Sharing Jesus at Home and with the Nations
I’ve cared about evangelism for as long as I can remember.
Three years or so ago, the old me wouldn’t have believed my struggle with evangelism and the number of excuses I’ve made since becoming a mom. It’s true we’re busy, and our life goes from taking care of ourselves to not looking in the mirror for an entire 6 hours while also forgetting to eat lunch again—something I never would’ve done in my pre-mommy life.
When we become moms, we start to believe the truth that God gives us more than we can handle. He doesn’t do this because he likes to watch jugglers in action and enjoys a giggle every now and then when one ball plummets to the floor and two others follow like meteors. He does it because he’s our mighty fortress, solid cornerstone, safe refuge, steady rock, and the strong tower we should rely on for strength. He’s God.
In reality, we will drop the ball. We will spill the milk, forget our child’s appointment, have a bad attitude, or put the diaper on backwards. No one is good at juggling except jugglers anyway. And so, no one is good at trying to be like God in his perfectness but him either. Yet we put these expectations on ourselves to do it all and be flawless while doing it, but no one has the capability for perfection but our Lord Jesus Christ.
It’s Not a Fairy Tale
We may even think of evangelism like the fairy tales we tell our little princes and princesses. We imagine a special place where we will meet the right person who needs to hear the gospel. They will be saved. We will become best friends who study the Bible together over coffee and blueberry scones—everything will be happily ever after!
If evangelism likens to a fairy tale, we can play the role of the knight who has shiny armor of his own and doesn’t need God almighty and his spiritual armor to help him.
Or we could be like the fairy who sprinkles fairy dust over whoever she pleases to get her desired result instead of believing God’s word is sharper than a double-edged sword and accomplishes whatever it pleases.[1] If we imagine evangelism as picturesque, we will likely put it off.
As moms, we don’t have many perfectly planned out days. We have many interruptions instead. Each time we sit down to drink our coffee someone poops or tumbles or gets into an argument with their brother, so we find ourselves heating the mug up in the microwave at least four times before noon. Or when we’re walking out the door to get big sister to her first ballet practice, little sister has a serious blowout which makes us late and a bad first impression to all.
To live a life that seeks to evangelize, we must recognize we are weak, inadequate, and unable to orchestrate the ideal scenario. We can’t change anyone’s heart either. The strength of Christ helps us obey when life seems chaotic, and God’s word—not our own—holds the power to save souls.
Moms Aren’t Exempt
Moms don’t need more of Christ’s help than non-moms, but perhaps as moms, we see our weaknesses more because they directly affect cute, little humans, and we realize that now would be a good time to have at least four arms.
When I think of the many things moms do throughout the week, I think of changing diapers, grocery shopping, laundry sorting, doctor appointments, nap time, play time, and sit-down dinners. Because these tasks speak such normality and necessity, it’s difficult to see how to make evangelism fit.
Moms, however, should still share the gospel, even though interruptions are inevitable. We must learn to welcome interruptions in our evangelism efforts. We are ambassadors for Christ and should joyfully plead with other souls to put their faith in Christ![2] Here are a few suggestions to share the gospel and develop discipleship relationships during our mommy to-do lists:
● Have someone over when we’re changing the multitudes of diapers.
● Welcome someone into our home during naptime when we feel confined.
● Show hospitality and invite someone to a family sit-down dinner.
● Meet someone new each time we go to the grocery store.
● Talk to another mom at the park when the children play.
● Get to know the nurse each time we visit the doctor.
● Make a phone call to an unbeliever while folding laundry.
● Talk to other moms at the kids’ activities or their school.
● Get to know whatever coworkers we work alongside.
Moms have the joy of sharing the gospel with others, and also the privilege of obeying God by participating in the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 says,
“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
Children as Our Disciples
We obey the Great Commission as we faithfully attend to the task of discipling our own children—a big job, for sure! But we also want to remember that the love of God for us in Christ compels us to make disciples of every nation, in whatever context this makes sense for our situation.
We see from scripture that our children are like arrows. Psalm 127:4-5 says, “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” This verse helps us understand the privilege we have to raise our children to be “like arrows” that are sent out. We hope in God to save them so that we can send them out to make disciples of all nations.
The problem exists, however, if we put all of our evangelism efforts in our own children while hoping in their future evangelism efforts, excusing ourselves from making the effort to evangelize those outside of our children, namely those of other nations. God commands us individually as moms to obey the Great Commission.
What if we cared for the souls of ALL nations? We have a necessity as Christians to both share the gospel and to share it with people of all nations.
People of all nations may stand before your eyes. Do you see them at your local grocery store? Are they at your children’s schools, your neighborhood, the international restaurant? Share with them in whatever capacity you can. You can hand them a gospel tract, have a sit down conversation, or invite them into your home.
What if you go weeks or months without seeing anyone from a different nationality? Perhaps you can pray for, financially support, and send encouraging letters to international missionaries sent out by your local church. You can go through the book Operation World or the website The Joshua Project and pray for a specific people group often.
Forget about the perfect evangelism opportunity and invite your children into the life of one who is ready at all times to give reason for the hope you have (1 Peter 3:15). 1 Corinthians 5:20 says, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Obeying the Great Commission will look different now that you are a mom. You aren’t exempt from it, yet it’s a privilege. Let God make his appeal through you inside and outside of your home, through prayer and direct interaction, to your children and other future elect children of God who wait for someone to tell them, for they cannot believe unless they hear the good news (Rom. 10:14).
[1] Heb. 4:12, Is. 55:11
[2] 2 Cor. 5:20
