“I Don’t Want to Be Pushy” – And Other Fears

Does everyone in your family actively follow Christ?

How about the people you know at work, in your neighborhood or in your social circles?

If you are like me, the answer is no. Of course, I would love for everyone I know to experience the personal forgiveness, unconditional love, inner peace, deep joy and grander purpose that comes from a relationship with Christ. What could be better for the people I care about?

Hold Back

But sometimes I hold back from spiritual conversations. I don’t want to be pushy.

Thankfully, Sharon’s story has helped me get over that. She lives in San Diego and has two Christian coworkers at her brokerage firm. In fact, she and her two friends were among the top brokers in Southern California. Sharon says,

“Mike and Jenny [her coworkers] and I make more money than any of us ever dreamed. But we’ve all talked about how the money hasn’t really made us any happier. I know that they go to church regularly, so I sometimes hint to see if they’ll say anything about it.”

“One time we got into this real serious discussion about the important things in life. I decided just to ask them outright if church was that important to them. You should’ve seen how red their faces turned. They said a few things like, ‘Of course it is,’ but you could tell they weren’t that comfortable at all talking about religious issues. I just can’t understand it. I think I’m really searching for something, but no one seems to want to talk to me.”*

Start the Conversation

Know anyone like Sharon? Spirituality is one of hottest topics in our culture. There are people in your life and mine who would love to talk about God and faith and spirituality – if we will just start the conversation.

Sadly, most Christians think people who don’t go to church are antichurch and don’t want to hear about spiritual things. However, those perceptions don’t square with reality.

In a global study of Generation Z (born 1997 to 2012), the Barna Group found that today’s teens and 20-somethings are the most spiritually open generation on the planet. In most cases, they would happily welcome a caring, nonjudgmental conversation about faith and beliefs. In fact, they are waiting for those of us who follow Christ to bring it up!

Necessary Conditions

Perhaps the surest way to break through our fears is to pray for pre-Christian people in our lives by name, daily. When we do, it creates three necessary conditions of the heart for faith sharing:

1) Connection

2) Creativity

3) Courage

When we regularly pray for someone by name, the Holy Spirit connects us to them spiritually, sparks creative ways to show Christ’s love that uniquely touch them, and gives us the courage to shake off fear and speak confidently.

Your prayers are the first step to making an eternal difference in the lives of those who matter to you most.

Even More

Here’s the good news. Those same people matter to God even more.

Right now, someone you love is dying for you to bring up your faith. Go to that person, ask to hear about his or her story, and listen carefully. The Holy Spirit will lead you from there.    

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 

-1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

*From The Unchurched Next Door by Thom Rainer

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