Can You Defend Christianity?
In Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller shocked me when he described an interview he did with a radio talk show host.
“Defend Christianity,” demanded the radio jock.
“I can’t,” replied Miller.
In disbelief, the host asked again, “What do you mean? You write Christian books and stuff. You can’t even defend what you write about?”
Miller explained that today, Christianity means too many different things to people. To some, it’s the guy holding up the “John 3:16” sign in the end zone of the football field. To others, it’s the obnoxious pink-haired lady on TBN, crying and begging for your money. All around, people who wear the brand name “Christian” often repulse those who aren’t believers . . . rarely do they compel them.
When I first committed myself to Christ years ago, I was dangerous. I wanted to “save” everybody. I telephoned every adult in my family to confront them about their faith. I amused friends with my insensitive zeal. The net result of all my talking…? Zero new Christians. Several people, including my own brother and sister, saw me as self-righteous and judgmental…two words that were never used to describe Jesus. As a matter of fact, the only two adjectives Jesus ever used to describe Himself were “gentle” and “humble in heart”.
The “secret sauce” of Christianity is Jesus. Yes, Jesus! Even the name is just plain hard to process. Yet we need to recognize that Jesus has no other physical presence on this earth except through people like us. We are His hands, His feet, His eyes, His handshake. If Jesus is going to communicate His love and acceptance to people, it’s going to be through us.
Now don’t get me wrong….there’s a time to be bold about your faith and even confrontational with the people that you’ve “earned the right” with. But we have to earn that right…they have to “know we care” before they will “care to know.”
So today, own the fact that you have the opportunity to communicate the love and acceptance of Jesus Christ to every human being you encounter. Acknowledge that you have the ability to share the love of Christ to your bosses, your coworkers, your friends, your families and even to the strangers you meet on the street.
Realize that you have the privilege of being His light in a dark world: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. . . . “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
So, will you do it? Will you intentionally let Jesus express His delight in people—whom He created in His own image? Will you set aside your judgmental self righteousness and look at others the way Jesus does? Can you leave the judging of people to God and just love people as Jesus did . . . one encounter at a time?
Question: How will you defend Christianity to those you work with? Will you be a witness through your actions and by genuinely loving and serving others? You can leave a comment by clicking here.
NOTE: The film adaptation of Donald Miller’s best selling book Blue like Jazz hits theaters this weekend. See the trailer at http://www.bluelikejazzthemovie.com/
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Responses (11)
AMEN! I lived far from God for most of my life. Hearing this message six years ago changed everything for me! Freedom from judging others grew into loving them…what an amazing gift!
I’m with you Sue. It’s so clarifying to realize that loving people unconditionally draws them to our faith. When we leave the judging to God and just love, our faith is attractive vs. repulsive.
In communicating my faith to others I have found that I must be able to articulate not only what I believe but more importantly why I believe.
Our culture presents Christianity as a blind faith. The reality is that belief in Christ is a reasonable faith. The historicity of the death and resurrection of Jesus and the reliability of biblical manuscripts are credible and evidential.
1 Peter 3:15 admonishes us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” As mentors are we prepared?
…and keeping it simple is so important. My favorite story is “the man born blind”. When he was challenged, he said “Hey, all I can tell you is ‘I was blind but now I can see'”. Being able to tell our own faith story is critical, not the “sunday school version”, but the REAL story of our redemption. No one can argue with your story, because you lived it…you know it’s true!
It is hard being a bi-vocational Pastor. All of my coworkers know that I am also a Pastor and I spend so much time with them they see all my faults. I do my best to be consistent in my word and actions doing my best to be a positive voice. I am also quick to ask for forgiveness. I hope that they see a life lived for Jesus is a journey. I may have a title of a pastor, but I am still human like everyone else.
Jon, your humility will shine through. That’s what God is after in all of us…a humble heart. Usually, He has to allow us to be broken so we’ll humble ourselves. But the humble heart is what He wants. And if you have one, your coworkers will see it. Over time, God will use you in ways you can’t imagine right now.
Thanks Regi, I REALLY needed to hear that!
Great Jon!
My devotional this morning was spot-on from 1 Timothy. “Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.”
Lately, it’s hit me how one who is living as a Jesus-follower contrasts with everyone else. He/she doesn’t have to be Billy Graham or Mother Teresa to stand out, because the culture is so dark and people are so selfish. A loving, serving, humble heart will shine like a spotlight into a moonless night.
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