One day at the gym, I found myself lifting near a massive, hairy, intimidating man—his bulging muscles straining under the weight of 45-pound dumbbells. He was grunting, curling them like they were nothing more than plastic movie props. No one dared to come near him.
As I finished my set and put away my 25-pound dumbbells, I watched as Hercules casually dropped his weights into the slots marked for much lighter ones. Our eyes met. He scowled at me, daring me to correct him. I considered it just long enough to picture myself being driven away in an ambulance.
And then something strange happened. I suddenly sensed a deep pain beneath this man’s imposing presence and felt an overwhelming wave of love and compassion for him. As he turned away, I silently prayed for him. I had no idea where he was in life, but I asked God to meet him in his struggles.
That moment changed my perspective on evangelism, which is #19 on my alphabetical list of 70 things every man needs to know.
What Is Evangelism?
It’s good to start with what evangelism is not. It’s not a formula. Evangelism can take on many forms, depending on the person and the circumstances. Sometimes it’s about explaining the gospel, and other times—like that day at the gym—it’s about praying for a person who has no idea they are being prayed for.
No matter what form it takes, the heart of an evangelist is open to God’s prompting and treats people—who are often carrying unseen burdens— with love, kindness, empathy, and respect. As followers of Christ, “from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view” (2 Corinthians 5:16b).
At its core, evangelism is a ministry of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:19b-20s tells us: “[God] has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”
Faithfulness Over Results 💪
God calls us to be faithful, not to produce a particular outcome. We don’t need to trick people into Christianity or say and do the perfect thing to convince them it’s true. We are not the ones doing the saving—God is.
Instead, our job is to be faithful ambassadors and messengers, living in a way that points others toward Christ and making ourselves available for spiritual conversations when opportunities arise. Said another way, it’s simply taking someone as far as they want to go toward Jesus at that moment.
Allow this definition of evangelism to take the pressure off. Be faithful and leave the results up to God.
Overcoming Fear
That said, even without the pressure of a particular result, sharing our faith can be intimidating. Most men don’t share their faith because they are afraid—of rejection, of looking foolish, or of not having all the answers. But here’s a secret: No one expects you to have all the answers. Your role is not to win an argument; it is to introduce people to Jesus.
Not everyone is ready to receive the gospel the first time they hear it, and that’s okay. Jesus never forced Himself on anyone. He invited, He listened, and He led with love. Just meet people where they are and allow God to work in their hearts in His timing.
What’s Holding You Back?
If you’ve been hesitant to share your faith, ask yourself why. Are you afraid of looking foolish? Of being rejected? Remember that evangelism isn’t about you—it’s about God working through you.
He has placed people in your life for a reason. When the time is right, He will give you the words. And even when you don’t get the opportunity to share the gospel explicitly, we can always plant seeds as ambassadors for Christ by the way we live, speak, and love.
If you still feel hesitant, much of this article was adapted from my book The Christian Man. To go deeper on how to have authentic spiritual conversations, check out the chapter “Sharing My Faith.”
Ready to go?
Here are two things you can do personally this week:
So, who in your life needs to hear about Jesus?
Much love,
Pat
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