Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2014

Cedarville Magazine 251 N. Main St., Cedarville, OH 45314 1-888-CEDARVILLE | magazine@cedarville.edu cedarville.edu/magazine Boldness and evangelism go together. So do love and evangelism, compassion and evangelism, prayer and evangelism, winsomeness and evangelism. Years ago I taught a course on evangelism at Cedarville College. As an itinerant evangelist, I would return home from revival meetings in churches and teach students this important course. I thoroughly enjoyed the time with those special young people. Early in the class I would take a survey related to one question: “Why does the average Christian not share his or her relationshipwith Christ with others?”The answer I received the most was “fear.” We are afraid someone will ask us a question we cannot answer. We fear what people might think of us. We fear that such a personal question might put a strain on an important relationship. Ultimately, we fear failure. What if we don’t get it right? What if we let God down? Even as a seasoned ministry veteran of more than 50 years, I share these fears. I’m guessing you do as well. For many people, this fear is related to our inner “wiring” and the personality God has instilled within us. Some people are naturally outgoing and find one- on-one witnessing easier —never easy — but easier. Or, some people might be so shy and timid that they struggle with any in-depth conversation. Boldness can help us overcome fear. Yet, as the New Testament writers teach us, boldness is never brashness, but rather confidence and courage. Charles Haddon Spurgeon helps us with this balance when he says there must be in our hearts a great deal of tenderness; I like a man to have a divine amount of holy boldness but not impudent. Boldness or confidence begins with an understanding of who God is and a reliance onHim.The writer of Proverbs counsels, “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (Prov. 29:25). We sow, others may water, but He provides the increase (1 Cor. 3:7). God does it! This great truth takes the pressure off of us. Someone once said, “Do not count the sheaves you have harvested but the seeds you have sown.” This reliance on God underscores the importance of our boldness in prayer as we share in this marvelous effort. Jesus instructed His disciples in Mark 9:29 that the power of Satan can only be overcome by prayer. We can’t do it. He can and will. On our own we are inept, incapable, and insufficient. Yet, I stand amazed that He has chosen to use us as His instruments in any manner in this grand endeavor. It is His Word—His Gospel — that His Spirit uses. Our confidence rests not in our abilities or our personality or our grasp of any evangelistic method. Boldness enables us to overcome our fears as we understand we are the conduits of the glorious message of the Gospel. He has equipped us — wired us to be who we are — andHe wants to use us inHis very own special way. He will bring both strangers and friends across our paths where we can be a part of His plans — not ours — His! For ultimately, our boldness rests fully in His faithfulness. Paul Dixon ser ves as Chancellor of Cedarville University, after having served as President from 1978 until 2003. He earned his M.Div. from Temple Baptist Theological Seminary and his Ed.D. from the University of Cincinnati. 30 | Cedarville Magazine Boldness in Evangelism In Closing by Paul Dixon