Be brave

I am so excited to introduce you all to my beloved, the very talented, hilarious, kind, honest man who gave me the honor of sharing his name almost 18 years ago. Christopher is passionate about the value of the Gospel, and he is also one of the strongest advocates you’ll ever meet for the kind of manhood that not only sacrifices for family, but delights in the gift of children. I hope that as he shares his heart here, you’ll be inspired to walk a little deeper in faith in the every day moments. I know he has that effect on me! — Heather

 

I had the chance today to share the Gospel with a co-worker.

This is unique for two reasons: 1. I work in county government so such conversations are usually verboten. 2. When I mentioned I had once been a practicing Buddhist, there was more initial interest in hearing about those days than my life now as a Christian.

The assumption was that my life as a Buddhist must have been more exciting to hear about. But it wasn’t. My life in Christ is what brings me joy, purpose and life.

My initial reaction was that it’s a shame people feel more drawn to the mystery of a way that only leads to death. But then I realized that during these moments, we often really have no one to blame but ourselves.

You see, we’ve bought into the fact that we should almost be ashamed to tell others of our Christian faith. We feel like we have to whisper it or make a slight apology before starting to tell someone about the change Christ has made in our lives.

We practically loathe telling another person that Buddhism isn’t the way, nor is Islam, Hinduism or any religion other than Christianity. We’ve been made to feel uncomfortable as if it might be wrong to say these things when we know, or should know, that it’s not wrong but so very, very right and necessary.

We feel forced to play these politically correct games when telling others about our faith, and we must stop. I can only imagine what the apostle Paul would say if he could hear us today.

Paul risked life and limb daily to share the Gospel. He tells the Corinthians how he was three times beaten with rods, stoned once, thrice shipwrecked, flogged, beaten and toiled without sleep, food or drink, and yet he says he’d do it no other way.

Because to Paul, Christ was and is everything, and if we don’t have Christ, then really, what’s the point of living.

I’m not advocating wanton evangelism. It’s foolish to push your faith on others. This isn’t the Crusades, and standing on the corner with a megaphone often draws a negative reaction instead of genuine interest.

But when God gives us the chance to share our faith with others, let’s be brave, let’s be strong, let’s make sure they see joy in our eyes and hear a song in our voice. Let our message be more than just words, let it be evident in everything we do.

Only then will people take notice and rather than hear about a past that gives them nothing, they’ll hear a true story of how we were made whole in Christ and they can be, too.

For I am nothing without Christ, and anyone I tell needs to know it.