When we engage others with our Christian faith, speaking from the heart says more than the words we use. By that I mean when we share our personal experience with God there is a sincerity present within the content of our words that speaks of an unconditional love and grace that can only come from God. I’m convinced no theological debate or head knowledge of God will ever witness more effectively than that. Two recent occasions I’ve had illustrate my point.
I was recently sitting in court waiting for my case to be called and so I happened to be reading a bible passage. Another attorney sitting beside me, whom I am not necessarily personal friends with but have known over the years, noticed and asked me what I was reading. So I told him I was reading the bible (NIV translation).
So this guy then asks me what translation of the bible I was reading so I told him. And even though we were having what I thought was a polite conversation he proceeds to make a sarcastic dismissive remark about that particular bible translation. Now, I’m aware of the debate over whether the new 2011 NIV translation has taken too many liberties in order to make the Bible more inclusive. (I happened to be reading the 1984 NIV version but that’s beside the point). But this fellow Christian chose to not only dismiss that new NIV translation outright, but also any of those who choose to read that particular translation. He also proceeded to espouse at length his conservative political/religious views and how society was basically going to hell in a hand basket but for his efforts to protect God and the USA. Regardless of his religious and political ideology I couldn’t really perceive any love for the Lord that Scripture speaks of that I would’ve hoped he might have gained from his efforts. He was more inclined to draw lines in the sand over bible translations to further his own agenda rather than use actual Scripture to draw himself and others closer to the Lord.
I know we have congregation members who are attempting to reach out to their non-Christian family members or friends. Non-Christians often times want to debate God on an intellectual level where God must appeal to their sense of human logic before they believe or have faith in Christ. Sometimes a person is trying to reach out to his or her respective non-Christian spouse or family member and the conversation gets bogged down in argumentative debate about the Bible or the hypocrisy of other Christians behaving badly. My suggestion to them has been that they should simply speak from their heart when it comes to sharing their faith. Yes, Scripture is important for us to know and understand. We should strive to understand through Scripture how God wants to have communion with us through prayer and worship, for example, and to know what God did for us and now through us because of Christ. However, our interaction must begin first with how Christ Jesus has transformed our lives from a life of sin and darkness to a new life in light and hope. This is the Gospel message others will see in us. That we are sinful but forgiven. That we can love others unconditionally just as we are unconditionally loved by God. This is the undeniable Gospel message that disarms all hostilities and renders all intellectual debate as pointless rambling.
I’m a professional arguer by trade and I may know a thing or two about the Bible at this point. But I can honestly say when it comes to sharing my Faith with others, no amount of theological debate or self-righteous superiority ever instilled a love for the Lord in anyone. When we live a life in Christ filled with grace and mercy, as challenging as that might be at times, others will see and take notice. Amen to that God willing.
From Pastor Mark’s Heart
November 2, 2014