Joyful Through and Through, In and Out!!!!

Many people I know believe that we must be nice to unbelievers so they will like us and then they will like Jesus because they like us.

I questioned this a few years ago when this thinking was becoming popular, prayed about it and here is what God gave me from His word.

1 Corinthians 15:13 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.”


And Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD."

It was interesting to me that the brothers who loved this "lifestyle" evangelism were friendly to the unbeliever and mean to those believers that disagreed with them. So where was their friendliness toward the brethren?

1 John 3:13-14 "…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. "

The reason I questioned this style of non-evangelism through a lifestyle, was because the people I knew who were practicing it tended to be ashamed to mention the name of Christ for fear of being seen as weird and losing ungodly friends. They wanted to be liked by the world rather than caring about pleasing Christ.
It was their excuse to remain silent to avoid rejection.

There were some people who believed this "lifestyle" evangelism was right because its what the "preachers" were telling them. They had a sense of false guilt if they were bolder about the gospel. After all, if someone became angry with us it was our fault for making them angry.

I have seen entire rooms of people defend the wicked man when a truth tellers calls them out on their wickedness as though the truth teller was evil for making the wicked man feel bad about himself.

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

We live in a culture now that believes no one should feel bad about themselves. Sadly knowing we are sinful and in need of a Savior is what brings the broken hearted person to salvation through trusting Christ.

Matthew 5:3-5 "3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.…"

Thankfully when we have confessed our sinfulness we no longer remain mournful but become joyful through and through, in and out.