“I believe this “passive” approach is simply an excuse not the share the Gospel”

Recently I was very disappointed while listening to a national Christian radio show.  The host was sharing some stories of high school students boldly proclaiming their faith in their high school, to which I was cheering.  However, as the host recounted the stories, he also chose to criticize the students’ outspoken approach of sharing the Gospel.

Honestly, I grew very frustrated and irritated as callers began to agree with the host.  The idea of students or adults proclaiming their faith in public places was shut down.  The thinking was that we should be “passive” Christians who simply live holy lives, shine our lights before the world, and hope that somehow…someway…someone…someday will eventually ask us about our faith.

In the end, I believe this “passive” approach is simply an excuse not the share the Gospel. Sadly, this evangelistic approach represents an American faith that cares more about fitting in than speaking prophetically into the lives of those around us.  Why?  It’s often uncomfortable to broach discussions of sin and salvation while talking about reruns of The Office.

What is the problem with this “passive” approach?  Read the book of Acts.  Were Peter and Paul passive?  When they were told to stop talking about Jesus, they refused and proclaimed Him more boldly.

When Jesus said, “Go into the all the world and preach the good news,” did He really mean “Go into all the world and just be nice, then they’ll ask you about the Gospel?”

When Romans says “faith comes by hearing”, is it really referring to “hearing someone’s life,” or could it actually mean faith comes when you hear the truth of the Gospel proclaimed?

One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 20:9 which says, “But if I say, ‘I will not mention him 
or speak any more in his name,’ 
his word is in my heart like a fire, 
a fire shut up in my bones. 
I am weary of holding it in; 
indeed, I cannot.”  I believe this should be the norm among followers of the Radical One whose words are the very substance by which we live. (“Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4)

It’s tough to reconcile our passive approach to “preaching the Gospel” when reading the Gospels, Paul’s letters and certainly the Old Testament prophets.  It appears that the Biblical model for followers of Christ is that we must preach the Gospel and we must preach it boldly wherever we go. Things have shifted dramatically over the twenty years I’ve been in ministry.  “Passive” Christianity is on the rise and those who are outspoken about their faith have been awarded the “extremist” tag – as if it is somehow unhealthy to converse about the most important truths of life.  Too often we tend to prefer a kinder, gentler Christianity that doesn’t make anyone uncomfortable.  We prefer Jesus with a smile rather than the reality of sin and the need for a Savior.  As we search the scriptures, however, we discover that Jesus made people uncomfortable.  Conviction is uncomfortable.  Seeing oneself as a sinner is uncomfortable.  The reality of heaven and hell is uncomfortable.

Should we be passive?  Or, dare I say, aggressive?  Every moment of every day people pass from this life into eternity.  God’s plan to reach them was for you and I to obey the command of Jesus in Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Your thoughts?