We "just happened" to have ordered extra pizza. We "just happened" to catch our unbelieving neighbors on a sunny day while they were in their backyard working. Our neighbors "just happened" to accept our offer for pizza on our back porch. We "just happened" to pray a prayer of gratitude for the gospel in front of them before sharing a slice. We "just happened" to have a gospel conversation between our houses while watching our kids strike up a friendship. We "just happen" to now have a closer relationship with them than we have with any of our other neighbors. Our kids are best friends, and they're talking about spiritual things!
This is an actual story from the Odel home. But before I continue, please know this is not a post to brag on anyone in the Odel household. All glory (and I mean ALL GLORY) belongs to Christ alone. Let me say it again: Christ is the recipient of every ounce of honor for our experience. I share this story because it is an example of something about evangelism we learned a few years ago while reading Rico Tice's book, Honest Evangelism: How to Talk About Jesus Even When It's Tough. (Short book introduction HERE; lecture HERE.) "If you are going to talk to people about Jesus," writes Tice, "you are going to get hurt. It is going to sever some relationships. It is going to provoke people. Not every time, and depending on our circumstances, friendship groups, workplaces and so on, our experiences will vary; but we will face rejection enough of the time to give us second thoughts, because I don't know about you, but I don't like getting hurt" (p. 10).
This was a needed instructional block in our foundation, for we had to face the reality that the gospel is naturally offensive to the perishing masses (1 Cor 1:18), even among those we share a neighborhood with. But we love our neighbors and live hopeful that our gracious Father will draw many of them to Himself through His Son. This meant we weren't done learning from Rico. Providing biblical motivation for the task of sharing Jesus and His message of eternal joy, Tice taught us that "the glory of Jesus, the guarantee of the new creation, and the grim reality of death and hell" really do matter in the Christian life (p. 18). As believers of the Risen King, such staples of the faith are not only for our encouragement but for our conviction and commission. We need to do something with what we have graciously been given, namely this life-giving message of deliverance from eternal darkness.
But it's not easy. Glorious, but not easy. Some people are primed to receive the gospel (praise the Spirit for His mighty, quickening work!), but others are postured to fend it off like the plague. This is just the reality of the world in which we live. Our call and honor, however, is to live unashamed of the gospel in all spheres of life (Rom 1:16). We have the privilege of daily "walking in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time" (Col 4:5). Our speech is to remain "gracious, seasoned with salt, so that [we] may know how to answer each person" (Col 4:6).
Coming to terms with the acceptance-rejection dichotomy is very liberating. This helped my family realize that we are not able to navigate efforts of proclaiming the gospel in such a way as to avoid all those who reject it. Instead, we get to be faithful with the gospel. We get to watch God do His work. We get to enjoy a creative partnership. After all, some plant and some water, but God makes it matter (see 1 Cor 3: 5-9). Sometimes planting and watering come in the form of ordering an extra pizza and praying for an opportunity to share the gospel. Yes, we encounter differing shapes of rejection. No, we wouldn't change a thing! You will likely encounter a variety of rejection scenarios. Stand firm in the gospel, and don't seek to change a thing! The gospel is worth it! Jesus is worth it!
So, back to the opening paragraph. Our desire to be intentional with the gospel led us to be creative in getting it to our neighbors. All the "just happened" things didn't just happen. It takes work to count the cost. It's joyful and taxing to move out toward the lost for the glory of Christ's name. To this end, what a gift creativity is. There is one message of hope, but there is a world of winsome ways to place it in front of those we live life with. Who in your neighborhood do you need to creatively share the gospel with? Do the elderly folks in your neighborhood need assistance raking leaves? This could be followed by a prayer and invitation to read Scripture together. Are there folks down the street who love cars as much as you do? Talk shop with them and then talk gospel. Is there a community park where your kids can play weekly while you strike up conversations about life (and the gospel!) with other tired parents? Who in your neighborhood could use a plate of baked goods with a card of encouragement and hope? Whether they share the same side of the street with you or live down the hall in your apartment complex, there is work to be done--there is creative work to be done!
Instead of writing more, let's do something creative right now. Grab a notebook and pen. Start walking around your neighborhood jotting down names of people you know and folks you need to meet. Prayerfully ask God to help you engage them with the gospel in creative ways. Notice what fills their driveways. Take note of open garages. See walls lined with hobby accessories? Observe decor. Any crafty types around you? Make a list, pray about it, then get started--one neighbor at a time. There is no accident we occupy houses where we do. God has given us our places of residence so we might bring Him glory in our neighborhoods. What are we waiting for? The neighborhoods are white for harvest (cf. John 4:31-38).