We have a PR problem! 

As a believer, you are called to influence the world for Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16; Matthew 18:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20). We have a powerful message which transforms people’s lives and so we should naturally be reaching out to the people around us; showing them the love and goodness of God. It’s all about sharing with others what we’ve received from the Lord.

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
Romans 2:4 (NKJV)
 
A lot of believers have taken our message which is supposed to be good news and is supposed to bring great joy, and they’ve presented it in a way that puts people off rather than attracts them. A lot of believers wrongly use fear, condemnation, guilt, and shame to try and witness to others. Their harsh, judgemental, and unloving approach has misrepresented God and caused people to reject Him. But these people haven’t really rejected God; they’ve rejected the marketing of God.  The church doesn’t have a product problem (we have a powerful, life-transforming message and a generous, loving Heavenly Father), we have a PR or marketing problem! It’s the goodness of God that leads people to repentance (to accepting the gift of salvation). When witnessing to others we need to focus on the goodness of God towards them.

“… (God) has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NKJV
 
Our ministry is one of reconciliation; that means “the restoration of friendly relations”. Our message is good news and one of reconciliation. We’re representing Christ and that means that we need to say and act in a way that He would, and He isn’t holding men’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19) and has already extended friendly relations towards them. God’s not mad nor is He angry. Sadly, many have represented Him as angry, mean, and judgmental when in reality God is in a good mood. The thing is that you cannot correctly represent someone you don’t really know. Too many believers don’t know the true nature of God; that He is good, that He is love and that He isn’t holding anything against us.

“5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time…”
Colossians 4:5 (KJV)
 
Eternity is forever and our time here on earth is short. This verse is stressing the need for us to make the most of the time that we have with regard to our witness for the Lord. We need to “walk in wisdom toward” unbelievers. If we fail to be wise in the way in the way we relate to those around us we could end up burning bridges with people and losing opportunities to influence them for the Lord.

Much love,
Shayne