HUMILITY IN EVANGELISM
Truth: The Essence of Humility in Evangelism
We are called to plant seeds within the hearts of those who need to hear it. The question is, what is the nature of the plant that we sow? What is the priority when planting a seed? In farming and gardening, different plants serve different purposes and yield different results. Some offer a quick yield but die after a short time, others carry out purposes that are not for fruit bearing, like shade, decoration, etc., and there are also plants that might yield some fruit, but they aren’t as effective as they should be. As Christians, we are also faced with this choice. As we are called to make disciples by spreading the Word of God and nurturing their growth in their relationship with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:5-6), we must make the choice of whether we plant the right seed according to the Word or compromise the truth.
When planting seeds for Christ, the unfiltered, unchanged truth carries the right priority over anything else. Some “seeds” that are planted in the hearts of people that are according to the will of people offer many things: instant gratification, a bail from accountability, and a false sense of security are only some of the things that the will of man will guarantee. However, the hope found in the Word is this: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). The priority of those who plant the true Word in its entirety within the hearts of others is that which is paramount: the freedom from sin that is found in Christ, which is salvation. We must make sure that we do not compromise this truth to “make it sound better” or “make sure the person believes”, because compromising the perfect truth only reveals the ignorance of the one who thinks they can improve it.
If we want the Word to be firmly planted, we cannot sacrifice the truth of the Word for a more appealing image. If the Word is already said to be “piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow,” (Hebrews 4:12) then we have no right to say we can make a better image that can reach people better by sacrificing the truth. God doesn’t look for an appearance, but for the heart which He supremely sees (1 Samuel 16:7). We often try to worry about an image over effectiveness more than we think. We tend to not realize that changing the Word, even if it did get someone to start to believe, that it will only lead to more ungodliness in the end (2 Timothy 2:16). The preservation of truth is the essence of how humble we must be in evangelism, because we may not see the dangers of compromise if we are blinded by self-willed teaching.
If the Word of God is supposed to make you complete (2 Timothy 3:16-17), then what is the way to know we are carrying out the truth? It’s simple, as it is how we are known: by our fruits (Matthew 7:19-20). These fruits are something we evaluate holistically, according to the entire Word of God. Some people may do many great things, but they fail to act from love, which makes their efforts amount to nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Some may have great zeal, but they don’t follow God in deed, which shows the compromise of living a life too comfortable in faith that isn’t backed by action (James 2:26). However, the perfect Word paves the perfect way to follow Christ, and that is ultimately what will satisfy His will above all. Therefore, we can’t compromise on the truth, because our calling as evangelists depends on us to teach the truth, not what we think people would rather hear. As we continue to spread the Word, let us remember the sovereignty of the Creator who loves us and gave His perfect Word that we should not compromise.
~Caden Conley