WHY THEY DON'T LISTEN

When we share the gospel with others, we are often met with doubt and disagreement. It may be from visitors, friends, or representatives of other religious groups. The Bible tells us that this is to be expected. The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 compares this situation to seed that has fallen by the wayside (Matthew 13:19, Luke 8:12), where the Word is shared, but the belief is not given any time to grow. We should not immediately give up when this happens. Even Paul, who identified himself as the chief of sinners, who persecuted and jailed Christians, was able to be taught the Gospel and become an apostle. We are told to teach all people (Matthew 28:19-20) and to teach, we must first understand. We must understand not only what the Bible teaches, but also who we are teaching.

Many people today will claim that they have already had knowledge of the Bible but simply refuse to believe it. Do they really? The definition of Christianity has become very ambiguous to non-believers as there are numerous denominations that each has its own definition of living according to God’s will. We cannot assume that everything they have heard is scripturally sound. As Christians, we are told to beware of false teachers (Matthew 7:15), just as the Bereans did in Acts 17:11. However, non-believers will not search the Scriptures and test their teachers. In some cases, their misunderstanding of the Bible will cause them to reject what is true. Therefore, we should clarify what their understanding of the Bible is before attempting to build on what they know. In the best-case scenario, we would be the first person to teach them about the Gospel, allowing us to shape their views according to what the Bible teaches. Hence, we should take the initiative to evangelise early. 

Rejection of the gospel can manifest in different ways. Some people will directly tell us that they do not want to accept what we teach. Others, especially close friends, may remain silent or try to disagree politely to maintain the relationship. In such cases, it is important for us to uncover their reasons for doing so. The Bible gives us some reasons for people to refuse to obey or believe the gospel. One of them is the cost of discipleship. In Mark 10, we read of the rich young ruler who was unable to give up his possessions to follow Jesus. Today, non-believers may struggle to give up their time to serve God, their pride, and their practices. Such practices are not limited to only sinful acts done out of personal enjoyment but also traditions that contradict what the Bible teaches. Most cultural practices are closely tied to legends and ancient folktales. Some of these actions that may seem harmless may symbolise ideas that are not supported by the Bible, such as chasing prosperity and warding off evil spirits. As such practices are taught to individuals from a young age, they may find it difficult to give them up, especially if their families are doing the same. 

Another barrier that we may face when teaching a non-believer is stubbornness. This also stems from values that are developed from a young age. We see this problem in the Old Testament in Judges 2:19 and also in the New Testament in Acts 26:28. In order to triumph over a hard heart, we must devote our time and express care. 

In conclusion, to teach the Gospel effectively, we must understand who we are teaching and how we should handle our approach with them. Everybody has different needs and different obstacles in becoming a Christian. We cannot use the same method to teach everybody. We must adapt and personalise every prospect’s learning. Most importantly, we should never lose hope in somebody. We are instructed to share the Gospel with all people. 

Ask Yourself: 

1. Who is someone you know but have not shared the Gospel with? What steps should be taken to initiate the sharing? 

2. How were you taught the Gospel? In what way can this be applied in your approach to teaching others? 

3. Who are some characters in the Bible who were very successful in teaching God’s word? What methods did they use to reach the hearts of people? 

Suggested Answers:

1. Gradually, direct conversations towards religion (but do not do this every time), share some of the church’s resources (Outreach bulletin, Motivating Monday, Tuesday Tips etc.)

2. Include the history of God’s people to develop an understanding of God’s character (love, justice, mercy), answer questions from the Bible with context, talk about how the church began, why we have certain practices, and the importance of applying Biblical principles 

3. Jesus (showing love, building on foreknowledge (in the case of Jews), quoting Scripture with understanding), the Apostles (demonstrating faith in difficult times, giving their all for God)