’ but sometimes the answer is because we’re not allowing Him to work.

There are other consequences to disobedience, one of those notably being that disobedience limits the blessings of obedience. Just naturally, as part of how God orchestrates things, obedience brings about the Lord’s blessing. Now, I don’t point that out as the primary motivator trying to suggest we obey the Lord in order to be blessed by Him; we obey the Lord because we love the Lord (John 14:15). Rather, I point that out because it causes us to question when we don't follow the Lord's leading in evangelism what are we holding back? Our lack of follow-through means we're depriving the church of the joy of celebrating a new convert and the contentment that comes from participating in the ongoing discipleship of a new believer. Personally, we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to be used by God and of the peace that comes from knowing we lived in the leading of the Spirit. There are some real consequences here.

Sometimes, we allow self-imposed limitations to create barriers to partaking in and completing the Great Commission. It's true that not every person, nor does every church, possess the gift of evangelism. But every person and church possesses the responsibility of evangelism.