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| Who
We Are, Really
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In Thessalonica
the early Christians were charged with acting “contrary to
the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king,
Jesus” (Acts 17:7).
These few illustrations from Acts suffice to demonstrate that
Christians have always been misunderstood. You are not the
first to face opposition or prejudices when you talk to your
neighbors about the gospel. Jesus said not be surprised at
such: “If they have called the head of the house Beelzebub,
how much more will they malign the members of his house?”
(Matt 10:25). Still, how do we deal with misunderstandings or
prejudices when we try to explain to others who we really are?
Be reasonable. Public opinion is a fickle thing. It
is nebulous, unpredictable, unbalanced. Christianity is one of
dozens of subjects that the “man on the street” may be
uninformed about but doesn’t mind expressing his opinion
anyway. People talk—aimlessly, mindlessly. “Pick a little,
talk a little… pick, pick, pick… talk, talk, talk” is
the way of humanity. The same crowds that welcomed Jesus on
His triumphal entry cried for execution a week later. So to
expect an easy time navigating a current as unpredictable as
public opinion is to expect the impossible.
Be patient. There is no magic formula for easily
communicating the concept of undenominational Christianity to
folks. There is no simple way to get folks to see what we mean
when we say we are just “Christians” and nothing
more or less. Sometimes I think they’ve got it and in the
next sentence, I know they don’t. It just takes time. There
is no short-cut to evangelism. Evangelism is teaching. And all
teaching takes time, which implies patience. Conversation is
the only way. And lots of it.
Be fair. If folks have prejudices about your beliefs,
then isn’t it possible that “what you’ve heard” about
their beliefs might be just as erroneous. Don’t make the
mistake of saying, “Oh, you’re one of those!
Ya’ll are the ones who think…” That’s a good way to
start a “my view” versus “your view” argument rather
than a “let’s find the truth together” discussion.
It’s not fair to pigeon-hole folks. I don’t like it when
it’s done to me. What I’ve heard may not be so, and in
particular, it may not be so about them. And even if it is,
the “I know about you folks” line is only a way of
belittling, not of teaching.
Get your Bible. The sooner you do, the better. I hear
lots of folks talk about having a Bible study or discussion
with someone when the Bible was never opened during the course
of the conversation. Usually these exchanges are gun fights
rather than conversations. You shoot a few bullets at their
beliefs, and they shoot a few at yours, and both of you limp
away feeling victorious. Don’t get caught up in a shoot out.
Interrupt the exchange and say, “How about a Bible study?”
Make an agreement to sit down with the Bible and find the
truth of the matter together. Faith comes by hearing God’s
word, not your words nor your words about
God’s words (Rom 10:17). A Bible study is not a study about
the Bible but with the Bible—an open one.
Even following these few suggestions, you’ll be
misunderstood. But that’s O.K. Keep trying. Keep talking.
Keep looking. Be reasonable. Be patient. Be fair. And get your
Bible…fast. Keep it close at hand. The Lord will find you
somebody with an open mind who finally understands who you
are, really. And what’s better, they’ll find out who the
Lord is, really. And won’t that be good?
Unknown
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Copyright (C)
2009
Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
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