By: Casey Zachary

I finished up Margaret Feinberg’s book, The Organic God a few weeks ago.

It is a quick and pleasant read.

One of the many points that made me raise my eyebrows and think was her discussion on personal evangelism and the struggle that it sometimes is for her. Discussions degenerate into debates that inevitably devolve into downright disputes over how domineering and disharmonious disciples of Christ can be.

She writes about a simple method another Christian man uses when talking with unbelievers (or even dissatisfied/disgruntled believers or happily content believers…really it is an outstanding question for anyone). He frames the dialogue with the question, “What do you love about Jesus?”

I found that question to be rather refreshing. Rather freeing.

If I asked that question in the context of evangelism, I’d actually listen to the person instead of frantically trying to put together a rebuttal for any reason they throw at me as to why they are not Christians.

Perhaps this is simplistic, but I think that is the point. Too often, in my mind I complicate things, approaching personal evangelism with the understanding that an unbeliever needs me to remove every doubt that hinders them from coming to Christ.

At times I make my words, ideas, and perceptions, albeit about Christ, more primary than the person and work of Christ himself!!! Other times I shrink back from the responsibility and opportunity to share Christ at all. In regards to personal evangelism, what should be a liberating and exciting activity for me is too often a paralyzing and frustrating one.

Just because someone is a missionary doesn’t mean their default is to boldly proclaim the Gospel to every single individual they meet. While sharing one’s faith cross-culturally is often tedious and wrought with complications, at times, it is easier to do that than to witness in one’s own cultural context. Sometimes it is easier to share the good news with people from the opposite end of the cultural or economic spectrum than it is with your own neighbor.

God didn’t promise that evangelism would be easy or that it would always be effective. But he does promise to be with us every step of the way.

But if we are going to ask the question, we certainly better be prepared to answer it. So how would you answer it?

What do you love about Jesus?