Sharing the Good News
Recently, I’ve had friends call to tell me all kinds of news—about jobs they are interviewing for, new pregnancies, kids’ achievements, and overcoming obstacles. We love sharing the incredible things happening.
I have a nine-year-old daughter who, like many young girls, loves all things Taylor Swift. And I am often treated to new things that Taylor (and Travis) are up to, like information about new albums or songs my daughter currently likes. Her eyes light up when she’s talking about this thing she is deeply interested in!
We love to share good news, don’t we? In fact, something within us yearns to do it! We can’t wait to shout it from the rooftops! And when we are excited about something, we cannot help but have it flow out of us as we interact with others. Wanting to share what we love with other people is just part of our humanity!
But recently I was convicted as I read through a passage of Scripture during my morning devotional. I had had some conversations where I felt led to share my faith but was reluctant to do so, based on the location or the role I was currently filling. How will this person take it if I talk about Jesus? Will I sound like just one more Bible-thumper, or will they hear the hope I find in Christ? Will I seem weird, judgmental, or hateful if I share my faith? These questions and so many others were running through my head that morning as I came to this passage in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians:
We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thess. 2:2-4, NIV, emphasis mine).
As I was reading I stopped, stunned… and questions flooded my mind. When I speak, who am I trying to please? Whose opinion matters most to me? I believe that the GOSPEL is good news of great joy for all people, a message of hope and forgiveness and mercy and meaning. It is the best news that we can hear! So why would I stay silent when we’ve been entrusted with the Gospel?
I learned a long time ago I am not a natural evangelist. In Ephesians 4:11, we are told, “ So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers….” I have sometimes been tempted to think: I’m not gifted in evangelism, so that gives me a free pass! But we should love to share good news, shouldn’t we? In fact, something within us yearns to do it! We can’t wait to shout it from the rooftops! If it has convinced us and convicted us and changed us, then it should flow out of us as we interact with others. We are loved by God so much that he sent Jesus for us (and for everyone), and we need to share what we love with other people, even if we aren’t a “natural evangelist”!
BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT?
Honestly, I am still growing in this area. I think most of us are. As we continue to grow and learn and move into new phases of life, our methods change. So, too, when we encounter different people, we need to share in ways that are appropriate for the person we are talking with. But here are some quick thoughts on sharing Jesus that I use when I am interacting with non-Christians.
Don’t be weird. That is, unless weird is just who you are! In general, though, don’t go trying to interject Jesus into every discussion and situation. Not everything must end with “Praise God” or “What an incredible blessing!” To non-Christians, it often comes across as contrived or meaningless. (But if it is naturally who you are, then do it—because you really mean it! Clear as mud, huh?) For most of us, though, we should maybe instead…
Create natural segues. For me, this typically comes in the midst of conversations about life, and especially in times of struggle or stress. Where do you find your hope? What is your source of strength?
Ask questions. Do more listening and asking of clarifying or deepening questions. Do less explaining and theologizing and more listening and letting the Spirit lead. Where is the person coming from? What is their perspective? What are their strengths and struggles, hopes and fears and frustrations? Where are we hearing the Spirit’s prompting in this discussion?
Discuss faith as an option. With my sailors, soldiers, and marines, I typically use a phrase from, “In my theology…” or “My faith tells me…” I lay out faith as an option and a place to find meaning or hope for where they are. And then typically…
Pray—and pray continuously. Pray for your interactions with this person. Pray that God will continue opening avenues and opportunities to talk. If the person is open to having you pray for something going on in their life, then actually do it. And follow up on it: “Hey, you’d talked about your mom’s health struggles recently; I’ve been praying for her. How is she doing?”
Continue to find your identity in Jesus. Your worth in Jesus’s eyes isn’t based on how many people you “convert” or how many times you share your faith; it isn’t based on knowing all the answers or having all of your theological ducks in a row. You are a child of God, loved and redeemed by him; he knows you by name, and you are his. He knows the number of hairs on your head and the number of your days. And that gives us the source of identity that allows us to share the life and hope we’ve found in the Gospel.
So share good news! Do it whenever you have the opportunity. And trust God to be at work in people’s hearts and lives, including your own.
