Sharing your faith

ave you ever tried to “convert” someone? Or maybe talk to them about your faith, your experiences and been met with a blank face? A face that was saying, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, let’s go out and have some fun!”? In my continued reading of Acts, Paul is in a great position to proclaim the gospel to a King! Kind of like if I had a chance to talk to Fidel Castro or the leader of Iran. Here’s what was said at the end of Paul’s plea:

 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long-I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.” (Acts 26:28-29 NIV)

Such a simple, yet direct hope. I too share this hope for all who know me. I know I haven’t done my best in sharing my faith. I get caught up in the “Someone else will do it”, “Is this the right time?” or “How will they respond?” fears that this culture somehow plants in our minds. I try to overcome this by reminding myself that one day they may ask me why I never told them about Christ and how to be saved from this thing called sin.

 I try to think of the elevator scenario where I am on my way up to heaven and the door opens to show another elevator on the way down to hell. My friend is on that elevator with a sad face, looking at me asking me, “Why didn’t you tell me!?!” How can I respond? All I would be able to honestly say would be, “Well, sorry friend, but I was afraid I would offend you, and I didn’t want you to think I was weird. Your friendship on earth was more important than helping you find salvation for eternity.” BOY, DOES THAT SOUND SHALLOW AND SELFISH! Aren’t we better than that?

aul does not hesitate to share his faith, as many of the first believers did as well. Why have we become a culture of “comfort”? Christianity was never intended to be a box of cotton balls that we could climb into and live a “life of ease”. Jesus told us “you will be persecuted because of my name”, “your mother and father, sister and brother will turn against you” and “in this life you will have trouble”. Our only comfort comes in the hope of salvation! Our job is to “go and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”. Why do we sit back and act like this life on earth is all that there is? I mean, do we REALLY believe this life is only a speed bump in the road to eternity? Do we REALLY believe we are spiritual beings that are meant to be in heaven and just happen to be here on earth in this “training and testing” period? What do you believe? Figure that out, then change your life to reflect it! Paul did, and that is why we have such good guidance regarding the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament. What impact could you have? What impact are we failing to seek out?

Could we be missing the BIG impact we are to have? 

Or are we simply happy with a ‘drop in the ocean’ type of splash?

God bless,

Jeff

P.S. I’ll discuss ways to share your faith in future blogs