I once heard about a preacher who delivered a sermon on fighting the good fight and being in the Lord’s army. One of the members who was rarely involved and rarely attended was on the way out the door. The preacher asked, “Brother, are you strong in the Lord’s army?” The man replied, “Certainly.” The preacher asked, “Then why do I hardly see you?” The man looked both ways, leaned into the preacher’s ear, and whispered, “I’m in the Secret Service.”

 

 We chuckle at that story, but I’m afraid I’ve been guilty of treating evangelism like a Secret Service mission. Too many times I’ve told myself that “I don’t necessarily need to talk to people about the Lord—just as long as I quietly live the Christian life, others will see my good example and want to become a Christian too.”

 

 Please don’t misunderstand. Setting a good example and having a good influence are extremely important in our efforts to win world to Christ. “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13-16). But there comes a time when I must open up my mouth and actually SAY SOMETHING. My job as a Christian is to “proclaim” and “confess” Jesus Christ to others. “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (I Peter 2;9) “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32).

 

 I need to remember that my example alone is not evangelism. My example is merely the reason people may listen to me when I do speak to them about Christ. 

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Josh McKibben