We need to keep in mind the definition of successful witnessing which is: “Successful witnessing is simply taking the initiative to share Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and leaving the results with God.”
“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” (I Corinthians 2:3-5, NIV).
Even the Apostle Paul felt inadequate at times to share the Gospel but he relied on the Holy Spirit in proclaiming the gospel.
When people reject the Gospel, they are rejecting Jesus and God’s Word.
Remember. God can’t use a silent witness. We need to get the gospel message out (Romans 10:14-15).
2. Fear of What My Friends Will Think
Bill Fay in his book Share Jesus Without Fear said: “Either you can share your faith, or you can say nothing and … love your friends into hell.”
Most people have never heard the gospel presented to them and many are waiting for you to tell them.
Even if they reject your message initially, remember you are sowing the seed, and Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).
3. Fear of Not Knowing Enough
Often this fear comes from a believer who has been a Christian for several years. When sharing your faith, 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 or from an Elder or Pastor of your church. You could also you may be able to find answers to their questions from the articles in this JO App. Go to the main menu. At the bottom, select “Search”. You can type some key words and find the relevant articles. I often share articles from JO App. These articles and videos are well thought out and presented and give the unbeliever no excuse not to receive Christ. Some people no matter how much evidence you give them will not believe (John 3:19; Romans 1:21; 2:5)
4. 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).
Ask yourself this question: “Is it better for me to say nothing and watch my family and friends end up in a Christless eternity in Hell and wish you had said something that may have impacted their spiritual life for all eternity? Or, to share your faith while they are still alive, and even if they reject your message of eternal life, have the confidence that at least you tried to witness to them though they ultimately rejected your message. I have never regretted sharing Christ with some of the members of our family. Some of them came to faith in Christ and some of them ultimately did not receive the Lord.
5. I Don’t Know How to Share My Faith
The best answer to this objection is to get trained by someone who has done a lot of witnessing.
Watch how they do this and use a tract to help you. While on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (now called Cru), I learned how to share the Four Spiritual Laws and trained many people in using this method and other methods as well. I recommend memorizing the contents of the tract so that it becomes second nature to you and natural when you witness.
The Lord promised as He gave the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 these words: “And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This is a great promise and motivation to every believer who shares their faith in Christ. God will be with you and empower you. The Holy Spirit will take the words you share and rivet them into the soul of those whom you share Christ with.
Evangelism Explosion is another method where there is a trainer and two trainees. After a period of a few weeks, the trainers become adept at sharing their faith.
When all else fails in terms of your not feeling like you know enough to share your faith, you still have your personal testimony. This is a true story, and people like to hear true stories. How do you know it is true? Because you were there!