One of the blessings of the Christmas season is we get to spend extended time with our family (this can also present challenges and frustrations). Christmas is also a time when many people are open to discussing and considering spiritual matters. The combination of extended time with family and a spiritual openness may produce opportunities for evangelism.
Grace is an essential ingredient in evangelism, particularly with those we are closest to.
We are a people who have been saved by God’s grace. We have not done anything to contribute to our salvation. God would have been just to condemn all of humanity to hell. But, He chose to lovingly and graciously rescue a people for Himself from sin and death. If God did not love us first, we would not have loved Him (1 John 4:19). We were unlovable rebellious sinners, yet God graciously poured out His love and grace to us.
As we spend time with non-Christian family members this Christmas season, we must continually remind ourselves of the reality of God’s love and grace. He loved us despite our sinfulness. These truths will empower us to love our family members even when they may not deserve it. In his book Bringing the Gospel Home, Randy Newman says this:
“Expecting our unsaved relative to initiate love toward us as a prerequisite to our showing love to them displays the exact opposite of the gospel.” (Newman, 109)
The gospel empowers us to love as Christ has loved us. Furthermore, displaying love even when someone does not deserve it paints a picture of the gospel to our loved ones.
As we remind ourselves of God’s glorious grace, we are also compelled to exhibit humility as we interact with family. Once again, we have not saved ourselves from our sin. The Father sent the Son to humbly sacrifice Himself on the cross, be buried, and rise from the grave. The Holy Spirit opened our eyes to the truth of who Jesus is to reconcile us to the Father. God accomplished redemption for us, all we brought to the table was our sin. Therefore, we ought not act self-righteously as the elder brother in Luke 15. This includes both our words and actions. As we have opportunities to both serve and have spiritual conversations with our loved ones, we must do so with humility.
“As we bring the gospel home to our family, we dare not do so as a self-righteous older brother. Even if our family members are out squandering their inheritance with prostitutes or wallowing in the mud with pigs, if we’re pointing to our record of good behavior while condemning their wicked ways, it will be some message other than the gospel that they hear. They would be wise to reject such a message.” (Newman, 62-63)
May our displaying and declaring of the gospel this Christmas season be characterized by grace. May God’s glorious grace in the gospel compel us to humbly, patiently, graciously, and lovingly show and share the greatest news of all time.
Written by Jonathan Mitchell