I know, it's an unusual question to ask, but I have to vent.
I've been a Christian for many years (how many, I don't know, I don't count the time I first "asked Jesus into my heart", I was still following false Christianity at the time). Yet, I don't seem to have the passion and desire to proselytize openly to others in public. You know, what they call "street preaching". Why don't I do this? My main excuse is, "I don't know what to say.", which reminds me of these verses:
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
(Mat 10:19-20)
And there are others like this.
Concerning proselytizing in general, I am also reminded of this verse (or something like it):
Jer 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
I think the actual verse I'm thinking of says something like "I cannot hold it in", that is, the words of the Gospel.
Here's another one:
1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
So where does the "What If I'm Not Saved?" come in? Well, I am reminded of a quote by Charles Spurgeon (a false teacher though, he believes there will be more people in Heaven than in Hell, contradicting Matthew 20:16 and the like), which reads:
"Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that."
Is this Biblical? I don't know. Still, I answer the question from Mr. Spurgeon. Do I wish others to be saved? Of course! I would love for people to see the light and experience the truth like I have. There is hope in this godless world, and it is through knowing the Truth.
You know, as of this writing, perhaps that is what is missing in my evangelism, my own personal testimony. I haven't really thought of it, but there is something that does give me joy (and sometimes excitement), as well as calm assurance, and that is the fact that I know the Truth, that I can access the Truth, and that the Truth will not lie to me. In this instance, The Truth (who is Jesus Christ says John 14:6) is a little like Rick Astley to me, but not totally. I was going to compare the chorus of "Never Gonna Give You Up" to what Jesus says, but a few problems: Jesus (even through the disciples) can make you cry in this world:
Act 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Yet, the other lyrics ("Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you") sounds a lot like the following:
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
(and the like, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8, Joshua 1:5, I Chronicles 28:20, etc.)
In other words, THE TRUTH WILL NOT LIE TO ME!!! Mere men lie. Jesus, who is the Bible (John 1:1, 1:14, I John 1:1, Revelation 19:13, etc.), who is the Truth (John 14:6), doesn't.
This is why:
Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
So, something to think about. A unique evangelism method. May God lead me to spread the message of heart burning Truth.
Charles (CH) Spurgeon. “Do You Wish Others to Be Saved? – Charles Spurgeon | Deeper Christian Quotes.” Deeperchristianquotes.com, 2019, deeperchristianquotes.com/do-you-wish-others-to-be-saved-charles-spurgeon/. Accessed 17 Aug. 2024.
