This is a big problem for some Christians. We want to fit in, just like the rest of humanity. We are afraid of being rejected and persecuted. I tell you the truth, Jesus has a great reward for Christians who are persecuted as a result of trying to lead someone into the Truth. That �Truth� is letting them know that they are sinners and that Jesus died on the cross for their sins. You see, people do not want to reveal their weaknesses. This is what we are doing when we try to spread the Word to others who are unbelieving. We don�t want to �offend� anybody. God�s plan for the salvation of humankind is offensive to the unbeliever. They don�t want to hear it. They don�t want to hear how weak they are. They don�t want to hear how pitiful or sinful they are. They don�t want to hear anything that lies along these lines. You see, we are brought up to be full of pride. Brought up to fight our weaknesses in our own strength. Any weakness is considered �bad� or �exposing�. The unbeliever wants to hear that they are just fine the way they are. They want positive reinforcement, not criticism. When we witness to others, in essence, we are criticizing the unbeliever and targeting their faults. This is how they see it. So, what are we to do?

Let me say this�the unbeliever doesn�t have a problem with you. They have a problem with God. They have a problem with Jesus. It�s not you. You see, even the prophets were rejected and persecuted. Even Paul, who wrote most of the letters of the New Testament, was rejected to the point of him being beaten. Now, when you witness, you are not being �beaten�. All you are doing is what God wants you to do. So, who�s opinion and favor would you like better? God�s or Unbelievers? Don�t let Satan hinder you from witnessing to others. This is another HUGE plan of his. He doesn�t want anyone to know the �Truth� or the �Word� or the �Gospel of Jesus Christ�. Actually, this is the last thing he wants us to do, besides loving, forgiving, having mercy, and serving others. You see, pure love, forgiveness, mercy, and serving comes from the Holy Spirit. Don�t let Satan take over your mind in any area of life, especially in the area of witnessing. In witnessing, you are, in actuality, loving and serving others whether or not they know it or like it.

My born again uncle has put an image into my head. He has no problem with witnessing to others. None whatsoever. I asked him, �Hey Rick, how in the world do you gather up the courage to witness to others?� He simply stated, �Mike, it�s just like jumping into a cold swimming pool. You just go and do it and get it over with.� Simple, yet very true. You know that the water is freezing, yet you take that jump into the water anyway. You must say to yourself, �I am still going to live after jumping in. I�m not going to drown (be beaten). I may freeze (be persecuted), but I know it�s all for the Glory of God.� You see, many times, we hesitate to jump in the pool. We wait for a few minutes, and sometimes we don�t even go in at all. We may even put our foot or hand in to �feel out� the water. JUST JUMP IN! The faster you act on it, the greater chance of you not hesitating, which in turn leads to you witnessing, which in turn leads you into the chance of being persecuted, which in turn leads to a REWARD from the Lord Jesus Himself! Your citizenship is not of this world. It is of Heaven. Of course we are going to be persecuted because humankind does not know our new life. We are strangers in a foreign land. The more strange we are, the better the reward. Don�t be an �average� Christian. Anymore, we can�t tell the difference between Christians and non-Christians. Get out there and witness! Jump in that pool!

One minor detail. We are not out to �force� the Gospel of Jesus Christ down people�s throats. There is a difference between �forcing� and �loving�. We want to do this in a loving manner. Be a fanatic, but be a fanatic in a loving manner. We don�t want to turn people off. We want to guide them, love them, and serve them just as Jesus did while He was here on this earth 2,000 years ago.