Yesterday at church, we started a campaign we’re calling Acts-ion. It is simply a play on the book of Acts, which is a picture of the Acts of the Apostles. The book is a look at the left behind remnant that Jesus empowered to carry the message of His life and work. The characters almost seem super human when you look at their boldness and courage in the face of what was far from an embracing culture to the gospel.

Evangelism is something that the church knows is of the utmost importance but the least practiced. I get it too; I mean, evangelism is the most challenging part of Christianity.  I wish God would just save me and not ask me to do anything else. Especially tell someone that I may not be the most comfortable with about Him. But then I think, “I wouldn’t be saved if someone didn’t tell me.” Sharing your faith is in the core of what it means to be a Christian.

Don’t you wish sometimes that God didn’t know so much about you? There are things about me I would rather Him not see. It’s like there is no way to hide anything from Him. I guess the flip side is that He does know and yet His love and desire to use me is not diminished. That’s he crazy unexplainable love of God; I love Him today. The Lord has shown me two things about myself over the last season that quite frankly I wish I didn’t know. One, He told me that I really didn’t care about seeing lost people saved. I’m a Pastor mind you, how could I not care. Surely I didn’t hear correctly. I preach about soul winning, I clap and smile really big when somebody gets saved, I teach them after their saved about God. Come on, I could not have heard right. But when God began to expose how I lived each and every day, I had to be honest with myself and acknowledge that most of my daily effort did not involve sharing the good news of Jesus with the world around me. I was doing well at church but Christianity; well not as good as I need to.

Secondly, and even more startling, the Lord told me that I lacked courage. I think I’m a pretty engaging person, competitive and aggressive.  I just went sky diving a few months back. Yea, that’s right 14,500 feet in the air. How can I lack courage? The Lord reminded me of my moments of standing at the gas pumps and feeling the urge to say something to the person on the other side. Walking the isle at the grocery store or mall and getting this over whelming sense to say something to someone I just passed. Ooh those moments, fear races through my being. The wrestling match starts. By the time it ends the opportunity is gone and I’m left to make an excuse to make myself feel better about being afraid. My conclusion was Lord your right. Evangelism scares me and I’m not comfortable just starting a conversation with strangers. How will I be perceived, what will be their reaction? The list goes on and on and on.

I read some statistics this past week about people who die for their faith in Christ. I was blown away to learn that nearly 32 million Christians had died since the 1900’s, that in any given year approximately 164,000 Christians die. That’s nearly 450 a day, one every 31 seconds. While I’m writing this blog someone is facing certain death. A matter of fact 29 people will lose their lives taking a bold, courageous stand for Jesus before I’m done. Right now someone is being beaten, someone is screaming, a family is mourning. A house church somewhere is trying not to sing loud to stir suspicion. A knock at the door on a gathering has sent fear through all those in the house. This is happening all the while I’m afraid of what a co-worker may think, or while I stand afraid at the gas pump to say something that is certainly not to result in my physical assault.

I am resolved to break out of this fear and start looking at people while speaking to myself “You don’t scare me.” The world around us needs to see, hear, and live in relationship with God through Christ.

Let me ask you a question? Do you believe that everyone who does not know Christ needs to experience His love, forgiveness, and blessing? Do you believe that anyone who doesn’t come into an authentic relationship with God through Christ will be lost for eternity in a tormenting Hell? If you answer yes to either one or both of these questions, then I have one more. Are you willing to be stretched and challenge yourself to get past your fears and just share your faith?

Its time! Don’t let your opportunities pass. Be bold, have courage, say something- you’ll be surprised what God will do. You have been given the Holy Spirit to witness (Acts 1:8). Be one, not just one, be a loud one.

Your life is lived by what you truly believe in. Today we start to believe that, “I am on a mission to share the love of God in Christ.”

Look at your Fear and say “You Don’t Scare Me!” Win One!

Anthony Daley