From Rick Richardson’s Reimagining Evangelism:
People often say to me some version of the following: “I don’t like to push things on people if they don’t want them. I’m kind of introverted, I’m not good at arguing with people, I avoid conflict, and I hate awkwardness in relationships. So evangelism is not for me. I feel guilty that I don’t share my faith. But I feel inadequate, shut down and even inauthentic about becoming an extroverted crusader for God.”1
1. Rick Richardson, Reimagining Evangelism: Inviting Friends on a Spiritual Journey (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2006), 18.
Yes, I greatly relate to these feelings, and I look forward to reading the manuscript of your sermon on this issue if I can. My biggest “excuse” is “ongoing relationships.” There are a couple of lawyers in my law firm who I know are not Christians. Yet, I am going to have to work with them for many more years. I substantially hesitate to “sour the relationship” by challenging them. Of course their salvation is more important, but nonetheless I have not been able to overcome that hesitation. (Also, I imagine the firm would not look too favorably upon such proselytizing, so keeping my job is also a consideration.) Anyway, I am not trying to “justify” myself–I simply don’t know what the best way to proceed is in such a situation.