Last Tuesday, while I was preaching at Colorado Christian University’s chapel service, I heard myself make this statement: Evangelism is worship with skin in the game.
This was not in my notes.
Yet in the moment, it struck me that we live in a Christian culture obsessed with worship songs—which is a good thing—but there are Christians around the world who focus more on singing songs that proclaim the Gospel to the lost.
Evangelism as worship
Singing worship songs is wonderful. There’s nothing like an auditorium full of believers belting out praises to Jesus!
But, if you think about it, we have nothing to lose by singing God’s praises in a room full of fellow Christians.
We won’t be mocked.
We won’t be marginalized.
We won’t be murdered.
It’s only when we declare the glory of God with songs of salvation to an unredeemed world that we risk losing something. It’s only when we evangelize that we risk persecution and, in some restricted countries, our lives.
Evangelism is a daring form worship. When we share the Gospel, we are declaring the redemptive goodness of God to those around us. We are bringing attention to a bloody cross, an empty tomb, a risen Savior, and a coming King.
Worship with skin in the game
When was the last time you risked mockery for the sake of the Gospel? When was the last time you were willing to be pushed out of a social circle for the sake of Christ?
Yes, let’s worship Jesus in our homes, in our cars, in our churches, and in our chapel services.
Let’s sing praises to God until our voices are hoarse and our arms are tired from lifting our hands in praise.
But then, let’s take it to our friends, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, family, and yes, even strangers on the street.
Taking it outside the camp
As the writer of Hebrews put it:
Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. … Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name. Hebrews 13:13,15.
Let’s take our song “outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.”
And to the Colorado Christian University student who drew this picture (which my daughter, Kailey, sent me)—well done!
Sing it and share it.
