Talk About The Tacos

When I teach students about evangelism, I almost always use the same metaphor.

Imagine going to a new restaurant and falling in love with everything about it. The decor is stunning, the ambiance is perfect, the servers are friendly and helpful, and the food is out of this world. The experience is so excellent that it shifts your perspective on the entire restaurant industry. Olive Garden and TGI Friday’s will never be the same because of the incredible gem you’ve just discovered.

Now, what is our typical first instinct when we discover an incredible new restaurant? We tell someone about it! I think we all have an innate desire to share positive experiences. We don’t usually discover a great new spot and long to keep it to ourselves. When we experience something amazing - we want to share! The new taco shop or Netflix series or life-changing novel becomes the subject of our Instagram stories and water cooler conversations.

Perhaps we can learn from our natural instinct to share about good things when we read Jesus’ instructions in the Great Commission:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

- Matthew 28:18-20

Before Jesus ascends to heaven, He gives some simple instructions: go and make disciples. While I’m hesitant to try to compare the goodness of God to anything of earthly measure, bear with me for the sake of the metaphor.

Just like our eagerness to share about good food, if you’ve experienced the incredible saving grace of Jesus, how could you not be aching to share with those around you?

The metaphor of an amazing restaurant helps us remember that evangelism is not supposed to be a chore. Serving in God’s kingdom shouldn’t feel like a to-do list. Sharing about Jesus and serving His creation should be a natural outpouring of the joy that union with Him brings. I believe the most beautiful motivation to share about Christ sounds something like this: “I’ve experienced the most incredible thing through the love of Jesus. And, gosh, the whole world looks different because of it. I’d love for you to experience the joy I’ve found.”

It will change a whole lot more than the fish tacos at Miguel’s will. So why is it so much harder to talk about?

In the Parable of the Talents, one of three servants is reprimanded for taking money given to him and burying it rather than multiplying it. He was afraid so he held on to something good rather than turning it into something better.

He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

- Matthew 25:24-25

You have been entrusted with something very good. You can bury it in the ground. You can hold onto it. You can only open it up on Christmas and Easter and a sprinkling of Sundays in between. Fear can stop us from multiplying the gift of salvation as we share it with others.

Or you can tell people about the best restaurant ever. You can share the good news. And you can take an incredible thing and go and make disciples, just as Jesus commanded.

Cristina Schmitter

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