Have you ever felt unworthy to talk about Jesus?

Bob ran into a friend from high school one day when picking up lunch. It had been years, but they struck up a conversation and it seemed almost like no time had passed. At one point in the conversation, his friend mentioned some tough times he had gone through.

Bob wanted to respond by telling his friend about how Jesus could help, but he froze. He remembered all the sinful things he had proudly done in high school, things his friend knew all about. How could he say anything and not sound like a complete hypocrite? So, he said nothing.

Have you ever felt like that?

Maybe you felt like your witness was destroyed by the life people knew you had lived or maybe no one knew, but you felt an inward shame and unworthiness. Many people feel this way and it prevents them from ever saying a word about Jesus to others.

It’s OK to admit you are a sinner. In fact, it’s necessary.

The shame described above is, in part, due to our sin, but it is also due to our thinking that when we tell someone about Jesus, we are the focus. We think of it like we are a salesman. If people see how poorly we live our Christian life, they won’t buy the product…Jesus.

What if I told you that you are not a salesman and Jesus isn’t a product? Instead, you are the recipient of a great gift, one that you are wholly unworthy to receive. Jesus is the benefactor who gives freely to all who would receive it.

This is very different.

Now, not only can you admit that you are a sinner, but do so boldly because you are not preaching yourself. You are preaching Jesus Christ. It’s like one beggar telling another about someone who freely gives food to those in need. It’s like one sick person telling another sick person about a place that offers a cure.

If we preach ourselves, it will come to ruin. We don’t have the power to convert a single person and, eventually, the truth about our sinfulness will be shown. When we preach Christ, it brings great blessing. He, alone, can create faith and the truth about our sinfulness only proclaims more loudly the greatness of the grace of Jesus Christ.

Pastors Stand With You
You aren’t alone. Sometimes people put their pastor on a pedestal, but the truth is he sins just like you and knows his unworthiness to be your pastor (or hopefully he knows this). There is a prayer penned by Martin Luther for pastors and church leaders: