What Do I Do When People Say No?

Introduction

            Today, we are going to look at what you can do after you have faithfully shared the gospel, but it was rejected by those who heard it. Maybe you shared it at work with a coworker or with a relative at a family gathering and the person did not respond in a positive manner. This can be heartbreaking because you care for that individual and want them to spend eternity with Jesus. How does one go about dealing with that? In this article, I will attempt to give an answer from a biblical perspective on how to deal with rejection and what can be done afterwards.

How Do I Deal with Rejection?

            I want to suggest three ways in which a believer can deal with rejection. The first way in which a believer can deal with rejection is simply to understand that it will happen sometimes. Jesus said it this way,

And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town (Matt. 10:14-15, ESV). There is a lot that could be said about these verses, but I simply want you to see that Jesus was telling his disciples that some people will not receive the truth. Paul is basically saying the same thing when he writes to the Thessalonians that some will refuse “to love the truth and so be saved” (2 Thess. 2:10, ESV). This isn’t easy to hear, but it is important to understand. Some people will reject the gospel. As believers, it is not our responsibility to save people, that is on God. We just need to be faithful to share the truth with others in an appropriate manner.

            The second way in which a believer can deal with rejection is by not taking it personally. Jesus told his followers, “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me” (Luke 10:16, ESV). Believers need to understand that when a person rejects the gospel that they are ultimately rejecting God the Son and God the Father. There is no point in beating yourself up if you experience rejection for sharing God’s truth. Just keep sharing the gospel and pray that the Holy Spirit move on people’s hearts.

            The third way in which a believer can deal with rejection is by simply realizing that a negative answer today can become a positive one in the future. In other words, just because a person says no to the gospel now, does not mean that God can’t work in their hearts, and they say yes to the gospel in the future. Think of the Apostle Paul. He started out rejecting Christ and persecuting the church (Acts 9:1). Then he personally met Christ and became a believer (Acts 9:20). The point is that God can take the hardest of hearts and soften them. Don’t give up on those you are witnessing to.

Where Do I Go from Here?

            So far, we have talked about how a believer can deal with rejection. Now let us take a look at three things a believer can do after a person has rejected Christ. These three things are critical in maintaining a proper witness and could eventually help the person who has rejected Christ to receive him. The three actions are as follows:

1.     If you can, keep the relationship open. Paul writes to the Romans, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18, ESV). Do your best to continue in some kind of peaceful relationship with them. Even if they are living immorally, try to keep a relationship with them at some level (without condoning sin, of course). Look at what Paul tells the Corinthians, “I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world” (1 Cor. 5:9-10, ESV). Paul is saying that a Christian should remain in some kind of relationship with those who are lost.

2.     Continue to live for Christ. Jesus called his followers to be salt and light in this dark, decaying world (Matt. 5:13-16).  One of the strongest ways in which you can witness for Christ among those who are lost is to be consistent in your walk with God. Be an example of what it means to follow Jesus, even if some mock you for it. Peter writes, “having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame” (1 Pet. 3:16, ESV). In other words, let your actions testify to the fact that you are a follower of Jesus. Who knows, over time, some unbelievers may be won over to the truth through your actions.

3.     Consistently pray for the lost. Paul wrote to Timothy,

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:1-4, ESV).

There is a lot of things that I could point out in this passage, but I simply want to point out two things; First, Paul encourages believers to pray for “all people.” It does not matter what station in life they occupy, as Christians we must pray for them. Second, Paul says that God desires that all people be saved. If we put these two thoughts together, I believe we can conclude that God wants his people to pray for all sorts of people to get saved. Yes, we know that everyone will not receive salvation, but we are to pray for all people to become believers and let God deal with the results. This means that we should continue to pray for those to whom we have witnessed that have, up to this point, rejected the gospel.

What Should I Remember and Do?

Here are the major points of this article to remember:

-       There are three ways that a believer can deal with rejection:

a)     Understand That It Is Going to Happen (Matt. 10:14; Mark 6:11)

b)    Do Not Take It Personally (Luke 10:16)

c)     Realize that a negative today can become a positive in the future (Acts 9:1, 20)

-       There are three things a believer can do after rejection:

a)     If You Can, Keep the Relationship Open (Rom. 12:18; 1 Cor. 5:9-10)

b)    Continue To Live for Christ (Matt. 5:13-16; 1 Pet. 3:16)

c)     Pray (1 Tim. 2:1-4)

Until next time, may you be blessed in your endeavor to know God and share his truth.