Defining the Rallying Cry for Evangelism

I am glad God does not use a Ctrl+Alt+Delete button.

Frustrated by persistent sin and unbelief in our world, I could easily understand the desire to purge the system, wipe out the data, and start over from scratch. If I were “Dave Almighty,” the Great Flood would have occurred twenty-three times already. Thankfully, God is far more patient and merciful than I am.

I am deeply blessed by the opportunities the Lord gives me to lead mission trips. It is a privilege to teach, guide, and encourage believers on how to share the gospel. The messages of God’s grace, forgiveness, and redemption fall freely like seeds scattered across an open field. We simply plant, nourish, and trust God’s timetable for the harvest of souls.

How dramatically this contrasts with the “mission trips” of the Old Testament!

Joshua was one of history’s greatest mission leaders, but his mandate was not to offer terms of grace or forgiveness. Instead, Joshua led his people to deliver God’s judgment with a physical, double-edged sword. His mission was to fulfill a long-standing promise by claiming the land of Canaan from nations whose time of grace had expired. God was the rightful owner, and persistent rebellion against the Creator ultimately invites judgment. The hand of God was with Joshua, granting victory after victory—until hidden sin within the ranks brought a humiliating defeat at Ai (Joshua 7). It served as a vivid reminder that God takes sin seriously.

In the Old Testament battlefield, the warning was clear: Don’t mess with God.

Today, when headlines are dominated by hostility and moral decline, our human nature is still tempted to judge rather than forgive. In our frustration, we might secretly wish God would execute Old Testament judgment rather than extend New Testament grace.

Perhaps we need to re-frame our perception of spiritual warfare. God does not tell modern Christians to sheath our weapons; He tells us to use the right ones. We no longer fight with physical steel, but with something far more powerful: the spiritual double-edged sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

To be effective on the mission field, we must use both edges of this sword—the Law and the Gospel. A person cannot truly comprehend the good news of rescue until they understand the reality of their danger. An unbelieving heart needs to hear the truth about sin before it can appreciate the beauty of forgiveness.

Sharing the gospel means speaking the truth in love. Instead of wielding physical weapons to inflict punishment, we wield God’s Word to slice through human pride and point people to salvation.

Unseen spiritual battles are still raging all around us today. God is calling Christians to step onto the battlefield. Sharing the gospel isn’t about defeating our earthly enemies; it’s about liberating lost souls for the Kingdom.

What’s our rallying cry? Jesus lives. Be a safe place where every person feels valued and invited to receive God’s unconditional love.