Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:6)
Paul instructs us to speak in a manner “always full of grace,” and for good reason. The gospel is a message of love and compassion, and we have to share it in a way that demonstrates this! There’s a bigger point at work here: evangelism isn’t really about saying certain things; it’s about being a certain kind of person—one who loves Jesus and loves people. Always remember: we are not out to win arguments.
This means we have to be people who are living in the good of the gospel ourselves. When the message of the cross captures your heart with joy and amazement, then your tongue—stammering, awkward, and imperfect as it may be—won’t be far behind. As Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Evangelism will always be a burdensome duty for us as long as our view of Christianity is simply accepting certain teachings and avoiding certain behaviors. But if we realize that Christianity’s most basic concern is that Jesus Christ died and rose again so that sinners like me and you could be made whole, we’ll be filled with hope and happiness and eagerness to talk about it!
Our speech should also be “seasoned with salt” (v. 6). Salt stings and cleanses and leaves people thirsty for a drink. Our words ought to be gracious and salty at the same time. We should say just enough to leave people eager for more.
And finally, we should “know how to answer everyone” (v. 6). The call to evangelize confronts us with a choice that must be made well before we encounter any real, living people. It’s a decision we must make in our heart about how we will view and respond to the people in our lives. Here’s what I mean. You can respond to people in one of two ways: use them or serve them. If we are determined to serve them, we will share the good news. But if we are willing to use them for our own purposes, we will fear them and use them to prop up our own self-image.
The key issue here is identity. Where do I get it? If I get my identity from the gospel, I will keep sharing the message. If not, I won’t. And the cost is incalculable: we protect our pride at the cost of their soul.
Friends, evangelism doesn’t have to be so hard! Ordinary evangelism is done by ordinary Christians responding to ordinary people within ordinary conversations.
Talk to God about people. Talk to people about God. For the glory of God and the joy of all peoples.