Sharing in a Post-Christian World

Introduction

Growing up, everyone called the Bible “The Good Book.” You heard it on the streets and on TV: “Well the good book says.” Sometimes they misquoted the Bible like, “The good book says, God helps those that help themselves.” No, it doesn’t. Nevertheless, The Bible was held in high esteem even by those that had not received Jesus. So, when it came to sharing your faith, the Bible was a good starting point for truth. Many times just showing someone what the Bible said about God, Jesus, and themselves was enough to convince people to follow Christ.

Not so in today’s world. Our nation no longer trusts or even believes in God. The very Bible they swear upon they don’t believe. The Bible is no longer the standard for truth in our society, but self-fulfillment and self-expression rules the day. For a moment, culture replaced the Bible with Science, but when actual science kept leading back to God, even that couldn’t be the standard for truth any longer. Now truth is a relative term individualized by each person.

For example:

The truth of the Bible tells us that God made humanity male and female: man and woman.

Science tells us that the DNA of a male is different then that of a female causing their makeup to be distinct.

Society tells us that you can psychologically choose to be a male, female, or nonbinary.

All I’m trying to get at today is that the Bible is no longer the standard by which people judge their lives and has become ineffective by itself in evangelism outside of the movement and work of the Holy Spirit on it and through it. To clarify, I believe the Holy Spirit is moving and working through prayer, the Bible, The local church, and circumstance to convince people of the truth. But, the idea of “the Bible says so” does not hold the weight it once did to the general public.

Another observation I’ve made is people far from God are not coming to church to find their answers. There was a time when Grandma was say, “Your life would get better if you would just go to church.” But that was 3 generations ago. The pandemic caused a hard shift in the minds of people. Those that don’t follow Christ don’t come to church. Society is no longer convinced that church is going to give them the answers they need to better their lives.

For example: There was a time when you could expect friends and family to come with you for Easter and Christmas because it was expected that Christian household would honor the Lord on these special days. The church no longer serves as an evangelistic tool for the lost but a place of equipping and sending for the saved (which was it’s original intent).

So, how do we share the good news of Jesus in a post-Christian nation? The lostness and hopelessness of our neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers are greater than ever. I don’t believe we can settle for not sharing the hope of Jesus with them because they don’t understand the truth of the Word. I also don’t think we need better sales tactics to convince people to buy the truth we’re selling. The formula God has used for centuries of drawing people close to him still works today. We will uncover four aspects of sharing the gospel that will cause our lost world to see and come to know God.‌

There are 4 major areas of necessary growth to effectively share our faith in a post-christian society. But before I jump into those I want to give you a bonus from which all others will flow.

Bonus: Learn to Walk in the Spirit

Learn to live breath and move in the Spirit.

It is the Spirit that brings of life and gives us purpose.

As we give ourselves over to the Spirit, He naturally does his work.

Galatians 5:25 ESV

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Let the Spirit guide you into ever good work.

If you were to yield to the Spirit right now, what changes would he immediately make in your life?

Learn to Love Well

Don’t Judge

Matthew 7:1–5 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Don’t get hit with the boomerang of judgment.

James 2:8–13 ESV

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

How can the guilty judge the guilty.

Romans 2:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Let God be the judge

James 4:12 ESV

12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Practice Acceptance

Learn to love people not like you.

John 4:7–9 ESV

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Learn Acceptance without Affirmation

John 4:16–19 ESV

16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

Acceptance is receiving people just as they are and not as you would have them to be.

Affirmation is “supporting (someone) by giving approval, recognition, or encouragement.”

Learn to Build Relationship

Don’t Bait and Switch

Bait and switch is a sales technic of presenting one thing and selling something else. People see right through it.

Unconditional love is not based on agendas.

Conversations have agendas.

Agendas should never determine friendships.

Care is the key to lasting friendships

Be sensitive to pain.

People identify and relate to moments of pain.

People are drawn together when then experience pain together.

Apply the gospel as often as you can.

Prayer is a great way to apply the power of the gospel to a situation.

Share the way of Christ (Biblical Truth) as an alternative to the ways of the world.

1 Peter 3:14–17 ESV

14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Learn to Live by Example

Don’t be a Hypocrite

Many view hypocrites as those that believe one way and do something else. You can believe the truth and not measure up and still not be hypocritical. Paul was not a hypocrite even though he struggled.

Romans 7:15 ESV

15 For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

Hypocrisy and Vulnerability are not the same thing.

Romans 7:24–25 ESV

24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Hypocrisy is a deceptive portrayal of one’s character and person.

Matthew 23:25–27 ESV

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

Live out your faith

2 Corinthians 4:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; 2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Let the Word of God be your final authority for all life and practice. (Bible Believers)

Let the power of the gospel be seen and evident in and through your life.

Learn to Share your Faith

Don’t Pressure

Heaven and Hell is not the choice of salvation.

Forgiveness of sin is a by-product of our relationship with God.

You don’t get forgiveness apart from the Lordship of Christ.

Receiving Christ as Lord and Savior is the choice of salvation.

You must be born again.

Invite people to join your journey of faith.

1 John 1:1–3 KJV 1900

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

The power and work of the Holy Spirit to save people in this generation and nation is just as powerful as it’s always been. If we will love people with the love of God and walk in the light of God’s truth and forgiveness, those around us will see the light and be drawn to the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The challenge is to take this journey with God to the masses as we build new and meaningful relationships with those God has placed in our path. A Christian on a journey with God will naturally light up the darkness, and people are always drawn to the light.