Some of my fondest memories growing up had to be sitting on the porch and spending times with my friends. Most of the time we would be playing cards, having snacks, and playing Beyblades, or handheld games. More than on occasion, we would have conversations about spirituality and the bible. My theology was nowhere near as refined as it is now, and I had nowhere near the command of the scriptures that I have as an adult, but it never stopped me. It was there that I learned how to share my faith. Right on the Bus stop.
As an adult I often am asked by my adult friends and young people about the confidence I display in sharing my faith with all who will listen. I often cite my experience back on the bus stop. But underneath my cool head is often tons of nerves and insecurity at times. And many times, I am praying for myself while I am in the situation. I wanted to take some time to give some thoughts on my approach to sharing my faith and what the bible has to say on the subject.
Just do it, like Nike.
The only way to become confident in sharing your faith, is to just do it. And do it often. Modern day America is a prime place to practice sharing your faith. America has become a mission field. Everyday more people are walking away from organized religion and biblical literacy among Americans is declining. The marching orders of the church are given in Matthew 28: 18-20, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age””. May our first concern be being faithful to what the Lord has called us to do.
N.B.D.
This acronym is one of my life vibes. My little sisters know it very well. It stands for, No Big Deal. Us people tend to make certain things a bigger deal than they need to be. This often results in the “we need to talk” text. The stage is set, you both sit down. A nervous drop of sweat rolls down your brow. You can cut the tension with a knife. You start with some small talk, to lighten the mood. Then… it is time. You muster up the strength to speak the words you have been waiting to say the entire time. Here it is. You open your mouth to say, “You forgot to put the hot sauce back in its place after you used it”. That is a silly example I know, but it is exactly how we act sometimes. That same conversation could have happened while putting away groceries.
It is the same with sharing your faith. Don’t make a big deal out of it. In Acts 8, Phillip is instructed to go from Jerusalem to Gaza. And on the way, he encounters the Ethiopian eunuch. How did Phillip open this encounter? By asking the eunuch if he knows what he is reading. If this isn’t N.B.D, I don’t know what is. Take the pressure off of yourself and the person you are speaking with. Next time you decide to share your faith, make sure it is N.B.D. Find a thread and drop into the conversation.
Faithfulness over persuasion.
This is the cheat code of evangelism in my opinion. The bible makes it clear that it is God who changes the heart of man unto salvation (Ephesians 2; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ezekiel 11:19; Ezekiel 36:26; Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10). Since this is true, the measure of success is not whether the person comes to faith. The measure of success is whether you shared your faith to begin with. Knowing this, we can boldly proclaim the good news about our risen Lord. It does not matter where you are starting from. It doesn’t matter how many tools you have in your belt. Faithfulness is all the same.
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