Go Where They Are

 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. But He needed to go through Samaria.

— John 4:3–4

 

No orthodox Jew would ever go to Galilee through Samaria. In fact, he would avoid that area altogether. It was faster and more direct to go through Samaria, but the Jews did not want to go that route because they hated the Samaritans. They already disliked the Gentiles, but in their minds, a Samaritan was even worse, because the Samaritan was essentially a Hebrew who had intermarried with others. And so the Jews wanted nothing to do with them.

So where did Jesus go? He went to the place that no other Jew would go. And who did Jesus go to? He went to a woman. Today that doesn't seem like a big deal, but in this culture, the Jewish men often looked down on women. And this woman not only was someone a religious Jew wouldn't talk to, but she was an outcast among her own people because of her multiple marriages and divorces—and the fact that she was living with a man at present.

I love that the Bible says Jesus needed to go to Samaria (see John 4:4). Why? It was because a woman who needed to hear the gospel was there. We need to go as well. We are to go whenever to whomever to wherever God directs us. Long before Earth was even created, a decision was made in eternity that Jesus Christ, God in human form, would have an appointment with a burned-out, immoral woman of Samaria and unfold the gospel to her.

We need to go to where people are. Jesus did not say that the whole world should go to church. But He did say that the church should go to the whole world. And so we need to engage people and reach them with the gospel.

An Essential of Evangelism

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.

— Colossians 4:5–6

 

Jesus, the master evangelist, used something that many Christians seriously lack today, which is tact. Tact has been defined as diplomacy, sensitivity. One definition of it is skill and grace in dealing with others. Isaac Newton defined tact as "the art of making a point without making an enemy."

There is a built-in offense to the essential message of the gospel, but we don't have to make it worse by being insensitive to people. And far too often this happens. I have watched it. You probably have too. A Christian will walk up to an unbeliever and start the conversation with something like this: "Hey, heathen. Did you know you are going to hell?" That is not the way to build a bridge.

When Jesus approached the woman at the well in Samaria, He asked her a question. He drew her out. He engaged her. Evangelism is a dialogue, not a monologue. And the best way to engage a person in a conversation is to listen. In starting a conversation, the objective is to build a bridge. That is what we want to do. Ask people about themselves. Everyone's favorite subject is themselves. And as they talk, engage them. Ask them questions. You don't have to cut people off. You don't have to contradict them. You don't have to insult them. Just listen.

Sure, there is a place for point and counterpoint. Sure, we need to defend our beliefs. But no one has ever been argued into the kingdom of God. And I have seen Christians win the argument and lose the soul. But I would rather win the soul and listen and engage and give and take. As you do this, you will know from the conversation how to respond with the gospel message. Listen patiently. And then respond appropriately.