I was once asked,” how do you talk to someone who is maybe a non-Christian or unsaved?” This made me think how would I like to be talked too as a Christian, “slowly, simple and truthfully”. Then I thought, “We should not expect unsaved people to understand us. God has said,The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor.2:14).The “natural” person is a lost person, who is spiritually blinded and cannot understand the spiritual motives, values, or insights of the Christian life. So then how can we as Christian’s be more understanding and supportive?
One-way would be to engage people like you would want to be engaged; talk about things that you like or dislike. For example books that are non-Christian (one is “How to be good” by Nick Homby). I may read such a book and then engage them in questions that are thought provoking and before you know it our conversation is about Christianity. Often as a football coach during practice, I have verses (scripture) written in plan view with my football plays to remind me to coach biblically and my non-believing coaching friends may ask me about that. I never try to convert but do try to be me and open to all things.
I must say that as a Christian, I do not see Christianity as either restrictive or exclusive. I believe in a God who is quite inclusive, loving and just and I believe that this point of view is well supported in the Bible. I suppose my focus would more be with why a person (the one’s posing the question) are not ready to engage in a conversation with people about their belief’s and desire to not believe. I believe our purpose as Christians is to proclaim the Good News, as we know it to be true in our lives. It is not our purpose to convert; only God can convert so to claim to be engaging in conversion is to claim to be gods ourselves. I would therefore, encourage us to engage our friends, families who don’t believe in a conversation about our individual faith.
Some times just finding out why a person feels that Christianity could be restrictive or exclusive then share with them why you feel it is not that way. However, if your first approach is to say that, “you will never be truly happy unless you are a Christian.” Then stop before you start. I find that the place to start is with personal experiences, not theological content that comes later. What is your personal experience of being a Christian? What difference does it make in your life to say that you are a Christian? Here what is said and then ask your friend to hear you as well, not for the purpose of conversion but for the purpose of building up one another.
Finally remember the words of one wiser than me. “Bidden or not, God is present” You may not ever know what difference such a conversation might have but you can know that God will be present in the conversation and that is enough.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
