“BUT WHEN THE APOSTLES BARNABAS AND PAUL HEARD OF THIS, THEY TORE THEIR CLOTHES AND RUSHED OUT INTO THE CROWD, SHOUTING: ‘FRIENDS, WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS? WE TOO ARE ON LY MEN, HUMAN LIKE YOU. WE ARE BRINGING YOU GOOD NEWS.” —ACTS 14:14-15, NIV
Some people might relish being worshipped, but not Paul and Barnabas. They had unwittingly stumbled into a scenario that rattled even Paul. Paul had just prayed for a lame man, who instantly began to leap and walk. When onlookers saw what happened, they began to call Paul and Barnabas Zeus and Hermes, two Greek gods.
Paul and Barnabas instinctively tore at their clothes, a Jewish re- sponse to blasphemy.
Paul ran into the multitude crying, “Why are you doing this?”
He was horrified! “We are men like you,” he shouted. And then he began to speak, instinctively, naturally, and from his heart.
He was in a tough situation, fraught with cultural and political intrigue. He could so easily have alienated the crowd, but he didn’t.
When I look at his example, I see three pieces of advice for effectively sharing your faith:
Be passionate. When Paul tore his clothes, people recognized his commitment to truth. People don’t care about what you have to say until they know how much you care. You can be quietly passionate, but the truth needs to matter to you to effectively communicate.
Build a bridge. There was no synagogue where Paul preached that day. He was out in the back country, away from his “turf” and out of his comfort zone. He was talking to people whose worldviews differed. So he built a bridge by talking about rain, crops, and the blessings of fruitful seasons. He earned their trust and their interest, and he taught them of a God who loves them and provides such beauty (Acts 14:17). Be brave. You will face opposition from the enemy when you share your faith. Expect it. You will face rejection. Don’t let it scare you. Jesus was rejected, but He pressed on. His love overcame rejection and fear.
When a group of disciples returned after being sent out by Jesus, amazed at what they witnessed and moved by the power of God, Jesus said (and I think He felt proud of them), “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven” (Luke 10: 18).
Every time a soul gets saved, a piece of Satan’s domain falls like lightning!
“What a hollow ring there is to evangelism when it does not overflow from a Christ-filled heart.” —Sherwood E. Wirt
