Would You Refuse to Share the Gospel Because the Person Didn’t Look or Live Like You?

Would you only share the Gospel message with people who dressed or lived like you; only to people that lived where you lived, and/or had an upbringing similar to yours? Would you only share the message of Salvation through Christ, with others if they had hair or they had tattoos like yours? If you shared the same educational background or had similar experiences growing up would that motivate you to willingly make an appeal to others.  If their politics, race, or gender were the same as yours; would that provoke you to share your faith and belief in Christ?

Would you reject sharing the gospel with a man because you’re a woman, or with someone who is Asian because you’re Caucasian? Should a Black man or woman not share the Gospel with a Korean person? Are Millennials and Gen X’ers justified for not sharing the Gospel with Boomers? Should you avoid sharing the Gospel with someone because their earring was in their nose instead of their ear?

Would you resist sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone, not because of their expressed hostility to the Gospel, but because of their cultural, economic, educational, ethnic, or visual differences?

HERE’S SOME GROUNDBREAKING NEWS – THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES WERE JEWS!

They traveled to places and encountered people they historically considered ‘less’ than them and held in contempt. These Jewish believers formerly thought they were superior because of their religious heritage.  But Paul said:

For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? Romans 10:11-15

After His resurrection, the Lord commanded His Apostles to go to ethnically foreign and religiously dissimilar people.  Go to all nations, in all the world, to every creature, unto the uttermost part of the earth; to atheistic, pagan, and hostile societies and share His message of Salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life.  Does this sound like they would be in cultures which reflected their cultural, religious, and social values?  No.

The decline of faith is not new, Scripture declares that in the last days many will fall away, however, we still have the mandate to share the Gospel with the world, in spite of their differences.  We can’t talk about God’s love and then refuse to share it.  The popular illusionist, Penn Jillette, of the team Penn and Teller, and a self-proclaimed atheist said:

“How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it -that truck was bearing down on you – there’s a certain point where I tackle you, and this is more important than that.”

If an atheist gets it, as believer, we should too.  Sharing the Gospel is about doing God’s work, fulfilling His will, for His Glory.  With God’s help, when Peter finally figured it out he said, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him”, Acts 10:34-35

Paul explained it like this:

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby, Ephesians 2:11-16

Heaven expects it:

 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth., Revelation 5:9-10

So, friends, in 2018 consider sharing the Gospel with people because they don’t know Christ.  Don’t hold back because they’re different.  If they’re willing to listen, be willing to share. If they don’t want to hear, you’ve lost nothing, but if you don’t share you may have lost a potential brother or sister in Christ.   Remember, God will give you the opportunity if you trust Him.