Sept 27 2009 - But What Do I Say?!

1 Peter 3: 13-17 “Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? ¹⁴But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, ¹⁵but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; ¹⁶yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.” 

 While Tracy & I were volunteering for an animal organization, I was wearing a Methodist t-shirt. One of the staff members asked me, “What’s a Methodist?” My mind raced with all the information & history I knew that would seem irrelevant to her. So I asked her, 

“well maybe I can compare it to another faith or denomination, do you have a faith background?” “No, not organized religion. I’m mostly into animals & nature. That does a lot for my spirituality.”  My mind raced again, “here’s an opportunity to share my faith story to a person who doesn’t know Jesus.” Then my mind slowed to a near stop, like running out of gas, “wow, where do I start?!”

Now, the United Methodist membership vows have been updated to state, “will you support the Church with your  prayers, presence, gifts, service, and WITNESS.” Huh. Witnessing is not a friendly word to most mainline protestants. Our heart starts pounding, the mouth goes dry, and the palms get sweaty!

And it does not help being a “professional Christian” because clergy have WAY TOO MUCH information that we can spout which would make glaze over anyone’s eyes.

Besides, a casual question like “What’s a Methodist?” does not call for a 20 minute sermon! It calls for non-anxious genuinely personal & meaningful conversation about one of the most important things in my life! Oh gosh, my heart’s pounding, mouth is dry, palms are getting sweaty!

It seems like some of the anxiety is about A) getting “caught” in not knowing what Methodists really believe, or B) feeling vulnerable to articulate something so personal as our faith, or C) not being able to quote the bible, or D) being asked questions of faith we have no earthly idea how to answer, OR E) all of the above!

To complicate the matter of sharing our faith story even more, we participate in a congregation which allows for a broad path of Christian beliefs. We’re encouraged to think & question, & wonder & discuss – rather than just being told WHAT to think.

Yet in times like witnessing our faith, it can seem good to have just a black & white right way to do it right?

I have an acquaintance who worships in an evangelical church – they are gifted at witnessing. Yet they promote a black & white right way to do it – complete with training & course work sometimes using a method called the “Roman Road”.

The Roman Road includes specific scriptures in the book of Romans that some Christians utilize to lead people to salvation i.e. a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s a systematic approach using key scripture verses and steps leading up to the sinner’s prayer.

Shortly after Annual Conference was in town last June, this acquaintance read and heard about Methodists rethinking church and doing more marketing & outreach. So he makes this offer to me: Blaine, that’s great to hear that Methodists are open to witnessing more. If you’d like, I’d be glad to come to your church to do some training on the Roman Road.

I was kind of offended! He didn’t ask me how the plans were going or what plans we had, he just pronounced his way of doing it and coming into our place to train us!  Baa.

The Roman Road itself is fine, and its sound theology as well as being based on scripture.  Yet, generally, it’s not the style or approach many of us subscribe to.

Then I got to thinking, well o.k., then what is our style and approach.  Are our beliefs so broad that we cannot articulate them to someone who asks? Is our faith so personal that it’s a well-kept secret when Jesus calls us to go and share it with others?

Mainline churches continue to decline while our spirituality is exactly what the world needs right now. Further, Methodism is growing in Africa and Asia. The U.S. has actually become of mission field for other countries.

I’ve hear that “doing business without advertising it is like waiving to a friend – in the dark! You might know what you’re doing, but no one else does.”

Yes, it is important to live our faith by behaving our beliefs, adjusting our attitudes to a Christ-like manner, serving through volunteer time, talents, and funding. AND it is also important to share our faith story in a manner that makes a meaningful difference to others; in a gentle way that prompts them to want to have a relationship with the loving Lord that we worship.

There’s no better time than the present. Some of the men in our church just watched a video about the younger generations. It revealed that “70% of our youth leave the church by the time they graduate from high school. 90% of those remaining will leave during college or early 20’s. And fewer than 5% will remain in our churches.”

Well, enough of the doom & gloom. We are a people of hope, peace, justice, faith, and love who know first-hand what it means to make mistakes and be forgiven; to be disappointed and to offer grace; to grieve and be given caring support; to feel lonely and be accepted. These are some of the faith stories that need to be shared with other people who are going through the same things, yet don’t have the faith relationship with Jesus or a loving faith community for support.

Peter proclaims what comes next: “Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? ¹⁴But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, ¹⁵but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; ¹⁶yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” (3:13-16)

Some Tips for Learning and for Sharing Your Faith Story (found in the bulletin newsletter page 11)

A Key Principle: people want to know how much you care before they care how much you know!

1)    What are your basic Christian beliefs: become more consciously aware of them.

 One reason we're sometimes reluctant to witness is that we don't feel completely confident in our knowledge of the basics of our beliefs. Some people think that because they do not have a graduate degree in theology, they're not qualified to talk about their faith. That's not true. The Christian faith is powerful because it is simple. It doesn't rest on complicated theories and formulas that only a scholar can understand. It rests on simple truth.

Many people are afraid that if they get into a witnessing situation they might be asked a question that they don't know how to answer. I still get asked questions I can't answer, because there are many questions for which there are no easy answers.

2)    Know your story: Where I was (the problems/challenges) think of an emotional word such as “scared” or “anxious”, what I did (the spiritual solution/support), where I am now (living better w/help of faith) think of an emotional words such as “peace” or “hopeful” – be able to tell it in under 3 minutes.

When we tell someone about the difference Christ has made in our life, we begin to give them hope that maybe God can make a difference in their life, too.

3)    Think about what it means to you personally to be a part of the church, e.g. friends, sense of belonging & support; rather than the church as an organization e.g. history, Methodism, building.

4)    FRANK people: Friends, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors, Kids. Write down names and pray for them.

5)    Ask God to present the persons & situations for faith sharing to occur.

6)    Open the door for conversations to occur. Let it be known in casual & comfortable ways that you attend church, pray, have hope through God.

Several years ago, when Steve May was enrolling his son in grade school, he struck up a conversation with the school principal. She didn't know him at all. During the conversation she casually mentioned that she sings in the choir at church. A few minutes later, when they were talking about the school's new technology center she said, "This is an answer to prayer.” 

It's good news, and it offers people hope. People don't want to be preached at, they don't want to be condemned, they don't want to be on the receiving end of a polished Gospel sales presentation—but they do want hope. And we have a hope-filled story to share. Amen?!

Finally, Inviting  a friend, relative, associate, neighbor, or kid’s family to church is wonderful. There are a few tips on page 11 of the newsletter to assist you in the invitation.

I’ll close with this illustration: Sometimes people may respond, “ya I used to go to church, but I had a bad experience.” Or “the weekends just got too busy”.  A bad meal at a restaurant doesn’t keep a person from trying other restaurants; they’re hunger stills needs to be satisfied.

Imagine the following scenario: If you’re like me, life can get pretty tough, and I find myself starvin’ for hope. Tracy & I go to a particular restaurant we have really come to enjoy. Sure, we’ve gone to different places before; some are o.k., a few we won’t go back to!  Ah, but this place, we come away well-fed and energized from the whole experience. From the greeter at the door, to the courtesy of the staff, to the different kinds of entrees that hit the spot. There’s another unique element as well. The other customers. We usually sit in the same section because we’ve gotten to know the server. Now we have also gotten to know the others around us – they’re so accepting, they miss us when we’re not there, and we have really become supportive of each other.  Tracy & I both are learning quite a bit about the menu, the food, and how to eat healthier along the way.

You know, if you’re hungry for a sense of belonging, or have an appetite for getting healthier in a group who accepts you just as you are, I’d love for you to come with us sometime. We usually go at 9 a.m. on Sundays, and I’d be glad to meet you outside the front, then introduce you to some of our friends. Think about it, & I’ll being praying for you in the meanwhile.