Oscar Wilde once quipped, “I am not at all cynical, I’m only experienced—that’s pretty much the same thing.”
When it comes to personal evangelism, many Christians might say, “I’m not at all cynical, I’m only experienced.” They’ve tried, and it just doesn’t seem to go anywhere. Again and again, they’ve sought to build relationships and share the gospel with others, only to bump up against apathy or antagonism. Soon, sharing their faith begins to seem like a waste of time.
Medicine for Cynical Evangelists
I found a helpful antidote to the disease of cynicism. In Acts 28:28, the Apostle Paul finds himself in a moment where many would be tempted to turn cynical. He’s finally made it to Rome. Now he’s under house arrest but is given a golden opportunity to proclaim the gospel to a number of Jews visiting him. Like much of my own evangelistic preaching, the results are rather anticlimactic. “And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved” (28:24).
How does Paul respond?
Paul, the defendant, delivers a verdict. He tells them their rejection actually fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy (28:25–27). Then he
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