Reflecting on Paul’s anger over the idolatry he viewed in Athens and his resulting evangelistic sermon, John Stott pondered the question of what an appropriate motive to evangelize might be. Is it enough to simply evangelize, or is the reason why we evangelize also important? Or because of opposition, should we even attempt to evangelize (taking the approach, “if they don’t want it, I won’t force it on them”)?
How then, in the face of growing opposition to it, can Christians justify the continuance of world evangelization? The commonest answer is to point to the Great Commission, and indeed obedience to it provides a strong stimulus. Compassion is higher than obedience, however, namely love for people who do not know Jesus Christ, and who on that account are alienated, disorientated, and indeed lost. But the highest incentive of all is zeal or jealousy for the glory of Jesus Christ. God has promoted him to the supreme place of honour, in order that every knee and tongue should acknowledge his lordship. Whenever he is denied his rightful place in people’s lives, therefore, we should feel inwardly wounded, and jealous for his name. [p. 279.]
So, yes (!!) evangelize. And evangelize not out of guilt or stoic obedience or even love and compassion for the lost. Evangelize because people are not glorifying and worshipping God and you are jealous and zealous for them to worship home more than anything else. As John Piper has summarized the priority of evangelism and missions: “missions exists because worship doesn’t.”
Words of Grace 