Abstract
Evans Linda Shepherd, Fay William, and Fay Bill’s book Share Jesus without Fear is the subject of this brief review. If one is looking to learn how to communicate their religion with non-believers and non-Christian acquaintances effectively, this book is for you.
At first glance, I noted that the author’s concept of evangelism was similar to those offered in other books or academic publications, revealing what it was—and was not—to be an evangelical. According to Will McRaney, in his book, “The Science and the Art of Personal Evangelism,” the purpose of our efforts is to bring the Holy Spirit into people’s lives rather than to try to convert them on our own.[1] Another way that Shepherd and colleagues underlines this is by often saying that “we are not accountable for the cause of a person’s heart to turn toward God.”[2] Successful evangelism is not about us “winning someone to Christ,” as this book made very obvious. It is all about following God’s instructions in the Bible and telling others about our religion. To bring souls to Christ, we must fulfill Christ’s charge to share Christ with all countries (John 6:44).[3] When we obey, we succeed in our endeavors.
As the book points out, the Holy Spirit’s work, not ours, is to bring others to faith in Christ. Therefore we should not be hesitant to share our faith with others. From a baby in Christ to a Bible expert, anyone may be used by God. Regardless of our circumstances, we must be prepared to communicate our religion. The Holy Spirit can only bring about the harvest of salvation if we first undertake the plowing of someone’s heart and then have someone else water it. The author reminds us that “silence” is a sin in this text.[4] It is possible to share Jesus with others successfully, and this book explains how to do so while also preparing us to cope honestly with the occasions when someone may or may not react to our efforts.
Finally, the book focuses on a crucial aspect of evangelism. We cannot disciple somebody with whom we do not have a relationship. “It is impossible to create followers from afar.”[5] It is suggested in this book that we reach out to individuals outside of our circle of friends and acquaintances.
Concrete Response
While reading the book Share Jesus without Fear, I was struck by the statement, “There are only two types of people reading this book: those who speak about the lost and those who talk to the lost.”[6] This statement struck a chord with me.
I can recall a point in my life when I was the first one to say anything. As a new Christian who believed me to be wholly virtuous and sinless, I expressed concern for others who had not yet been converted. I recall “gossiping” to other saved friends about folks who had plainly shown that they were living for the world rather than according to the word of God, and I regret doing so. The remarks I would say were things like, “don’t they understand they are going to hell?” and “how can a person behave in such a way?”
The more I read my Bible and spent time living life as a Christian – attempting to do what is right and failing at times – the more I realized that I needed to confess my sins and repent. I had to beg God to forgive me for all the times I had condemned another person for being at a similar stage of their life to where I had been at one point in my life. I’ve come to recognize that I needed a personal contact with Christ before I could be redeemed. I believe that someone else deserves to have that opportunity without fear of my attitude or judgment coming in the way. I’m now praying for people who have gone astray. People striving to find their way in this wild world are lifted to the Lord in prayer. I pray that God will protect those who do not or will not seek His face. That is something I needed while I was lost, but now that I have been located, I must aid in leading someone else out rather than causing them difficulty by refusing to provide instructions.
Reflection
After finishing Share Jesus without Fear, I noticed that it preferred a variety of different publications on the subject of evangelism. While I appreciated the wealth of material included in this book, I did write down a few issues or concerns that I would like to address here.
First, I thought that all of the situations provided in this book concerning converting someone to Christ seemed to “happen” much too effortlessly. The conversion tales provided as examples were so quick and seamless that I had difficulty accepting them as entirely genuine. While I am aware that the Holy Spirit may redeem someone instantaneously or convert someone in the twinkling of an eye (as Apostle Paul demonstrated), I thought there were not enough challenging situations offered to reflect the realistic expectation that not everyone would be easy to approach or speak with. Even the scenarios in the book that were intended to illustrate probable objections or adverse reactions went through much more quickly than what we would encounter in the modern world.
Another point of contention was the comment, “I feel you should not spend time presenting the gospel at work.” Again, I appreciate the author’s rationale for not utilizing business time for personal matters. Still, I felt as if this limited the Holy Spirit’s ability to intervene at any given moment, even if at work. For instance, the author advised discussing the five questions and organizing a follow-up lunch appointment or subsequent contact. This, however, contradicts other passages in the Bible, which urge us to present Christ to someone as soon as possible, rather than waiting, since we never know what tomorrow – or the following few hours – may bring.
Just as D.L. Moody delivered his presentation but did not provide the audience the option to seek salvation, and the building burnt down, what if we show Christ to someone at work but prevent them from making the decision they need to make in that time due to “man-made regulations”? They may leave work and be involved in a vehicle accident before we contact them. I would stress, however, that despite these reservations, I enjoyed the book and will undoubtedly refer to it in the future.
Action
After reading the book Share Jesus Without Fear on Evangelism Small Group Study, I have been inspired to do or think about three things. After reading this book, I am thinking about starting a small group study on evangelism at my church. So much helpful information for Christians, and it must be utilized for others to develop in their faith. I have seen that there aren’t many effective evangelistic initiatives in the churches around me. I hope to open the door for many people to learn more about how to successfully evangelize as a part of their Christian discipleship by bringing this matter up with my pastor. Educating ourselves on why and how to evangelize is critical, in my view, at this point in our lives. The author also included examples with scripture on how to evangelize “on the spot” and how to reply to any objections, so I do not think this would be difficult to discuss.
The book said that if we do not reach out to non-Christians, we break God’s law. We can’t teach those we would not contact. Those who are constantly in our immediate vicinity or have a similar interest to us, such as Christ, are easier to become friends with. We have a moral obligation to interact with those we wouldn’t typically encounter in our everyday lives. I aim to utilize the conversation starters from chapter 4 of Share Jesus Without Fear and discuss with someone I don’t know who may or may not be a Christian. I would want to speak with the departed.
Learn and Rehearse Commonly Asked Questions in advance. Social media usage has shown me that many internet users are waiting for the opportunity to attack my religion when it is mentioned in a public place. To avoid seeming uneducated or irritated, I follow the Bible’s instructions in 1 Peter 3:15 on how to properly defend one’s beliefs. As a Christian, I want to be able to reply to questions about Christianity in a way that reflects the character of Jesus Christ.
Bibliography
Harris, Timothy Jesse. “Implementing a Program of Mentor Based Personal Evangelism Training at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky.” (2015).
Shepherd, Linda Evans, William Fay, and Bill Fay. Share Jesus Without Fear. B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
[1] Shepherd, Linda Evans, William Fay, and Bill Fay. Share Jesus Without Fear. B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
[2] Shepherd, Linda Evans, William Fay, and Bill Fay. Share Jesus Without Fear. B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
[3] Harris, Timothy Jesse. “Implementing a Program of Mentor Based Personal Evangelism Training at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky.” (2015).
[4] Harris, Timothy Jesse. “Implementing a Program of Mentor Based Personal Evangelism Training at Hillsdale Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky.” (2015).
[5] Shepherd, Linda Evans, William Fay, and Bill Fay. Share Jesus Without Fear. B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
[6] Shepherd, Linda Evans, William Fay, and Bill Fay. Share Jesus Without Fear. B&H Publishing Group, 1999.
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