Brand Ambassador Part 4

Before you continue, if you haven’t already, go back and read Part 1, 2, 3 by clicking on each number.

A Christ Follower Brand Ambassador is a person who represents and evangelizes Jesus, supports the Gospel and acts as the embodiment of Jesus’ identity through words and actions.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve spent time really looking at what it looks like to represent and embody Jesus’ identity. In representing and embodying His identity you are, in some ways, doing the other tasks associated with being a brand ambassador for Jesus.

Part of being a brand ambassador in business is talking about the brand through advertising. Likewise, as a brand ambassador for Jesus, we are to share Him with others, in other words evangelize.

Now, I know for some of us, that word evangelize sent waves of discomfort through your stomach. You might even be pulling scripture out to give me a little lesson on Ephesians 4:11 – “And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists…”. But let me stop you right there, so we can look at the context of where that verse is.

Ephesians 4:1-16 is all about unity and maturity in the body of Christ. Verse eleven does say that some were given callings for certain things, including evangelism (which by the way can encompass singing, teaching, spiritual guidance, preaching etc.); but as you continue through verse sixteen you see why they were given those callings. They are given those callings so they can equip all His people for their service, to build up the body of Christ (which includes each one of us) until we reach unity in faith and knowledge and become mature. Mature for what? For speaking truth in love because, (verse 16) “From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” As ambassadors for Christ, we must all do a part of the work of the body. He gives us evangelists to help us be mature so we in turn can go be a witness for Christ, proclaiming (evangelizing) the good news of the gospel to others and sharing what we’ve seen and experienced with Jesus. If you want to dive deeper, Tim Beougher wrote a good article about this, linked here.

Now, I digress. Why are we are so uncomfortable talking about our faith?

Let’s look at some of the common reasons I hear people say why we don’t evangelize:

• I don’t want to being a ‘bible thumper’
• I am worried about offending someone
• I’m not sure what to say or how to say it
• When I do talk about it, people ask hard questions and I don’t feel like I have those answers so I don’t start the conversation anymore
• I am not equipped, I don’t understand or have enough knowledge to talk to anyone else
• Fear of how we will look to other humans

In the spirit of transparency – in the past, I’ve found it difficult to talk about my faith, what Jesus did for me, what He is doing in me, about the Bible (specifically prophecy that is to come) etc. to those around me who do not share the same beliefs, especially in a work setting. And frankly, many of the above statements have passed through my lips as well. That is, until I discovered relational evangelism.

I thought, if my walk with Jesus is about a relationship, NOT about a religion – why am I not using that same method to evangelize the gospel to others? A few reasons are because relationships are messy, they take work, and you expose yourself to hurt. If we look at Jesus’ ministry, I believe relational evangelism is exactly what He did. He sat with sinners, He ate with sinners, He invested in His disciples and the multitudes that followed Him, He loved people where they were, spoke truth to them and led them somewhere new. He built relationships. If He was willing to use this method, and expose Himself to all that He exposed Himself to (even to death), as His ambassadors we should be willing to do the same.

When I began using relational evangelism, it was a game changer. Building trusting relationships with those who do and DO NOT share the same beliefs as me has been so important to me in the last several years. I want to love them where they are, for who they are. I also want to share this treasure I have with them (so they can have it too), but it doesn’t mean jamming it down their throats. It means discerning when your relationship can handle it. That may be years into your relationship. I hope until that time comes, when we are able to speak boldly, that our actions have spoken boldly.

For me, the reasons to evangelize sound a little more like this now:

• I don’t want to be a ‘bible thumper’, and if you don’t want to hear anything else I’ll respect you, BUT this is too good not to share.
• If the things I say offend you, let’s talk about it so I can understand why me sharing a personal belief with you is offending you. I want to understand.
• I don’t always know exactly what to say or how to say it. I accept that. In those moments, silence is ok. I will also pray for words and will come back to you if God chooses to reveal something to me.
• My relationship and walk with Jesus are a work in progress, just like yours. I may not always have the answers to your hard questions, but if you are willing to dig into the Word with me, let’s see if we can find the answers to your questions together.
• I know enough to talk about my own experience with Jesus and am equipped of the Holy Spirit to say those things.
• I’ve learned that humans won’t always accept me, but Jesus sure does. How I ‘look’ to Him matters so much more.

Evangelism isn’t easy, if it were we’d all be doing it.

JOANIE LOVE

Evangelism isn’t easy, if it were we’d all be doing it. It is necessary to being a brand ambassador for Jesus though.

I am going to challenge you to leave your comfort zone today, and begin the process of relational evangelism. Perhaps you are there, your relationship is strong and you can speak. Perhaps you are in early phases – allow your life and actions to speak in the building.

Jesus,

Thank you for the example of relational evangelism. Help each one of us use this same method as we endeavor to fulfill the evangelizing part of being a brand ambassador for you. Give us boldness. We love you Jesus, in your Holy name we pray,

Amen!