\u27Return home, and tell how much God has done for you.\u27 
Posting about our Christian witness­­­­­­­­ from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.
http://inallthings.org/sharing-the-gospel-well

Tintle, Nathan L.

English

Dordt College

Digital Collections @ DordtFaculty Work: Comprehensive List6-23-2016Sharing the Gospel WellNathan L. Tintlenathan.tintle@dordt.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_workPart of the Christianity CommonsThis Blog Post is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Collections @ Dordt. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Work:Comprehensive List by an authorized administrator of Digital Collections @ Dordt. For more information, please contact ingrid.mulder@dordt.edu.Recommended CitationTintle, Nathan L., "Sharing the Gospel Well" (2016). Faculty Work: Comprehensive List. Paper 522.http://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_work/522Sharing the Gospel WellAbstract"'Return home, and tell how much God has done for you.'"Posting about our Christian witness from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life,death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world.http://inallthings.org/sharing-the-gospel-well/KeywordsIn All Things, Jesus, miracles, demonology, practical theologyDisciplinesChristianityCommentsIn All Things is a publication of the Andreas Center for Reformed Scholarship and Service at Dordt College.This blog post is available at Digital Collections @ Dordt: http://digitalcollections.dordt.edu/faculty_work/522Sharing the Gospel Well inallthings.org /sharing-the-gospel-well/Nathan Tintle“Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man ofthe city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in thetombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do withme, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spiritto come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains andshackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, “What isyour name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go backinto the abyss.Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these.So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rusheddown the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then peoplecame out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demonshad gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it toldthem how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surroundingcountry of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boatand returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent himaway, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaimingthroughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.” –Luke 8:26-39I frequently wonder and think about how to share the gospel well. Aside from my most recent experiences teachingat Christian colleges, my entire life was spent attending and teaching at non-Christian schools and universities. Inthose multi-religious settings, I often felt unable to represent who I truly was for fear (real or imagined) of what otherswould think, say or do. My form of evangelism was probably best summed up by a student who, one time outside ofa class I was teaching at a large state university, said to me “There is something different about you. Are you aChristian?” I remember feeling an immediate sense of pride – “Yes, I thought. I’ve done it. I’ve been able to, withoutsaying a word about my faith and simply through my actions, demonstrate my faith!” Even before those me-centric,prideful thoughts finished traveling through my brain, the student challenged me to be more open about my faith,saying, “But, aside from me, who wasn’t even sure, how would anyone else in our class know?” And, therein, lies theparadox that I so often struggle with: In a broader world that is, always has been and always will be, hostile toChristianity, how can I best be a light when I am in situations and with people who are non-Christians?• How can I show love by inviting people to church, but not making them think that church attendance is the litmustest of salvation?• How can I show love by sharing the word of God with others, but not making them feel judged like a former non-Christian neighbor who shared the judgment he felt for mowing his lawn on Sunday when anonymous neighbors lefta Bible on his doorstop?• How can I be a light to non-Christians when I have workshops to lead, conferences to attend and professional talksto give on Sundays? Participate? Don’t?• How should I participate in conferences or write in journals which have different opinions then mine on issues likeabortion or the use of viable human embryos in genetics research?When I read Jesus miracle about healing the demon-possessed man, I typically have tended to focus on the actions1/2and words of the demons and the pigs. But, I find what happens next in the story quite interesting. After Jesus isasked to leave, the man who had been demon-possessed begs to go with Jesus, but Jesus doesn’t let him saying“Return home and tell how much God has done for you.”As I reflect on this story, and my own struggles with how best to share the gospel, I am challenged to think abouthow I can, perhaps, focus more on how I can share stories of miracles, grace and mercy that have happened to mepersonally, just as the demon-possessed man is challenged to share his own story. I believe that this will help me beable to worry less about the rules I follow (or don’t follow – 1 Corinthians 9:19), while not being ashamed of thegospel message I bear (Romans 1:16) and consistent with ultimately trusting in the Holy Spirit to do the hard workof changing hearts.2/2

Sharing the Gospel Well

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Sharing the Gospel Well

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