Evangelism Implosion (Part Three)

When it comes to telling people about my faith--i.e. spreading the good news that is not just an old Christian cliche but actually is good news--I'm coming to the conclusion that all I can be is honest.

That means I can't trick people into believing, I mustn't force them into faith, I won't badger them until they surrender, and I probably shouldn't scare them into choosing. To do any one of those things puts far too much emphasis on my own powers of persuasion and cheapens the real experience of faith.

I do not want people to simply "join the team" and say a few special words. I want them to have a relationship with God in Christ.

You can't force that on anyone.

What we can do, I think, is be honest. Share about our faith when the situation arises. Share about God's work in our lives. Not in some unnatural and scripted way, but as the normal outflowing of our experience. When we are happy about something, we tell people about it. It's as natural as breathing. Is our experience of the gospel any different?

If our faith is--as we Christians say--who we are, then it should affect all of our lives. We should talk about it whenever we think about it, every time we walk through life or make decisions or are concerned about the needs of those around us. We may still be timid about doing this, but it is who we are. It is who we have been called to be.

When someone hurts, we know we ought to help and pray. When someone asks our opinion, we must be honest and share it. When the crowd goes one way, we must go the way that Christ calls us.

We shouldn't be afraid of what others think. We're not trying to bully anyone into belief. We're not trying to be different for the sake of being contrary. We are just sharing our thoughts.

And it's not about pressure or guilt or coercion. It's about honesty.

Maybe this is a part of what St. Francis was getting at. We don't need to put the pressure on ourselves to convince people of the gospel. Maybe we can convince their minds--but their souls? That's a power we do not have.

We just have to be faithful. We have to live Christ--a life that affects us deeply, in deeds, actions, and--as opportunities arise--words.

Now that's some good news.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..."
1 Peter 3:15