Evangelism Today
“So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.” Romans 11:11
The other evening I was watching a video of a young Jewish girl giving her testimony about how she came to Christ. She said a couple of things I found fascinating. One was that there is a great antagonism against Christianity in the Jewish world. When explaining the root of it, she said that it had to do with their love for the Old Testament. For a Jewish person, becoming a Christian was a betrayal of their God. To convert and believe in Jesus Christ felt like a betrayal of all the Old Testament taught. I understood her comment. The Old Testament is powerful in its stories, laws, and affirmations. It captures the hearts and minds of those who give it their attention. It is not surprising that a Jew might think that becoming a Christian would require them to disparage the Old Testament, something Jews are hesitant to do.
The second fascinating thing she said was that Isaiah 53, the Messianic prophecy that seems to point clearly to Christ, is a “forbidden chapter.” The Jews consider it a chapter that should not be read. They do not read it or talk about it. The rabbis discourage people from examining it. It is simply ignored.
The young woman shared how she felt a growing spiritual hunger in her life and a great discontentment with what she had been taught. In the midst of her spiritual struggle, she decided to read Isaiah 53. As soon as she read it, she realized that it pointed to Jesus Christ. Her eyes began to be opened, and she started a quest to learn about Jesus that would lead to her conversion. She now works in a ministry that shares the gospel with Jewish young people. I found her story compelling. She noted how the rabbis and religious leaders keep a tight rein on the information most Jews consume. Her hopes were that the internet will open new opportunities for more Jews to consider Jesus as the fulfillment of their ancient faith.
We are reminded in the scriptures that, with God, all things are possible. We should pray for new inroads among the Jewish people. Perhaps the struggles they currently face will be the occasion for more open conversations about Jesus.
In last week’s sermon, I noted that the Protestant Reformation reinvigorated evangelism because it gave people good news to share. The good news was the possibility of authentic faith that resulted in real peace and assurance. That got me thinking about the good news we have to share with our culture today. Is there any message that our world today would receive gladly? I fear that the message our culture needs to hear is not a happy one of salvation, though salvation is a glorious thing. I’m afraid it rather needs to hear a word of warning. God judges nations, and his justice does not sleep forever. We cannot turn away from God forever without experiencing his judgment. And as the scriptures say, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).
It is said that loneliness is one of the great crises in the world today. Perhaps this is a place we can share good news. To be in relationship with the living God and a member of the people of God is a great answer to the problem of loneliness.