When We Decide Evangelism Isn’t For Us To Do Series

OPTIONAL? Many Christians do not see evangelism as a responsibility.

- Ezekiel 33:1-11; Matthew 28:16-20.

- [Unpack the responsibility to share but not the “blood on our hands” part.]

- Unpack the passage and the responsibility that is put on the watchman. Explain the watchman analogy in that context and how it applies to the spiritual work of the prophets.

- Now, it’s important that we read this in context. This is originally given to Ezekiel and the prophets of his day in commanding them to share what God is giving them to share. That was a specific call to them in that day.

The passage, though, is applicable to more than just the prophets of that day. I think, in particular, that it has application to Christians today and the responsibility that we have to share the gospel with those around us.

- I want to get into various aspects of this idea but I want to start with the most fundamental: evangelism is not merely an opportunity for us as Christians, it is a responsibility.

- The most obvious passage is Matthew 28:16-20, which is the Great Commission. Look it up and unpack it.

- We are all called to share the Good News with the world.

- Often we try to delegate that to the preacher or to evangelists, but it is a call that is on all of us.

- Now, that doesn’t mean that all of us are called to be confrontational evangelists but we are all called to be watchmen in one way or another, warning others of the danger to come.

- Which leads us to our next question.

THE ROAD TO HELL: Do we actually believe there is danger ahead for the lost?

- Ezekiel 33:1-11.

- Let’s start with a simple question: do we believe in hell? Yes, we do.

- Now, the specifics of what hell is and isn’t is a fascinating Biblical study, but let’s just focus on some of the biggest, most obvious truths: it is separation from God, it is separation from love, it is separation from loved ones.

It is, undeniably, a horrible reality.

- Do we believe in hell? Yes, we do. We know that's the right theological answer. But at a more practical level, when you look at the way we actually live our lives, I’m not sure we do. There is a lot of evidence that we don’t really believe in it. The greatest evidence is our lack of evangelism.

- You can often tell more about what someone actually believes in their actions than in their words.

- If a husband says he loves his wife but spends everything evening away from home, you’ve got to question what he’s saying. His actions speak to a different reality.

- If a woman says she loves running but she hasn’t done a 5K in years, you’ve got to question what she’s saying. Her actions speak to a different reality.

- We say souls have an eternal value but our actions speak to a different reality.

- We say there is such a place as hell but our actions speak to a different reality.

- We say we want people to know Jesus but our actions speak to a different reality.

- We say that God’s judgment is forever but our actions speak to a different reality.

- We need to ponder what our actions say about our actual beliefs about hell.

- There is danger ahead. We should live in that reality.

- Interestingly, though, this passage doesn’t simply point us to the danger of what’s ahead for the non-Christian but also the danger of what’s ahead for the Christian. This is the biggest point of this passage and one that we need to consider.

WORTH PONDERING: What does God mean when He says that the watchman’s “blood will be on his own head”?

- Ezekiel 33:1-11.

- Let’s start with the most basic level of interpretation here. It obviously means that the watchman will be guilty and the guilt will be his own fault.

- He was assigned a job. It was an important responsibility and he was expected to fulfill his call. If he doesn’t do that, the guilt that comes with that failure squarely belongs to him and not someone else.

- What is less clear for the original Israeli watchman is what the punishment would have been. I don’t think it means that he would be killed for his failure but presumably there would be some punishment. Demotion? Flogging? Dishonorable discharge? Expulsion? I don’t know but there would be something there.

- This leads us then to the modern application to evangelism. What do we do with this idea there?

- The first thing that I think we can take off the table is loss of salvation. That clearly is not justified for a host of theological reasons, not the least of which is that our salvation is not earned or kept by our works.