Would you like people to ask you about your faith in Christ?

In an ideal world it would be great if people were to ask you about Jesus, your faith or the church wouldn’t it? Do you think there is a way to open the door for that to happen? I believe that if you put the following suggestions into practice you will soon find that work colleagues, friends and neighbours will start bringing up the subject.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2: 9

Have you ever noticed that when people meet a policeman, even in social situations that they soon start to tell the officer about some issue of the law that they may have fractured in a minor way. It is as if they can’t help themselves, it seems almost cathartic for them!

The same thing happens when people meet doctors. In no time at all they are telling the poor doctor about their ailments and complaints. My Pastor of many years used to call it the “organ recital”. In other words a person would explain in detail the problems that they were experiencing with their internal organs!

Recently some very good Christian friends and I were discussing my last blog on the subject of nailing your colours to the mast. In other words, letting people know that you have a faith in Christ.   

One of them reminded me of something that always happens when you let people know about your faith. In my own case it has happened with work colleagues in every place I was employed, neighbours and family……they will ask questions.

Key Point: Tell people that you have put your faith in Christ - and people will ask you questions about Him!

I am a part-time tutor and last week I arrived at our offices early, well before anyone else. The head of the college always turns up for work first and was surprised to find me already working in the office. “Wow, you must have got here early this morning” she said. I took the opportunity straight away and explained that I had been at a leader’s early morning prayer meeting and decided to miss the rush hour traffic by coming directly from the church. She sat down in her chair and within a couple of minutes she asked me about church.

I hadn’t planned to catch her out nor set an evangelistic snare. I simply said that I had been to church and had demonstrated the fact that I was committed by explaining in a subtle way that I had been praying while many people were still in bed.

You see, things like this often don’t make any sense to people who don’t have a faith. Neither do things like baptisms, sharing faith on the streets or being a regular church attender. These things can often challenge people to the core. In fact, I have watched people try to figure it out as their facial expression is one of “Why are they doing that?”

The cross of Calvary, where Jesus paid the ultimate price to save us from a lost eternity, is something that many people just cannot understand. Scripture says: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”.

1 Corinthians 1:18

When the mind tries to work out something that doesn’t make sense, it is a natural thing to want more information. So very often that is what people will do. They will simply ask.

Getting back to the importance of telling people about your faith in some way, there are times to be silent and times to speak. We need to live out our faith in our actions and attitudes, but we must also use our mouths.

“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10: 14
  

A few months ago I was on the last of three connecting fights home from a preaching and speaking tour in Russia. I boarded my flight in Kiev and found a seat next to the window. The plane quickly filled up with people and eventually a very smart mature lady in business dress came along and asked if the seats were available. I welcomed her and invited her to sit.

After we took off she asked me if I had been working in the Ukraine. I explained that I was on my third flight home that day from Russia and politely asked what she had been doing in the country. She said that she was an international author and had been speaking at a number of events promoting her latest work.

After she had finished I told her that I was a preacher of the Gospel as well as an author of a couple of books. I quickly explained that I had spoken and preached in a number of cities and seen God do amazing things while I was there. As always after making a statement like that, I shut up and said nothing. Within a few seconds she asked me for more information.

The rest of the flight involved me sharing my testimony, explaining the Gospel and praying for her. I didn’t lead her to Christ, but I know she was challenged by what I had to say. I gave her a copy of my book which she said she would read.

When we take a step of faith and nail our colours to the mast amazing things happens. Where are your colours?