Recently, I was shopping at one of my favorite stores when (I guess) someone who worked there realized that I was a pastor of a local church. Apparently, he wanted to prove to me that he was some sort of SUPER CHRISTIAN!!!
So he walked into my aisle and randomly announced, “Hey everybody, I think we should start a Bible study right now. Does anybody have a Bible? I think we should get into the Word.”
People just started looking around confused and making faces. I just kept my head down, and tried to act like finding the right hairspray was really an involved process.
I guess since that attempt failed, he walked away. He returned a few minutes later asking people in my aisle, (in a WAY too loud tone of voice) “Hey, did you go to church this weekend? You know you should go to church right?”
One poor soul answered, “No I slept in… I was tired!” He then let her know, “If you had more Jesus, you wouldn’t be so tired!”
I guess I need more Jesus because I was tired when I woke up this morning. 🙂
Don’t be weird.
I’m really glad he’s a “Super Christian”, because I certainly am not. I’m just a normal Christ follower trying to stay sane myself, and tell others about the goodness of God in the meantime!
I don’t know if someone had taught this guy to invite people to church that way, or if he was unsure exactly about what to say. Maybe he was just trying too hard to impress me because I’m a pastor?
Whatever the reason, I promise you, that kind of behavior is NOT going to attract people! No one will be interested if we start talking loud and out of control about the Cardinals, Justin Bieber, or whatever the hottest thing of the moment is.
When we act differently about one area of our life than we do about any other area of our life, people are going to think that we’re just WEIRD! Jesus isn’t weird. He’s a rock. He is solid. He is always there and he loves everyone.
Jeezy Cheesy!
I’ve been informed by the college crew that whenever somebody makes a SUPER SPIRITUAL statement about something normal, it’s considered either JESUS JUKE or just plain JEEZY! Either way, that person is immediately written off!
I think there’s entirely too much JEEZY going on in the world. If we truly want our friends to fall in love with Jesus like we did, we have to be NORMAL people that just happen to LOVE GOD. We have regular everyday conversations that involve God…but aren’t crazy.
Take it slow.
We don’t need to judge people or start out by criticizing them. We can tell them about Jesus, without yelling at them or ramming it down their throats.
We can just LOVE them. Invite them to church, the same way we would invite them to dinner. Get them asking questions, and then BE THERE to answer them.
So what do YOU do?
Do you have a favorite way to engage people and share your faith? Or what have you seen someone do that you thought might be an atheist pretending to be a Christian because they were actually working for us in reverse?
Not precisely going with the situation, but one of my favorite things to say to people who find out that you’re “religious”, and in turn quickly say to you, “oh, I am not religious”, I try to always say to them, “Well, I’m not either. I just have faith, and that’s all its about.” I think that it catches people off guard in a good way.
Elizabeth – That is quick! I LIKE that!
JEEZY…JESUS JUKE…I like it! haha
Rick – I can’t take credit for it, I just repeated it!!
All I do is talk about the way God makes me feel, I make posts on my Facebook page about experiences that I know happened because of Jesus. I may share my favorite song or express the feeling that Jesus is talking to me through Pastor David & Pastor Nicole. People come to me and ask questions, I have been told that I speak so confident of God’s favor & promises that others find it interesting to learn about my feelings & experiences. I have been told that I know how share THE WORD OF GOD IN A UNIQUE WAY!!! and for that I have to thank Pastor David, Pastor Nicole & Faith Church for showing me the way !!!!
Of course I am thankful that God and His son has shown me the way as well!!!
Kim – The fact that people come to you shows that you have earned their trust. That is something that money can’t buy! This is the best way 🙂
Everynight Pastor Nicole I like to post Bible verses to my facebook page to remind my friends that are christins that there is a GOD and that he wrote Bible and that he loves all of his sons and daughters the same. Whenever my friends are having a bad day and need some cheering up I always remind them of Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who give sme strength. Everyday when I would be college I would always remind myslef that to help me get through the day. My friends that aren’t christains don’t treat me any different in fact they pray for me when I ask them to. I like to engage my faith through my friends and through praying. I wouldn’t change anything about the way that I engage my faith. I wnat to help my friends get closer to god and I hope by posting bible verses that they do get closer to GOD.
Cheryl – It sounds like you know your friends really well and know just how to relate to them. That is so perceptive, especially for a college student!
Well, coming from a musician of instrumental music, I think the most beautiful way to start off is with a smile! Its universal and mostly very well received. Then I guess listening would be next on my list
Sue – Great thoughts. You have found what makes you comfortable and where you are comfortable and start from there. That is a brilliant plan!
I love to hear what the other person has to say and then find a common ground. It seems to work well for business relations too and I have to really work on myself to be more ready to listen than to speak…and of course, being a woman takes all of my strength as I am far from the perfection zone….
-FROM BY FAVORITE BOOK
Those of us who have spent much time in the world of spiritual make-believe have eventually seen the childishness of it. This dream world has been replaced by a great sense of purpose, accompanied by a growing consciousness of the power of God in our lives. We have come to believe He would like us to keep our heads in the clouds with Him, but that our feet ought to be firmly planted on earth. That is where our fellow travelers are, and that is where our work must be done. These are the realities for us. We have found nothing incompatible between a powerful spiritual experience and a life of sane and happy usefulness.
That is so true and i feel you did the right thing in that moment kudos to you Pator Nicole. 🙂
Brittany – THANKS! It sure was an uncomfortable situation.