Make them rethink what a Christian is

Good Tuesday morning, my friends.

What sets you and me apart as "Christians"?  Do the 10 or 20 people who know us best know we are a Christians?  How do they know?  How about people we interact with only occasionally - do we salt our conversation with peace and grace?  Do we lead with love?  This morning, I was reading an article by John Fischer and this is part of what he wrote:

Get to know people first as human beings. Don't lead with your Christianity; lead with your love, care and friendliness. Find common ground with people and show an interest in what interests them. (A good reason, by the way, for having lots of varied interests and concerns. The more interests you have, the more people you can connect to.) 

Listen. Learn. Develop meaningful relationships based on shared concerns and then when someone finds out you are "one of those Christians," they will have to rethink their idea of what a Christian is, or make an exception for you. Either way, you've broken through their resistance, and who knows what might happen after that? 

 You can read the entire article here.

I like the idea of people having to "rethink their idea of what a Christian is".  And what do (some) people think that a Christians is?  Judgmental.  Narrow-minded.  Critical. Self-righteous.  OUCH!  

Try to think of your unsaved friends and acquaintances as "pre-Christian" rather than "non-Christian".  That little change in perspective makes all the difference.

Amazing Grace and Peace that surpasses all understanding be yours today,

Bruce

Lord, give us a heart that cries out to all of your peoples.

Give us eyes to see them as your lost sheep, needing to be found, looking for guidance.

Give us ears to hear their silent cries.

Give us hands to reach out and lift them out of a life of not so quiet desperation.

Lord, most of all give us humility and love, that we may serve your people as your Son did.

Amen.

Bruce MacPherson macpherson@celtic.ca