Monday, April 26, 2010

Conversation

Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act to outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (NIV)

Often in conversation with others, we speak from our own point of view. After all, we know we are right. We may even be only half listening to what they are saying as we formulate a rebuttal in our mind sometimes giving it in the middle of their speaking.

It is not a matter of being right. It is a matter of being Christ like. Listening to others should not be focused on fueling our own thoughts to proving how right we are. It should be listening to what is behind their words and allowing the Holy Spirit to fill our mouth with the proper response.

It is not about being right; it is about relationship. If we are truly right, it will come out in the end. As we let their thoughts unfold, it is not uncommon for them to come to new conclusions. And it is not uncommon, after hearing what they have to say, that we see error in our own thinking and see the right in their point of view.

This applies to believers and unbelievers (outsiders) alike. The subject matter may be different, but how we interact with them should be similar. We listen first, then, letting the Holy Spirit guide our words, we speak with love. When we speak, it should always be with an encouraging word. Our reactions to what they have to say can build a relationship or tear one down. They can open doors or build walls.

With outsiders our purpose is to let the Holy Spirit guide us into sharing the gospel message and bringing them to their own relationship with Christ. We want them to see Christ in us and feel His love in what we have to say. With insiders, we want to always encourage them to be closer to Him and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in their day-to-day walk.

As I see other Christians with their blatant tee shirts emblazoned with Christianize, I wonder how they can open doors for the lost. It is easy to start a conversation with another believer when we see their Jesus clothing. What I pray for are opportunities to start conversations the Holy Spirit initiates with people I do not know. They may be or not be believers, but if we let the Holy Spirit lead, we know we can encourage them either to Christ if they do not know Him or in Christ if they do.

So how do we talk with a stranger about Christ? We don't. The Holy Spirit will show us the open door and that is usually the conversation opener. Then we ask questions to find out more about who they are and where they come from. The more they talk the better. They do not want to hear about us. Their favorite subject is them and that is what they know the best. Get to know them. The Holy Spirit will guide the conversation to Christ or to another encounter with them.

We need to trust the Holy Spirit and let Him do the work. If we try to force the conversation to Jesus, we may be putting up walls blocking them from hearing the truth. And if their walls are already up, the Holy Spirit knows it. Just out showing Christ's love to them may be the part we have to play and may leave them open for the next person to chip away at their wall a little more.

We do need to be billboards to the world with Christ as the message. But that billboard is not one that is read with their natural eyes. It is the message we send in the Spirit by who we are in Christ.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Evangelism

As Christians, when we think of evangelism, we think of tent meetings, inner city events to find the lost and share the Gospel message, and even passing out tracts. However, according to the dictionary it is also great enthusiasm, fervor, or zeal for a particular cause.

As a former New England resident for most of my life, I can understand the zeal others have for the New England Patriots. They are enthusiastic about their team and even come to work with jackets, hats, and other items with their team colors and even its name emblazed on each piece. Some even have screen savers on their computers showing the team.

Do not get me wrong. This kind of enthusiasm is good. They are evangelizing their team. They brag about their victories prophecy their future.

We all know who Microsoft is. They have Technical Evangelists and Developer Evangelists and others. These experts spread the word about Microsoft and their products.

Many Christian evangelize their church and their pastor. They are enthused and let others know about how great they are. They invite them to church and pray their friends will be saved at an alter call. In their initial talks, the gospel message is never brought up; just the church and how great it is.

The fact is that their friend knows what is coming next. After all, it is a church they are going to. Let's look again at the great commission.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."


He tells us to go into all nations and make disciples. He did not tell is to go out and coerce people to come back and meet Jesus. They meet Jesus in us and it is our task to tell others about Jesus in our life and explain the gospel message. Then, after they accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we are commissioned to teach them to obey all of His commands.

Where does church fit into this? Being a Christian is not a Lone Ranger thing. It is important that we gather together with other Christian to Praise God, to hear new revelation, and to experience Him in the signs and wonders that follow His presence. Church is the body of Christ and although this does not mean a physical brick and mortar building, most Christian attend a church of their choice on Sunday mornings and experience the joy of corporate worship.

We are all to evangelize, but this does not mean we wear Jesus tee shirts and hand out tracts. It means we are to be a light to the world through our lifestyle and as such draw the lost into conversation as the Holy Spirit leads. It is there that we introduce them to what a relationship with Jesus has done in our life.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

We Judge

Romans 2:1-4
You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can't you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? (NLT)

It is easy to read this and other letters about Paul's adventures in the first century and think of it as just that. They are interesting reads and tell us about what was happening way back then. But why it is there? Why were these letters included in the New Testament for us to read thousands of years later? Was it for a history lesson? I do not think so.

I look at each book in the New Testament as a word to me. Those words were placed there for me to read and they are to have an effect on how I live my life. They are words of encouragement and words of correction. What we see in them depends on where we are in our walk with Christ. Since each day we are one step further along, those same words can take on an entirely different meaning. Words read before now jump out at us like a blinking neon sign.

Read the first sentence again. We judge and love to listen to others judging. How many of us spend time during the day listening to the news or talk radio? What is that but judgment or news that lends itself to us judging those being reported about? We condemn others without know them or the facts. We depend on what others tell us on television news stations.

We have been taught to judge. The competition in life places us on the winning or loosing side. We judge people in politics taking sides even after the election is over. And yet the next sentence tells us our sin of judging is just as bad as what we are agreeing to condemn another for.

Sin is sin and God does not like sin. Only He can judge and it is up to Him to inflict punishment on those who do such things. So judging another because of what they do is as bad in His eyes as the sin we were judging!

It is hard for us as human beings not to sin. Remember the first Adam. He was born without sin and yet he fell into temptation and sinned. In fact, it is impossible for us not to sin. Thank God that He sent His Son Jesus to show us the way to eternal life. Thank Jesus for taking all our sins to the cross that day and freeing us from that bondage. We were forgiven at the cross and continue to be forgiven thanks to that one act.

God is love. He is wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient with each of us. And we are to show His love in all we do including how we view others. We are to look past their sin to the child of God inside and love them. We are to love the person not their sin. We are to be Jesus to those around us wherever the Holy Spirit leads us to go.

Monday, April 05, 2010

This Is the Secret

Colossians 1:27-29
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me. (NLT)


Many depend on their church service to bring someone to Christ. They work hard at inviting people they meet to church on Sunday. Often they ask them to some event the church is putting on and then spring the "come to church on Sunday" invite. And of course if they are serious about getting them there on Sunday, they pick up the friend and drive them.

All through the service they are praying hard to themselves that their friend likes what is happening. They have introduced them to the friendly people before church and hope the music meets their approval. The pastor gives a great message, but who knows what their friend is thinking about it. Then comes the alter call. The pastor invites those who want to accept Jesus as their Lord and savior to come to the front of the church. They give their friend a look, even a nod, and hope they walk forward.

Now do not get me wrong. This method has been working for hundreds of years. But is it what Jesus asked us to do? He told us to go and preach the gospel everywhere. Those that believe will be saved.

It is not the Bible we wave or the Christian T-shirt we wear. As a matter of fact those things are great ways to meet other believers, but most of the time will turn away the un-believers. It is our lifestyle. It is the way we treat others. It is the way we handle things that disrupt our lives. It is how we react to pressure. It is our character resembling the character of Christ that makes a visible difference between us and their unsaved friends.

We do not have to pressure them. All we have to do is be there for them and not hide the fact that we are a Christian; that we are a follower of Jesus Christ. We need to let go of our worldly marketing schemes to get them saved and let God work through us as He intended.

Yes, when God opens the door for us to bring the Gospel message to them, we must be ready to tell the story. And that story is our story. It is not a magic formula with certain words to say; words to have them say out loud to us. It is a story of how a relationship with Jesus Christ has changed our lives; how it has changed us.

The secret is that Jesus Christ lives in us. It is the Holy Spirit in us that speaks to us in many different ways to guide us, correct us, comfort us, and teach us. As we allow Him to work in us, He reshapes our character to be more and more like the character of Christ.

The fact is that we do not bring someone to Christ; we let them see Christ in us!