Why do we do what we do – evangelism?   Is it our attempt to be obedient, or should it be driven by a more noble reason – love?   To reach out to the unbeliever – to build relationships with non-Christians for the sole purpose of bringing them into the fold might just carry with it a vibe they detect.  They don’t want to be another notch on our gun.  But who doesn’t want to be loved?   To just care about them because that’s exactly what Jesus did, coule possibly be the missing ingredient in why unbelievers don’t respond to the church like they did to Jesus.

Jesus ate with sinners, possibly stayed over the night with them and yet maybe they never did convert over.  Or if they did, it was much later, after Pentecost and His ascension.    But whether they do or don’t isn’t really the point – because NO ONE knows the heart or can see the outcome of our influence in their lives if we just love them and have a genuine relationship with them.

We must look beyond the here and now and realize that the love of God transcends our witnessing techniques and only when we truly love sinners the way Jesus loved and loves them now – are we sowing the love and grace of God into their lives that becomes the field that we or another may reap in God’s timing.

There is no substitute for just caring and being a friend for no other reason than we would want such a friend ourselves.

Pastor Keith