Fear is one of the main reasons people don’t witness. I was teaching evangelism at a church, and one of the attendees raised her hand and said, “I agree with what you have said, but how do you get rid of the fear?” I said, “You don’t. You need to do evangelism, and then you’ll get over some of the fear. But if you have no fear, maybe you aren’t trusting the Lord.” Aaron Pierce in his book Not Beyond Reach wrote, “Fear doesn’t disqualify you from being used by God; it simply reminds you of your dependence on Him.”
In sports, experts say “muscle memory” is a process that allows your body to remember certain motor skills and perform them without conscious effort. That can be achieved through practice and repetition. The more you share the gospel, the easier it will become.
The Apostles Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NIV). This was their reply before the council: “For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20 NIV). Even though they were being persecuted, it did not stop them from passionately sharing the gospel.
Persecution Is Not Uncommon
In many countries such as Syria, Iran, Egypt, and Iraq, Muslims who come to Christ often face persecution. These Christians are tortured for their faith and nailed to crosses. In North Korea, Christians are murdered for owning a Bible.
Christianity is increasingly coming under attack in America. High school coach Joe Kennedy was fired for exercising his First Amendment right to pray to God in public. It took him almost seven years to undo this unjust persecution when the Supreme Court finally ruled in his favor.
Tertullian was an early church father and author who wrote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Persecution caused the early church to spread like wildfire. The word martyr comes from the Greek for “witness”—someone who gives testimony. It came to be associated with someone who died because of their testimony for Jesus.
The Apostle Paul was stoned at Lystra and left for dead, but the next day he went with Barnabas to Derbe to preach the gospel. George Barna stated, “As fewer people share our theological and worldview commitments, Christians will need courage that was not required of recent generations of believers.”
Every year, some people die trying to climb Mount Rainier in Washington state, which is 14,411 ft. in elevation. Some fall into a crevasse, some have a heart attack, and some even freeze to death. But the dangers do not deter people from climbing. There may be risks in sharing our faith, but there is a great reward. The joy and blessing of sharing our faith should supersede the fear of being persecuted. Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20 ESV). So why do believers fail to witness?
1. Fear of Rejection
Remember that successful witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results with God. The Apostle Paul said, “I came to you in weakness and great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:3–5 NIV).
Even the great Apostle Paul felt inadequate at times to share the gospel. Moses said to God, “I have never been eloquent. . . . I am slow of speech and slow of tongue” (Exodus 4:10 ESV). God is interested in your availability more than your ability. God can take your inadequacy and make it adequate for Him.
2. Fear of What My Friends Will Think
Bill Fay in his book Share Jesus without Fear wrote, “Either you can share your faith, or you can say nothing and . . . love your friends into hell.” Most people have never heard the gospel, and many are waiting for you to tell them. Even if they initially reject your message, at some point they may come to faith in Christ.
3. Fear of Losing Friends and Loved Ones
Jesus said our witness for Christ will at times cause division in our families and among our friends. “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (Luke 12:51–53 ESV).
I have never regretted sharing Christ with others. Some came to Christ, and most did not receive the Lord. It can be a lot easier to witness when you are sitting next to someone on an airplane or with someone you meet casually. Our families are familiar with our lives, so we need to pray for the Lord to open their hearts. Remember that the Lord does the saving. Ask the Lord to help you demonstrate the love of Christ to them. Back up your words with godly actions. Share your personal testimony and how Christ changed your life.
Fear of Not Knowing Enough
Fear of not knowing enough usually comes from a believer who has been a Christian for several years. If you don’t know the answer to a question, simply state, “That’s a good question. Let me research the answer and get back to you on this.” Get their contact information, and research the answer on the Internet. Ask an elder or pastor of your church. I recommend memorizing the basics of the gospel tract, so they become second nature to you when you witness. If it is difficult for you to memorize, there are downloadable tracts on your mobile device that clearly present the gospel. The more we are prepared to share our faith, the easier it will be to become a witness for Christ.
When David Livingstone, the great missionary to Africa, returned to his native home in Scotland, his body was emaciated by some 27 fevers during his service. His left arm hung limply by his side; it had been mangled by a lion. As he spoke to the students at Glasgow University, he said, “Shall I tell you what sustained me during the hardship and loneliness of my exile? It was Christ’s promise, ‘Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”
This is the same great promise and motivation to every believer as they share their faith with others. God grants His power (Acts 1:8) and His presence as we tell others about Jesus.
Jesus sent out His disciples “in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV) to proclaim the gospel to Israel. Three times He told them, “Do not fear” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31 NKJV). Hebrews 13:5 says, “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.’” Jesus promised that He will be with us as we proclaim the gospel.
When all else fails in terms of your not feeling like you know enough to share your faith, you still have your personal testimony. That is a true story, and people like to hear true stories.