If my gift is to serve, am I excused from evangelizing or encouraging?
I think the answer is that you are not excused, that everyone is supposed to use every gift, though some are better at some gifts than others. What does the Bible say about this, though?
1 Corinthians 12:1 - 11
NLT - 1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don’t want you to misunderstand this. 2 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.
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Asked April 25 2013
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Viki Balsamo
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Seth Freeman
Supporter
No Christian, no matter what their primary gift(s) may be are excused from evangelism. The great commission at the end of Matthew is not the Great Suggestion. It's a command. It's a command given to all believers. If you have the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of you, then you should be striving to become more like Christ every day. The two greatest commandments are to love God and love others. How can you love others if you don't tell others about Christ? There is nothing more important than a person coming to recognize their sin. Love demands that you evangelize. And with regards to encouraging, does love not encourage? Paul said at the beginning of I Corinthians 13 that it didn't matter what his gifts were, but that if he didn't love - they were all worthless. Part of loving others is certainly encouraging them.
Jeff Lukes
Supporter
We are all different parts of the body. You should realize that when you serve with a glad heart you are light. Others see that and want to know your story. The early church grew because people were drawn to the early followers because they showed love taking care of the sick, weak, orphans, and the widows. People wanted to know what made them different, what was their story. They were led to a relationship to God through Jesus because they saw people serving.
David Sutton
Supporter
We should never come off in the kingdom of God as some who thinks we know it all or that we have all the power that the Holy Spirit offers. Jesus said he was no respect or of person. As Christians if we strive for God we want need to ask why. He will guide our path.
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