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Often for Christians it is difficult to express the Christian faith without alienating people who are not ready or willing to talk about spiritual things. It can be more harmful to push Christianity on someone who is not ready to hear the message than saying nothing about the faith. It is possible to present the gospel through actions, attitudes and integrity. This article presents some suggestions for Christians who wish to reach their friends without turning them off.
If we look at the life of Jesus we see a man who was open to all people, who dealt with people fairly, and who listened to what other people had to say. Jesus never came across with a hard sell attitude. Some Christians attempt to push God with the same diligence as a used car salesman. This is not the example to follow. Christ talked to people and listened to their complaints. He took time to be with people and deal with their issues completely. This is the action needed to reach people. A Christian is caring, available, and willing to listen. Being available to friends in crisis, reaching out to strangers in need, and staying focused on the life of Christ will further an individual’s influence more than any stylized sales pitch.
The attitude of the successful evangelist is one of humility. The attitude of service. It was said by Phllip C. McGraw, author of Life Strategies, that the top fear of people is the fear of rejection, and their number one psychological need is acceptance. With these things in mind, the Christian that desires to meet the needs of people around him/her will have an attitude of acceptance. That is, accepting people for what they are and loving them where they are in their lives. This is being available to serve people in whatever capacity is needed. That is not to say a person is to be available to everyone at all times. Christ took time to be alone and meditate. He took care of himself, because He knew that in order to serve others he had to support his own spiritual needs.
The integrity of a Christian trying to get the message out should be unblemished. This is the Christian that does not cheat on taxes, does not supplement home office supplies with extras from work, and does return the change at a check out when undercharged. The Christian never knows when his/her actions will be a witness to someone. It is like living life in a glass case. The world is watching to see if the actions live up to the words. Of course Christians will make errors, and we will fail. That is what it is all about, but the effort and the awareness is what we are supposed to live.
Ultimately, prayer is the connection that will reach other people. A person who lives a prayerful life will have the real power to lead. It is through prayer that that experience of Christianity is enhanced and fulfilled. Through prayer people are reached in God’s own time. A Christian that seeks to gather numbers of saved individuals, often has lost the concept that only God has the power to lead people down the spiritual path. The effective actions, attitude, and integrity of a Christian is apparent when the heart is focused on Jesus Christ, and His plan for each person.
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