The Enemies of Evangelism

The greatest obstacles to evangelism are rarely a lack of resources, training, or opportunities. More often, they are internal, spiritual barriers, quiet enough to go unrecognized and, precisely for that reason, harder to overcome. In general, they can be grouped into three families: fear, pride, and neglect. Each produces its own symptoms.

From fear come silence in the face of clear opportunities, the complacent ignorance of those who avoid preparing so as not to have to act, and frustration when results fail to appear as expected. From pride come activism, which replaces dependence on God with a packed agenda; a message emptied of the cross because it seems too offensive; and legalism, which trades grace for rules. From neglect come the spiritual unpreparedness of those who fail to cultivate their own devotional life, the individualism that leads to isolation rather than mutual support, and poor conduct that contradicts in practice what the lips proclaim. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12). Recognizing this spiritual dimension keeps us from treating every obstacle as merely a personal flaw of character.

Scripture offers a specific answer for each of these families. Fear is confronted through practical obedience and love, which drives out dread, one step at a time. Pride is countered by grace, which dismantles any claim to self-merit. Neglect is overcome through a simple, sustainable spiritual discipline. Perfection is not demanded of the messenger, for no one attains it. What is demanded is integrity: a life marked by ongoing repentance before God, not a flawless life free of visible failures.

Beyond these internal barriers, there is also external rejection, which likewise needs to be understood clearly. Ultimately, rejection of the gospel passes through the messenger but does not stop there. It reaches Christ and arrives at the very Father who sent him. That reality should ease, not increase, the emotional weight carried by the one who is rejected while proclaiming the gospel.

In the face of resistance, listening tends to produce more fruit than pressing on with an ever longer, more defensive speech. It is also important to remember that faith has the value of the object on which it rests. Sincerity, by itself, does not turn something false into something true. That is why, when answering objections, it is not enough to affirm the sincerity of the one who disagrees. It is necessary to point to the truth of Christ.

Six objections come up frequently and deserve advance preparation: suffering in the world, the exclusivity of Christ, the reliability of the Bible, the hypocrisy of well-known Christians, the supposed incompatibility between science and faith, and the fate of those who have never heard the gospel. The question of suffering, in particular, often arises out of real personal pain rather than merely rational doubt. For that reason, it should be received as such, with compassion before any argument. Apologetics can remove obstacles, but it never replaces the gospel itself as the content of the message.

It is important, then, to identify which of the three families — fear, pride, or neglect — most hinders you from evangelizing today, and to name honestly the specific obstacle within it. If it is fear, choose one concrete person and pray for them until your love for that person outweighs your fear of rejection. If it is activism disguised as zeal, drop one secondary ministry commitment and put a time of prayer in its place. And choose the objection you most dread hearing in a conversation. Write out an answer in five simple sentences — not to memorize a speech, but to be prepared when that question finally comes.