This contains updated portions of a book review I wrote for one of my classes at Liberty.
Author Information
William Fay is an author, evangelist, and an internationally syndicated radio host.[1] His life before Christ consisted of being the president and CEO of a multimillion-dollar company, having ties with the mob, owning one of the largest houses of prostitution in the United States, racketeering, bookmaking, and gambling.[2] It was through the influence of many people in his life, especially that of friend Paul Grant, that he eventually came to faith in Jesus Christ. In 1987 he graduated from Denver Seminary and since 1981, he has taught a no-argument approach to witnessing leading others to share their faith. Fay has also written a pamphlet How to Share Your Faith without an Argument, which has 3.5 million copies in print.[3]
Content Summary
In Share Jesus without Fear, author William Fay leads believers past the pressures that they often place on themselves, as he shares the purpose and function of sharing their faith, as well as giving them the knowledge of how to share. Often times Christians place the pressure of conversion upon themselves. However, through his own testimony and those who took the time to share Jesus with him, Fay points out “success is sharing your faith and living your life for Jesus Christ.”[4]
Pointing out that only five to ten percent of Christians have shared their faith in the past year, Fay expounds on how many Christians have chosen the sin of silence.[5] This sin of silence has not only impacted the lives of Christians, but also the lives of local churches. Fay continues as he divides Christians into two groups, those who talk about the lost and those who talk to the lost.[6] Fay’s desire is for Christians to overcome their fears and seize each opportunity to share, because how things are now is not how it was meant to be or how it should be.
To assist the Christian in moving beyond silence to action, Fay gives the believer five “share Jesus questions” to help lead into a conversation in which a Christian can share their faith. All the while, Fay reminds the Christian that they cannot fail. He wants the believer to understand that the power behind what is taking place is the power of God and the power of the Word of God. Ultimately, the Scripture is the foundation, for “God’s Word penetrates and changes hearts toward His Son.”[7] With that in mind, Fay leads the believer through seven verses of Scripture that he recommends they have the lost person read out lout. In addition, there will be times when the believer faces different questions and objections. Therefore, Fay provides the believer with “conversational joggers.” These are to assist the believer in opening the door to conversation, or keeping the conversation going.
Following this, Fay encourages the believer to use five specific questions, invoking a “yes” or “no” decision, for there is a decision between life and death that must be made. If a decision is made to put their faith in Christ, Fay guides the believer in what to do next in directing them in some foundational beliefs and to a local body of believers.
As Fay brings the book to a close, he directs the believer in developing the friendship between themselves and non-believers as well as teaching how to pray for them. On a more personal level, Fay wants the believer to understand that sharing your faith is a part of being obedient to God and “it is time to choose obedience and grasp the fullness of a Christian life.”[8] Furthermore, he states, “God will hold us responsible for the sin of silence for not sharing with those people he has placed in our lives.”[9]
Every Christian with a desire to be a better servant of Christ and better witness should read this book. They will find it encouraging and empowering. Whether one has been a Christian for five minutes or fifty years, they would greatly benefit from reading this book. Furthermore, this book could have great impact in the local church if taught and applied. Currently, we are teaching the video series “Share Jesus Without Fear” and it has been a great blessing. I believe that as we work thought this, it will move many believers beyond the sin of silence to obedience. I strongly encourage you to read the book and/or, if you can get it, watch the video series.
[1] Meet Bill Fay. Retrieved January 22, 2009, from http://www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com/templates/System/details.asp?id=27043&PID=139110[2] William Fay. Share Jesus Without Fear (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1999), 1.
[3] Ibid., 195.
[4] Ibid., 3.
[5] Ibid., 6.
[6] Ibid., 8.
[7] Ibid., 41.
[8] Ibid., 144.
[9] Ibid., 142.
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