A number of years ago, I was part of a ministry that believed in taking the initiative to tell others about Christ. I mean, really taking the initiative, like randomly knocking on doors or approaching people you didn’t know in a public place. It certainly meant sharing your faith with the person sitting next to you on the airplane.
I’m not suggesting there’s anything wrong with this approach. I’m just not sure how effective it is.
On the other end of the spectrum is the idea of simply “living good lives” and then waiting for others to ask us how we do it. This method also has limited effectiveness for at least a couple reasons.
First, there are many people who don’t know Christ, but are attempting to live good, moral lives. Many of them do a much better job of feeding the homeless and caring for AIDS patients than Christians do.
The second problem with the “wait to be asked” method is that most of us aren’t being asked.
Are you with me?
We get into debt. We worry about money. We spend more on ourselves than spreading the gospel. On average, those who profess to follow Christ give just over 2% of their income. When is the last time we did anything radical for Christ with our money?
We spend several hours watching television everyday, but we’re too busy to read the Bible or volunteer to mentor a child.
Our marriages aren’t all that great and most of our kids are running from the church once they leave our homes.
When difficulties come, we worry and get anxious. Just like those who don’t know Christ.
No wonder we don’t have many people asking about our God. They just don’t see Him in us.
In Deuteronomy 4:5-8, Moses writes…
See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the LORD my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
As they are preparing to enter the Promised Land, Moses is urging the Israelites to obey God’s commandments. Why? Because when they obey, other nations will take notice.
This is a passage about the nation of Israel entering the Promised Land, but I can’t help thinking there’s a principle here for us. If we are careful to obey God, then we put ourselves in a position for God to work our lives in such a way that others will notice. And maybe even ask us about it.
Psalm 34:8 says:
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
It doesn’t say the one who tastes is blessed. It’s the one who takes refuge, the one who runs to Him for protection, the one who trusts in Him–he is the one that is blessed.
Could it be that we’ve tasted the LORD and we’ve learned that He is good, but we have failed to take refuge in Him. Like the person who is offered a bite of chicken from a vendor at the mall food court, we have tasted, enjoyed it, but moved on to find something we like more.
Maybe if we were to actually take refuge in Him, to trust Him enough to obey Him, our lives would be different enough that someone might actually ask us about Him.
Is there anything keeping you from taking refuge in God? From radically placing your trust in Him? From obeying His commands?
Now is the time to turn back to Him.
Maybe our prayer simply needs to be:
Lord, please make my life one that’s worth asking about.