Back in our Multigenerational Survey on Evangelism, we asked more than 1,600 Christians questions about sharing their faith. We asked, “What prevents you from talking about spiritual matters with other people?” Nearly a quarter of respondents said that fear kept them from sharing their faith.
The fear of sharing your faith takes many forms, but one of the biggest ones is nervousness about fielding difficult questions. Many people are so nervous about finding themselves outside their depths that they avoid sharing altogether.
But here are three things to keep in mind when it comes to fielding challenging faith questions.
1. You don’t have to know it all
As Christians, we place our trust in a God who sees all, knows all, and holds all things together. If we had the answer to every question, that faith would be unnecessary. But since we’re not God, we inevitably run into questions we don’t know the answers to. Simply accepting that should alleviate many of those worries.
Learning to be comfortable with our limitations is helpful. It protects us from making up answers that sound good at the moment but may be inaccurate or nonsensical. It might even help us avoid unhelpful arguments. It also releases us to talk about Jesus without worrying about not knowing everything.
2. It’s okay to admit you don’t know
Telling someone, “I don’t know the answer to that,” can be very helpful. It assures them that you’re not just making stuff up and are thoughtful and interested in providing the best possible answer.
It also tells them they don’t need an answer to every question before they consider following Jesus. When we admit that we don’t know, we help reaffirm that faith is about trust and not simply having all the answers.
3. Ask if you can follow up with them
When it comes to sharing your faith, it’s easy to feel like you have one shot. But that’s the great thing about questions you aren’t ready to answer. They provide an opportunity to talk about the subject again. An opportunity that the person you’re talking to may actually encourage and support.
Make sure you follow through on those questions. This can be done in many ways. You can research potential answers on your own. Invite a third party into the conversation. Or do a book study together. If they’re genuinely interested in the answer to their question, they’ll be more open to pursuing it with you.
Don’t allow worry to get in your way
Plenty of people find themselves fixating on all the worst-case scenarios related to evangelism. It’s always beneficial to remember that it’s not our knowledge or ability that causes people to follow Jesus. The Lord has allowed us to partner with Him by sharing the gospel with others; all we have to be is available. Don’t let worry get in the way of being available today.
Download the Jesus Film Project app
If you’re looking for a helpful tool for sharing your faith, check out the Jesus Film Project® app. It offers scores of full-length feature and short films that help communicate the beauty and importance of the gospel—including the JESUS film, which is available in a record number of languages. And they’re all free to watch and share.
One reviewer called it “the best world evangelism app.” Download the Jesus Film Project app for Android or Apple now!
