Communicating with the Unchurched

The reason it is important to grow in our effectiveness as communicators is so that we will not be as intimidated in sharing our faith with others. Knowing what we are talking about, and having confidence in how we are communicating that message is a huge benefit for us when dialoguing with others about Jesus.

Charles Spurgeon said, “We must school and train ourselves to deal personally with the unconverted. We must not excuse ourselves, but force ourselves to the irksome task until it becomes easy.” The reason we are to not excuse ourselves from training ourselves to communicate with the unconverted is because once we put in the time to train ourselves, it will become easy for us! 

In addition to this, another reason we should strive to be effective in our communication, is so that those we do share the gospel with will want to listen to what we have to say; and in turn they will in most cases take us more seriously. This is something I have personally experienced in my own life when interacting with others about Jesus.

Being an effective communicator was no doubt the heart behind these following words that Paul spoke to the Colossians, when he was instructing them on doing the work of an evangelist. When talking about the subject of being an effective communicator of the gospel, Paul requested prayer, “that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest (or clearly known), as I ought to speak” (Colossians 4:3-4).

Paul then explains to them what effective communication looks like practically, when we share our faith with the unchurched. He says, "Walk in wisdom towards those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Colossians 4:5-6). When we are witnessing to the lost, it is crucial that we are walking in wisdom, redeeming the time, being gracious in our conversations at all times, and seasoning our words with salt.

These are the things we want to be focused on, if we want to be effective in the way we communicate with the lost. In fact, when we read through God’s Word we see that the way we communicate with others is incredibly important to God. When we read through the pages of Scripture, we soon realize that God has actually given us boundary markers for communicating with one another, and with the unchurched.

The Apostle Paul would give instructions to Timothy by saying, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26). These are really the boundary markers of communication for all believers everywhere, and when we follow these instructions, God will bless our conversations.

Paul tells Timothy that as a servant of the Lord, he must not be quarrelsome with others, but gentle, able to teach them, with patience, and in humility. This is how we effectively communicate the gospel with others. This is the type of communication that God will bless, whether we see the results or not.

In closing, I would like to add that there will be many times where it will not matter how effective your communication skills are, how gentle you speak, or how humbly you engage with others; there will always be people who will resist your efforts to reach them with the gospel. However, you cannot allow this to impede your efforts. The Bible tells us that even when you are, “... reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14). 

Therefore, when you share your faith with the lost, you are glorifying God in your life; so keep fighting the good fight, and trust God to bring others to water the seeds that you have planted. Now get to work, and start practicing and committing to memory those things that God would have you say to the lost.

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