I heard something on the radio last week that has resonated with me, and I can't seem to let it go. It was a Christian music station, and the deejay told of a public entertainer that was an atheist. She said that the entertainer was talking to an audience about how a Christian had come up to him that day and was sharing his witness and letting the entertainer (I don't know who it was) know about God's love for everybody. One would think that this self-proclaimed atheist would ask the Christian evangelist to walk away and almost become offended at the audacity it takes to witness in that way. Instead, the entertainer was publicly proclaiming the Christian evangelist to be a caring, loving individual. The entertainer was quoted as saying something about how it is an act of HATE to not share God's love with everybody around you, if you truly feel that knowing God is the only way to salvation. The atheist entertainer said that the Christian evangelist did not change his mind or make him a sudden believer, but that he was thankful for the Christian's witness and felt very loved.
The point is that if a person is strong enough in her faith, if a person truly believes John 14:6 in the Holy Bible and believes that the Bible is the holy Word of God, then it is that person's commandment to share God's love everywhere and with everybody she meets.
I confess, this is my weakest weakness. I do not go around proclaiming God's word to even people that I love deeply, let alone to complete strangers. I have some very close friends who know that I am a "Jesus freak" but they may not know why or what that means. I have one close friend that has even initiated conversation with me about it once or twice, and I shied away from the topic - mentally running as fast as I could in the opposite direction. Why? Because talking about politics and religion, I was always taught, are two sure ways to start a fight.
But, after hearing that account on the radio recently and attending a series of sermons at a new/different church, I can no longer let myself hide my faith. I can no longer assume that who I am is obvious to the people around me - I am finding God telling me very clearly that I need to be a better disciple. God wants all people to know about his love for them.
I plan to continue to show and share God's love by trying to be a solid example, but I'm also making a commitment - a public one at that - to be more evangelistic, more open to sharing my testimony and witness.
You probably won't see me on a soapbox at the airport. I can't even see myself striking up intentional conversation at the park with other parents. But, I do hope that I will find a way to clearly, lovingly, and successfully share my faith with the people who are a part of my personal social circle. I pray that I can articulate my beliefs respectfully and with class - in a way that will not provoke the very kind of reaction that I fear the most - the kind of reaction that has shied me away from making such a commitment in the past.
How a person reacts to my testimony is irrelevant. My motives are selfish. While the purpose of having such a conversation is entirely selfless, the result of our dialogue is irrelevant. I need to share my source of Joy and Peace with other people, or I feel as though I'm a hypocrite - just going through the motions and acting only with faith, instead of faith and conviction.
I will still love and treat the people around me the way I always have. It's just that for now, I'll have an extra prayer for them, a prayer dedicated to the salvation, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love of that other person. Because I think that the entertainer was right - it almost is like an act of hate to avoid opportunities for sharing with others about God's unconditional, undying love.
My goal is not to "convert." I am incapable of that - only my God can do that kind of work. My purpose is not to have non-believers bow down to their knees and declare Jesus Christ to be their personal Lord and Savior. The only thing I need to do is plant a seed of love and grace.
Let's practice, shall we?
God loves you. You - YOU reading this right now, God loves you. A ton. And if you want to know more about why I believe that, just ask me.There, that wasn't so bad. I think I can do that more in my personal circles with people that I love. I mean, I told the whole entire world (essentially) by way of my blog. Surely, I can bring that piece of information up in casual conversation with my closest friends and relatives, right?
People have told me that I'm just the kind of person that has good luck. Things come easy for me because I'm lucky. Someone once told me that things work out well for me all the time because they don't work out well for someone else and that's how the balance of the world just is. They're wrong. If you think I'm a joyful person, truly content and fulfilled most days of my life, because I'm lucky or because that's just the way it is - you're wrong. I am extremely blessed by the one who has created me. And you are too - maybe you just need an open mind to see it.
2 comments:
I'm impressed that the athiest entertainer actually said what he or she did after encountering the evangalist! That seems pretty rare for an entertainer, especially a proclaimed athiest, to not take such an opportunity to climb up on his or her own soap box and start going off on it. I wish I knew who this entertainer was...I'm so out of the loop lately. Maybe you'll tell me in private sometime? :)
I am further impressed by your beautiful honesty in this post. You have every right to be open and free and honest about your faith so it would be a shame to hide it at all. And I've seen just how strong your faith is but I've never ever thought of you as someone who would try to shove it down people's throats at all. That's just not like you. That's one of the many reasons I like you.
But really, who cares what I think? I'm not being rude or cynical or anything like that. I'm just saying I admire you for being so open in this post and surrendering your fear of what others may think of you if they knew just how deep your faithful roots go.
I've never once considered you a "Jesus Freak" and I'd like to stick my tongue out at anyone who has! SO THERE! :)
In my opinion, religion and spiritual beliefs are such a deeply personal topic that I'm also pretty uncomfortable discussing it with anyone. I detest debates of any kind so, like you referred to, I avoid talks of religion and/or politics all together! You are a smart ladymama!
You keep on doing your thing, my friend!
hi maggie,
like you, sharing my faith is something fairly new. in the navy, talking religion was discouraged (even with the presence of chaplains). i'm being broken in by talking with an atheist via my cousin's facebook page. it's tough. she is so hostile toward christians and has a LOT of stereotypical conceptions about our beliefs. still the other christians and i are trying to be respectful and loving (it's very hard for me, because i tend to be a hot-head when someone insults me). keep it up!
i was surprised to hear last week you are involved in starting a new church. i hadn't realized you'd left firstlight. but then, deana and i left firstlight, too, so how would i know? we're going to revolution, in westport, now.
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