…..and your still reading
It’s true, evangelism makes many of us uneasy. Perhaps we have winced as street corner preachers harangued passersby. Maybe some earnest proselytizer made us uncomfortable at home or some other public place? I used to call these people bible thumper’s. Or even someone close to us found our expression of faith wanting? So what do we do when we hear we must carry the good news of the gospel to others, we just don’t know how to begin. How do we do this without embarrassing or offending others as we have felt? Perhaps it starts by staying grounded in our own faith community.
History tells us that Jesus called the Twelve “and began to send them out two by two” he sent them out in a relationship to form relationships. The disciples were to “take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts”. Like those early evangelists, we must approach others in humble empty-handedness. We come interested in those we meet, ready to hear their stories and be willing to understand what matters to them. Isn’t this the way to really meet people anyway? Eventually, in a natural give-and-take we can talk about our spiritual journey. Jesus’ detractors wondered with scorn: “Where did this man get all this?” Whatever wisdom and power Jesus had; came from God.
So why does all this matter in today’s world? A world of busy people, families, jobs, bills, cars, traffic, cell phones, computers and more. It’s hard to remember with so much going on in everyone’s lives what things in life really matter. In everything we do, every person we meet and all those in our lives deserve to know all that God has given them. We can really only share this by living or striving to live a life of gratitude, of love and true caring of others. If you believe as I do that Jesus is real and that he is the son of God as well as God, that he walks beside each of us whatever our faith or background then we will never walk alone. Our faith will always be our companion, no matter how busy we are.
You’re still reading. I’m still writing, so please keep following…..
Craig
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As a good friend of mine said…”It takes just as much faith to be an Atheist as it does to be a Christian.” As a strong believer in Jesus Christ I am proud to share the word whenever the opportunity arises because it is my core belief. With that being said I don’t bring my beliefs into business deals or unfamiliar social settings because I recognize that not everyone believes as I and I choose to respect their beliefs. I have friends who follow Eastern teachings and each time we interact I learn more about their spirituality. With regards to church I like Joyce Meyer’s statement “going to church doesn’t make you a true Christian anymore than sitting in your garage makes you a car.” Like with anything else in life our ACTIONS will always speak louder than our words!
Great message Craig!
Very nicely done. Meeting people where they are,not where we’d like them to be. Treating them even as God treats us,with love and respect,as well as valued.
Thank you for your comments! Craig