Should Evangelists “Close the Deal”? Part 2
You’re out on the street witnessing and have just finished sharing the 10 Commandments with an unbeliever. The person now understands that because he has violated God’s Moral Law by lying, stealing, blaspheming, murdering—that’s what the Bible calls it when one hates or gets angry—and committing adultery—even looking with lust condemns you, according to Jesus—he will be found guilty before a Holy God on Judgment Day; when he dies he will end up in Hell. He clearly understands this horribly bad news because you’ve taken the time to share—in love—that he is condemned already because of his sin.
Now what do you do? What’s the next step? Should you automatically share the Good News that Jesus died for him? How do you “close the deal”? Should you “close the deal”? (Read Part 1 of this series by clicking here.)
Before you launch into the good news ask this next question of the unbeliever : “Does that concern you?”
If he is not concerned that he is going to Hell, if he is a mocker or scoffer or a foolish time-consuming atheist who is just razzing you in your good faith effort to bring some light into his life, you are under no obligation to share Christ with him. If he isn’t concerned that he is soon to be facing the wrath of God, he won’t care about your Savior, and he will trample your pearls of the Gospel underfoot.
But if you sense that the person is truly concerned about his eternal damnation, then simply ask: “Do you know what God did for you so you wouldn’t have to go to Hell?”
The 10 Commandments for Evangelists
1. Thou shalt not engage in shameless self promotion, as if you deserve the glory that God alone deserves.
2. Thou shalt not make an idol of evangelism. God deserves worship, not His work.
3. Thou shalt not give the enemies of God occasion to blaspheme. Reaping the results of being a jerk for Jesus is not persecution, it is defamation of God’s character by your actions.
4. Thou shalt keep the Sabbath holy by taking opportunity to rest, worship and serve in the local church. This means your local church, not someone else’s.
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