Time to Engage!
I hope you read Pastor David Mathis’s article last week “Raise the Flag Early”. I also hope you have, even if just for a few days, recalibrated the way you introduce yourself, where you live, and what activities you are excited about this summer. We’ve learned a better way to answer a question like: “What did you do last weekend?”
It’s good to get over our own discomfort or fear, and wear the name of Jesus on our sleeves with new people we meet. But what if that initial introduction has passed and Jesus never came up? And interaction after interaction, Jesus never makes it into the conversation? And not just for weeks or months, but maybe even years?
What are we to do then?
We fear that it has been too long, it is too late, or it will be too much of a surprise to talk about Jesus. We may resign in our hearts that we will do it differently next time, and if the Lord really wants us to reach this person then maybe they will bring it up themselves. However, I think there is a better way for us here.
Relationship Over Strategy
We want to have intention and purpose, but having a “strategy” may convey more than is helpful. Strategy can feel more like chess and less like friendship. Strategy makes moves to set up other moves. In football, often there is a strategy of running similar plays over and over, all to set up one trick play that goes the other direction with the expectation of scoring a touchdown. Trick plays are high risk and high reward, but too much is put on their shoulders if that is the strategy to win the game. Overdone strategy in evangelism can be just like a trick play in football. We are looking for a smooth transition, a perfect moment, because we think sharing the gospel is the all-or-nothing “moment.”
Moment or Process?
Is sharing the gospel a moment or a process? Is it a one-time act, the big play pulled out of our back pocket, or is it a process of an ongoing relationship with regular play after regular play?
One way that the language of “moment” is helpful, is that it is important to recognize when we have, or have not, shared the gospel. The first time you are able to clearly articulate the gospel message is an important moment, and one worth praising God for. However, sharing your faith and your life with others is filled with many moments. Moments like identifying as a Christian, or telling someone you go to church, or that you read the Bible, or have a habit of praying. Moments of sharing your hopes for your kids, or how God has met you in your longings. Moments of sharing how he has given you peace and hope through painful circumstances. One way to summarize a series of moments is to call it a process.
We don’t have only one shot. One bullet can’t carry it all at once. If you think you only have one shot to get it right, you will never shoot. But if we simply remember that God will work through the process of us sharing the gospel multiple times in multiple ways, then we won’t put too much weight on that first shot, or the one chance of pulling off a trick play.
Four Reasons to Engage
No matter how far behind you feel, or how big of a hole you think you have dug, I’m ‘giving you permission’ to engage! It is time! In all the preparatory relationship-building you have done, whether in faithfulness or in fear, it’s time to cash in a few of those chips. I have four considerations for why, with God’s help, we can spiritually engage those we have failed to engage with in the past.
God does the work in their hearts, not you! Evangelism is not creating spiritual interest so much as it is looking for it and finding it. And, the gospel is too powerful to be stopped by any failure in previous “strategy.”
You are probably more aware of it then they are. You are thinking, “I didn’t bring it up, again!” They are thinking “Joe is a friendly neighbor.” Don’t overstate the divide in your mind, and to whatever degree it exists, have courage to overcome it.
You can introduce new habits in conversation even with long-time relationship. Make the most of how you answer what happened in your week, or what you’re excited about. Everything Pastor David Mathis mentioned in last week’s article can be added into conversations with established friendships as well.
You can go all in with your chips if you want. There is nothing preventing you from just being honest with it all. What if you were to reach out to one of your long time friends and say “Hey, there is something I have been thinking about that I wanted to discuss with you.” Then, after a few minutes of catching up when you get together, they ask “What did you want to talk about?” Then, you say something like: “There is something that is really important to me that I have never brought up out of fear. I’ve wanted to tell you how much Jesus has changed my life and how much joy he has given me. Remember when you told me a few weeks ago that you felt directionless, like your just running in place? I have felt that way before and Jesus has given me great hope in those times…”
Let Love Be Genuine
To bear it all at once makes you … human, and humble, and honest. And what will be revealed, regardless of how they respond, is that your love toward them is genuine. Genuine enough to step through the gulf you think you have created, rather than looking for a strategy to work your way back. And with courageous love you cut through the games and share what’s on your heart.
Whether you want to cash in a few relational chips at a time, or push them all in, may God through his Spirit grant us wisdom and grace, to speak about Jesus at more times and in more ways because of our genuine love of the lost.
