The following article is the third in a seven-part series about the character of an evangelist from 2 Timothy 2:24-26.
The Lord’s Servant Must Be Kind To Everyone
The Apostle Paul not only tells us to “not be quarrelsome,” but he also tells us what kind of mindset we can actually cultivate so as to avoid quarrels — one of kindness. There are times when evangelizing in which a non-Christian will attempt to provoke an argument. Such conversations should not be immediately abandoned. First, an attempt should be made to defuse a hostile situation with kindness.
Last summer, I walked into a RadioShack electronics store and, seeing that there were no other customers, started to engage the store clerk in Gospel conversation. He immediately became hostile and said the only reason I believed in Jesus is that I had been brainwashed as a child. I was initially shaken by his attack, but because my objective was to declare God’s love for him, I was able to stay calm and kindly answer his objections to Christianity. This man wanted to know what biblical basis I had for claiming that Jesus is God. So, I wrote down a list of passages in the Tanakh (Old Testament) that prophesied God would come as the world’s savior in the form of a man. I also showed him the apostolic Scriptures in which Jesus was clearly identified as the savior. I gave this clerk the list of passages and a Bible. I also invited him to my church — all of which he seemed happy to receive. What started out as a tense conflict ended in peace and cordiality. If I had reacted to the clerk’s initial hostility by matching his level of aggression, my whole mission would have fallen apart.
The Apostle Peter wrote that Christians should “not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless.” The Apostle Paul wrote “bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Jesus calls us to “love your enemies and do good to those who hate you bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” Therefore, when Paul says we should be “kind to everyone,” he speaks with God’s authority when he says everyone.
As badly as I would like to see more Christians become actively involved in evangelism, I would say that some people aren’t ready. If you know you’re not ready to be kind to everyone, you’re not ready to evangelize. I say that because when you evangelize, you will be ridiculed, you will be cursed, and you will be mistreated at some point by some people. You need to decide beforehand to set aside your pride for the sake of someone else’s soul. Every Christian is capable of showing that kind of grace, but some haven’t come to the point of being willing.
1. 1 Peter 3:9
2. Romans 12:14
3. Luke 6:28
PHOTO BY Alan Light
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