Finding Peace When Others Reject the Gospel
Have you ever tried to share your faith with someone who just wasn't interested? Perhaps you've experienced the heartbreak of watching a loved one reject the message of Jesus despite your best efforts. This painful situation raises an important question: When should we continue sharing, and when should we walk away?
When Sharing the Gospel Becomes Difficult
In Acts 18, we find the Apostle Paul facing this exact dilemma. After arriving in Corinth and working as a tentmaker with Aquila and Priscilla, Paul began devoting himself fully to preaching when Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia.
"When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. But when they opposed Paul, they became abusive. He shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, 'Your blood be on your own heads. I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.'" (Acts 18:5-6)
This moment represents a turning point. Paul had been faithfully sharing the gospel with his fellow Jews, using Scripture to show how Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. He pointed to approximately 300 different Old Testament passages that pointed to Jesus, including:
Jesus being a descendant of King David (2 Samuel)
Coming from the tribe of Judah (Genesis)
Arriving before the second destruction of the temple (Daniel)
His suffering, death, and resurrection (Isaiah)
Despite this evidence, many rejected his message and became hostile toward him.
Why Do We Keep Trying When People Reject the Gospel?
What drives us to continue sharing our faith even when faced with rejection? For Paul, there were several motivations:
1. A Sense of Responsibility
In Ezekiel 33:8-9, God says:
"When I say to the wicked, 'You wicked person, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, but I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved."
Paul felt this responsibility deeply. He knew the truth about salvation through Jesus and couldn't bear the thought of people perishing without hearing it.
2. Love for His People
Romans 10:1 reveals Paul's heart: "Brothers and sisters, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved."
Like Jesus who wept over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37), Paul had a deep love for his fellow Jews. This love drove him to continue sharing despite the risk of rejection and even physical harm.
When Is It Time to Walk Away?
Looking at Paul's pattern throughout Acts, we find that his decision to move on wasn't based on a specific timeframe but on the condition of people's hearts.
In Acts 19:8-9, we see this pattern clearly: "Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them."
The turning point came when people:
Became obstinate in their hearts
Refused to believe
Publicly maligned the gospel
When hearts hardened to this degree, Paul would redirect his efforts toward those who were more receptive.
The Wisdom of Protecting What Is Sacred
Jesus taught in Matthew 7:6, "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
This isn't about labeling people as animals but about protecting what is precious. Just as you wouldn't give something valuable to someone who doesn't recognize its worth, there comes a point when continuing to share the gospel with someone who consistently rejects and disrespects it becomes unwise.
The gospel is precious—it's the most beautiful message we have to share. When someone repeatedly treats it with contempt, it may be time to direct our efforts elsewhere.
What Happens When We Redirect Our Efforts?
Interestingly, whenever Paul redirected his efforts, revival followed:
"Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized." (Acts 18:7-8)
By focusing on those whose hearts were open, Paul saw tremendous fruit. In Ephesus, his redirection led to a two-year ministry where "all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord" (Acts 19:10).
How Should We Approach Those Who Reject the Gospel?
Never give up hope - We continue to believe God can do anything, including softening the hardest heart.
Don't push them away - Maintain loving relationships even when they reject your message.
Don't judge them - Remember Jesus' warning about judging others.
Don't become "the ugly Christian" - Treat people with respect and love, even when they disagree.
Recognize you're not their savior - Only Jesus can save them; you're just the messenger.
Trust God's timing - Everyone's journey to faith is different.
Life Application
This week, I challenge you to:
Evaluate your approach: Are you continuing to push the gospel on someone who has clearly shown they're not receptive? Consider whether it might be time to step back while maintaining a loving relationship.
Look for open doors: Who in your life might be more receptive to hearing about Jesus? Instead of focusing all your energy on those who reject your message, redirect some effort toward those who might be waiting for someone to share with them.
Pray for wisdom: Ask God to show you when to speak and when to be silent, when to persist and when to redirect.
Trust God with your loved ones: If you have family members who reject the gospel, release the burden of being their savior. Continue to love them, pray for them, and trust that Jesus is still knocking on their door.
Ask yourself:
Am I treating the gospel as something precious when I share it?
Have I been trying to be someone's savior instead of trusting God with their salvation?
Who in my life might be more receptive to hearing about Jesus that I've been overlooking
How can I maintain loving relationships with those who reject my message?
Remember, we never give up on people because we never stop believing that God can do anything. But sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is to respect their choice while continuing to pray that God will work in their hearts in His perfect timing.