When Pitching the Gospel: Throw With Authority

Our boys are great athletes, and Brian is a great coach. His words of advice sometimes transcend the playing field.

I recall one such instance when our youngest was in Little League. During spring practice he was playing catch with a boy he didn’t know very well and had no idea of this other boy’s baseball ability. Because of his uncertainty, and not wanting to overpower or humiliate the other boy, our son held back. After practice, Brian asked him why he wasn’t throwing as he usually did.

Our son told Brian he wasn’t sure the other boy could catch the ball, so he didn’t throw hard, he lobbed in a few tosses. Brian responded, “Son, it is your responsibility to throw with authority. To place the ball where it needs to be. His responsibility is to catch it.”

If only Christians could grasp that truth as it applies to living, speaking truth, and sharing the Gospel. Sometimes it seems like we’re so afraid others won’t, or can’t catch the whole truth that we water it down, pretty it up, or lob it in so gently that it fails to reach the mark. No one benefits if the truth is not clearly given with authority so that it might be fully received.

Sometimes Christians (myself included) present the Gospel through our words, entertainment, books, Bible studies, and even our lives as if we are ashamed of it. Or as if we don’t think the receiver is capable of carching it. We forget Paul’s words in Romans:

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” – Romans 1:16-17 NIV

What is the Gospel? It is the power of God that brings salvation! It is the human life, the physical death, the resurrection, and the exaltation of Jesus. The Gospel is Jesus.

Why do we need the Gospel? Because we are sinners born with a sin nature. By our very nature, we deserve God’s just wrath.

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desire and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.” – Ephesians 2:3 NIV

We are so afraid that we might offend “seekers” by speaking about sin and the need for salvation that we speak of other things: miracles, healing, freedom, love, peace, joy. But how wise is that? The truth is that no one seeks God apart from God’s drawing that person to Him. If anyone seeks at all, he/she is seeking the whole truth. We must speak it with authority.

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away… There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:10-18 NIV

“No one can come to me [Jesus] unless the Father who sent me draws them… Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John 6:44-45 NIV

If someone is seeking the Way, the Truth and the Life why wouldn’t we give them Jesus in all His beauty? We don’t need to pretty up the Gospel; it is glorious, cleansing, and freeing as it stands.

If we don’t speak the truth of Jesus with authority when we are introducing people to him, how will they be prepared when the reality of life hits. If all we do is lob softballs through our teaching, how do we expect anyone to deal with the hardballs of life?

In that Little League practice, our son was afraid the other player might drop the ball, but if the ball wasn’t catchable, whose error would it be? The game of life is short. People are dying. Jesus is the only way to eternal life. Will you speak truth and pitch the Gospel with authority?