Introduction
This is the first in a series of posts where I hope to provide training and encouragement to dear Christian brothers and sisters who want to dispense the gospel in various situations.
[bctt tweet=”For many people, giving the gospel to family and friends is especially difficult. The fear of offending the family member” username=”ThingsAboveBlog”]For many people, giving the gospel to family and friends is especially difficult. The fear of offending the family member is rational (that is, it’s likely they will be offended), and often overshadows the fear we have of the Lord’s wrath upon the sinner. Do I really want my cousin’s kid to get offended and then tell my cousin, who I’m not even that close with anymore, that I’m a religious nut? Should I be afraid to be accused of taking a time for celebration and turning it into my own personal, religious issue?
I hope that one’s desire to see the lost person saved and belief in the power of the gospel (Rom 10:17) is sufficient to get all of us to push past these fears and give out the gospel even in tough situations. Having prefaced the following with that, here is a sample letter to a recent graduate you can modify to your own liking. I also suggest a proper gift for the occasion, even if you have to ask someone to help you with that.
The Letter
Dear Graduate:
What an accomplishment it is for you to have graduated from ______! We have no doubt that you will accomplish much more as you keep your sight set on your goals.
You are an impressive young person whose work ethic is a model to others. Congratulations on your achievements. You ought to have great joy today and a good sense of pride in your labors as the result of how God has blessed you so many natural gifts.
We want to give you something to think about as you move on to the next phase in your life. Do you ever think about eternal life? Most people believe there is Heaven or Hell at the end of this life. And the most common understanding we have is that good people go to Heaven and bad people go to Hell. Ultimately, we assume where we end up after this life is based on our accomplishments in this life.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If you have enough good to outweigh your bad, you go to the “good place.” Guys like Hitler or child rapists: they go to the bad place.[/perfectpullquote]
But the Bible describes God as completely righteous, totally holy, and, as a perfect judge, executing perfect judgment. According to Jesus, anything short of moral perfection is enough for the good Judge of all the earth to cast sinners into Hell. Sin is disobedience to our wonderful God. Some examples of sins which separate us from God are lying, anger, stealing, and idolatry. Jesus said that even looking at someone with lust is considered adultery in the eyes of our perfect God.
But the righteousness of God has been displayed to us in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He performed miracles, prayed, and preached – but most importantly lived a perfectly moral life in the eyes of God.
Before you were even born He knew you were going to have sin in your heart. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, but by faith in Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven for our sins. Do you acknowledge your sin before God? God the Father sent his Son to die a death He didn’t deserve for sinners like you and like us! He was in the grave but arose on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven!
Because of this, God commands all men everywhere to repent and trust only in Jesus for forgiveness. He is the only way to heaven because He became man and is the Son of God. Will you call on Him today to be saved? Repent and believe that He is God. Trust and rely on Him forevermore. No one will boast in the presence of God in his or her accomplishments, but all those who trust Jesus as their only righteousness will rejoice in His accomplishment of redemption for His people.
This is what we hope for you, Grad. And if you want to talk about it, (whether you agree or disagree), we are always available to you and wish you well. We hope you understand that it is out of love and concern for you that we would tell you this! We want all people to be forgiven of their sins and rest in the accomplishments of Jesus Christ.
Sincerely Yours,
Your name here
Conclusion
My brother or sister, do not neglect to pray for your friend or family member, that God the Holy Spirit would go before you to prepare the soil of their heart for the gospel seed. Our reticence in dispensing the gospel is nothing more than an indicator of our lack of faithfulness in the promises of God (Romans 1:16) and an indicator of our fear of man. Be encouraged; we are all in the same fight with the flesh (1 Peter 5:9)