Peaceful Persuasion

In a Wall Street Journal article I once read, Joseph Loconte explored the example Jesus set after His resurrection for our evangelism efforts today.

He wrote, “In all of the New Testament’s resurrection accounts, the method of Jesus for winning hearts and minds- his emphasis on peaceful persuasion- couldn’t be plainer. All depict the patience and kindness of God in the face of human doubt.”

The author recalled how Jesus was patient with the two disciples when He appeared to them on the road to Emmaus, after He rose from the dead. The disciples at first were unsure who Jesus was. He was a stranger to them. But God’s Word tells us that, “beginning with Moses and the prophets, he explained to them what was said in the Scriptures concerning himself.”

Loconte writes, “the disciples had been guided, not coerced out of their skepticism. Their objections had been met with reason, not force.”

Jesus should be our example in evangelism. We too should be patient and willing to meet people where they are- to respond kindly to questions and patiently to doubts. To share what the Lord has done for each one of us. To evangelize with peaceful persuasion.

Do it today, won’t you?