Overcoming Obstacles in Evangelistic Witnessing and Discipleship
Obstacles to evangelistic witnessing and discipleship are often rooted in the pervasive reality of sin, both in those who witness and those who are witnessed to, as well as external pressures and internal struggles. The Bible consistently portrays humanity as universally affected by sin, which creates a fundamental barrier to spiritual understanding and reception of the Gospel [6].
From birth, all human beings are considered sinners, though the godly strive against their sinful nature while the wicked indulge it [1]. Sin is not merely an occasional act but a deep-seated corruption of human nature [7]. The first sin, as described in Genesis 3:13, involved a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience, prioritizing the creature over the Creator [4]. This original transgression established a pattern of sinful acts, which Proverbs refers to as "vanity" [2]. Deliberate sins are often committed with an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God [5]. This universal sinfulness means that neither Gentiles nor Jews can find favor with God through their own actions [6].
For those engaged in evangelism, the reality of sin in others presents a significant obstacle. People may be "of the devil" in the sense that they imitate the devil's actions, though they are not literally "born of the devil" as believers are "born of God" [3]. This spiritual state can lead to resistance or rejection of the message. Jesus himself warned his disciples about coming conflicts and opposition, stating that he outlined these challenges so they would not "stumble" or abandon their faith [11]. The greatest obstacle for disciples was the risk of renouncing their faith when faced with opponents [11].
Discipleship also involves overcoming internal obstacles. Even after conversion, believers still contend with their "corrupt old nature" and the commission of actual sins [7]. The author of Hebrews challenges believers to "strip off every weight" and the sin that "trips us up," likening the Christian life to a race requiring endurance [9]. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin impedes spiritual progress [9]. This ongoing struggle against sin is a continuous aspect of discipleship.
Ministers and evangelists are called to be vigilant and steadfast in their work despite these challenges. Timothy was exhorted to "watch in all things," "endure affliction," and "do the work of an evangelist" [8, 10]. This involves preaching "Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world" [10]. Calvin interpreted this instruction to Timothy as a call to be self-reliant in ministry, no longer depending on his mentor for counsel [8]. Adam Clarke emphasized that watching "unto prayer" prevents being "overtaken in a fault" or neglecting one's duty [10]. The call to endure affliction means not letting suffering or the dread of it cause one to abandon the truth or relax zeal for the salvation of others [10].
Sources
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 30:8: vanity--all sorts of sinful acts (Job 11:11; Isa 5:18).”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil--in contrast to "He that doeth righteousness," Jo1 3:7. He is a son of the devil (Jo1 3:10; Joh 8:44). John does not, however, say, "born of the devil." as he does "born of God," for "the devil begets none, nor does he create any; but whoever imitates the devil becomes a child of the devil by imitating him, not by proper birth" [AUGUSTINE, Ten Homilies on the First Epistle of John, Homily 4.10]. From the devil there is not generation, but corruption [BENGEL]. sinneth from the beginning--from the time that any beg”
- Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
- 2 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Timothy 4:5: I am no longer here to withstand these things; be thou a worthy successor of me, no longer depending on me for counsel, but thine own master, and swimming without the corks [CALVIN]; follow my steps, inherit their result, and the honor of their end [ALFORD]. watch thou--literally, "with the wakefulness of one sober." in all things--on all occasions and under all circumstances (Tit 2:7). endure affliction--suffer hardships [ALFORD]. evangelist--a missionary bishop preacher, and teacher. make full proof of--fulfil in all its requirements, lea”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:1: 12:1-17 The author challenges his hearers to endure in following Jesus, the supreme example of faithfulness, by imitating him in his suffering (12:1-4), by enduring under God’s discipline (12:5-13), and by living in peace with others (12:14-17). 12:1 huge crowd of witnesses: The host of faithful followers of God (ch 11) bear witness to the truth that God blesses the life of faith. • let us strip off every weight: In Greco-Roman literature, a race is a metaphor for the need for endurance in life. Just as extra weight hinders a runner, sin . . . trips us up. It ent”
- 2 Timothy (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Timothy 4:5: But watch thou in all things - It is possible to be overtaken in a fault, to neglect one's duty, and to lose one's soul. Watching unto prayer prevents all these evils. Endure afflictions - Let no sufferings affright thee; nor let the dread of them either cause thee to abandon the truth, or relax in thy zeal for the salvation of men. Do the work of an evangelist - That is: Preach Christ crucified for the sins of the whole world; for this, and this alone, is doing the work of an evangelist, or preacher of the glad tidings of peace and salvation by Christ. An angel f”
- John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 16:1: 16:1-2 Jesus had outlined the coming conflicts (15:18-25) so that the disciples would not abandon their faith (literally be caused to stumble). The greatest obstacle his disciples would face was to stumble and renounce their faith before their opponents (see Matt 23:34; Luke 6:22), especially during the dark days ahead (see John 12:35; 1 Jn 2:9-11).”