The Best Way To Share Your Faith

The churches I went to when I was a kid encouraged (strongly) door-to-door evangelism.  In fact, by the time I was in high school I was a veteran of door-to-door evangelism.  I was also a veteran of getting doors slammed in my face.  

Our technique for witnessing to people when we went door-to-door was almost completely lacking in any kind of tact whatsoever.  The opening spiel went something like this:  "Hello, my name is Leon from __________Church.  I'd like to ask you an important question.  If you died right now would you spend eternity in heaven or hell?"  

As you can imagine, our success rate on winning souls was somewhere between Nothing and Zero.  

I think there are a lot of Christians who so desperately don't want to seem like door-to-door evangelists that they never really develop healthy ways to share their faith.  In fact, I talk to a lot of Christians, who confess that even when they have opportunities to talk about their faith with other people, they more often than not will choose to remain silent. 

So where is the happy medium between pounding on doors being obnoxious and saying nothing?  I think, like a lot of things, it lies in our surrendering our will to God's, and in being open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  

In Luke 21:14 Jesus told his followers not to worry about what they would say when they had an opportunity to share their faith.  "I will give you the wisdom," he told them.  Jesus' promise to his followers was a faith that was alive to the Spirit, and the Spirit's leading.  

As followers of Jesus we've been given a command by the Savior himself to "Go out into all the world and preach the Gospel."  But we need to know a couple of things first.  

To begin with, we can't pound on the doors of people's hearts and expect to be allowed inside.  There are places only the Spirit can go, and maybe they need to have their hearts unlocked from the inside.  

Secondly, we can't be afraid to tell our stories, and share what following Jesus means to us.  When we let our fear go, and simply speak our truth--the Spirit will do the rest.  And when we go out into the world with this in mind, we suddenly discover more and more opportunities to connect and share. 

May you find ways to share the story of your faith today and every day.  May you discover courage and words you never thought you had as you rely on the Spirit of God to guide you.  And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. Amen.