Sharing My Faith - Class Feedback (2nd Trimester 2008)

On July 20th, 2008, the topic presented was 'Sharing My Faith Without Fear of Rejection'. As this is generally considered to be a topic with varying degrees of embarassment, fear, hesitation and risk attached to it, the class attendees were asked to anonymously answer six questions regarding sharing faith in Jesus Christ.

There were 16 questionnaires returned.

Q#1 - Have you ever successfully shared your faith in Jesus Christ with another person? "Successfully" means the other person came to faith in Jesus Christ because of your witness.

-There were 4 "No" responses.
-There were 6 "Yes" responses.
-There were 2 "Not Sure" responses.
-There was one blank response.

The remaining responses were:

-I am not sure but on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being no faith, 10 being disciplined warrior for God), I have seen individuals grow by as much as 4 points.
-As a child, one of my friends became a Christian, but I haven't had this experience as an adult.
-I have had someone re-dedicate, recommit.

Q#2 - In your encounters to share your faith in Jesus Christ, what things worked?

-There was one blank response.

The remaining responses were:
-Relationship; conversations salted with Spirit-filled talk; relating difficulty in Christian hope and personal testimonies.
-Embodying Christ first... Answering that Christ is the reward for my actions... Invite them to church to experience and learn what Christ can do.
-Enthusiasm and conviction, being real about my feelings.
-Sharing personal experiences of encounters with God, and my own moments of life changes.
-Asking questions, having a knowledge of apologetics, having a solid friendship with the person I'm talking with.
-My actions have led people to ask me why I do what I do... In most circumstances, people have approached me... Conversation seemed "natural" not forced.
-Openness.
-Suggesting reading that may be less dogmatic - Case for Christ/Creator, Mere Christianity, etc. It introduces reasoning for a Creator... Step 1.
-Loving other people, being bold to speak the truth, which honestly I rarely do.
-Being real with people. Telling stories from the Bible. Being their friend first.
-Love works. Walking in love and not judging which means for me that change is not required to know Jesus. It has also been important to show the relationship of Christ to laws, spiritual and physical. The law of Sin and Death and the law of Life.
-Start a conversation about general things, about "who" we are and "like to do". I mention or disclose that I am a Christian and spend time in service to God. Then ask "are you a Christian?" or "What church do you attend?" If the answer is "No", then my question would be "Would you like to know more about Christ Jesus and why this part of my life is so important to me?"
-Being able to share my personal experiences with Christ... Having a short and clear explanation of the Gospel prepared in my mind.
-Relationship/long-term relationship... the Word of God, reading and studying together.
-Asking people if I can share my story of how I've seen God's work in my life... What I used to believe about God; the questions I've asked others when I was seeking the truth... Asking questions rather than telling/preaching.

Q#3 - In your encounters to share your faith in Jesus Christ, what things didn't work?

-There were two blank responses.

The remaining responses were:
-Only sharing that fell on deaf ears.
-Starting off with words: telling them they need to be saved; asking if they are sure of their salvation, etc. These put them on the defensive.
-Scare tactics, shaming.
-People get turned off by judgmentalism or being told their faith is wrong.
-Being too quick to defend the faith, rather than listening first.
-Forcing the issues.
-Social protocol - rules against sharing in the workplace.
-Trying to present my faith in ways that try to keep other people happy and comfortable.
-Telling people flat out they are sinners, or that they need God or something like that.
-Judgment doesn't. "I got it all figured out". Me here and you there unless I share that I've been there, walked there and in some ways I am still there, right where they are.
-Open enthusiam about any relationship with Him and how this relationship keeps me happy and joyful and successful.
-Expecting a quick answer or immediate change of heart.
-Intellectual argument with the promise of a win... Battles to define truth.
-Talking a lot and not listening to the other person... Pressuring, urging for them to come to faith.

Q#4 - When an opportunity for sharing your faith arises, what do you fear the most... and why?

The responses were:
-Ridicule... loss of respect of my peers.
-Persecution. Faith can be shunned by the scientific, engineering community.
-Not having answers or explanations for their questions.
-Rejection, or people thinking I'm stupid.
-Not knowing enough/having the "right" answers.
-I fear what the person will think of me; I fear that I will not be able to communicate my faith in a loving and articulate way.
-Not being logical or understood...Introducing awkwardness into the relationship.
-Not knowing the answers to questions that will arise... Not being able to quote Scripture.
-Many people are close-minded on certain topics (e.g. politics, religion, etc.); having a meaningful conversation can be challenging or futile.
-Telling someone absolute truths that to others seem difficult to accept in our culture of relative truths. I have a difficult time telling others that this is not true.
-Their opinion of me... My own pride.
-The "forcing Christ on me" response. Overall, I don't fear it; I try to listen for the directing of the Spirit and I state it as such.
-I do not fear very much, but do feel they will raise challenging questions beyond those I am prepared to fully answer.
-The strain it may place on a friendship in future conversations - either that things will be awkward, or just being rejected.
-Embarassment or loss of personal standing... Loss of the relationship... Personal rejection/alienation from that person.
-That I won't have the answers or a response to their questions or comments. Honestly, it may be a fear of looking uninformed. It could also be a desire to do evangelism "right", and if I mess up it could affect their coming to faith.

Q#5 - When an opportunity for sharing your faith arises, what excites you the most... and why?

-There were two blank responses.

The remaining responses were:
-That God can make a life change for the better and unshackle prisoners.
-Being able to share in the other person's experience. To see the change that Christ works in them.
-The possibility of someone being freed from fear.
-Being able to connect with the person, perhaps help change their direction in life.
-It makes me feel that God is at work in someone else's life and He's using me to be a part of that.
-That people can experience the joy I have through the Lord.
-That it can provide focus and meaning to someone's life, that otherwise feels lost.
-I rarely get excited; more fearful or convicted.
-The knowledge that this is the only way.
-Being used by God and being in touch with the Holy Spirit. What joy I feel when I see the seed taking hold.
-The fact that God has allowed me the opportunity to stand up for Him and believe I am able to tell others about Him.
-The opportunity to see Christ bring life into the hopelessness and suffering. To see Christ bring about a transformation in their decisions and priorities.
-The hope that Christ would be glorified.
-That God is working through me to reach out to the lost. I have seen God at work opening doors of opportunity and that is encouraging and invigorating.

Q#6 - What is your "best technique" for sharing your faith in Jesus Christ?

-There were two blank responses.

The remaining responses were:
-Breathe prayers before sharing... Show you are interested in the individual... Build a relationship... God makes it work.
-Being Christ-like; the aroma is unmistakable.
-Sharing myself.
-Share personal experience; don't "preach".
-I don't do this enough, but I think it would be just being completely real, honest and transparent with those I want to share my faith with.
-Showing care and concern when someone is in need or is struggling.
-By example.
-Relationships.
-Follow up with the person, not just convert them and go on.
-Accepting people where they are and loving them anyway... Asking questions - where is the line between good and bad, righteousness and evil?
-Beginning with myself and what God has done for me.
-Really being involved with people's lives - not just with them, but being willing to work with them through the difficulties.
-Relationships.
-Be authentic and honest, having compassion for where they are at.

Teacher's (Tony) Comments...

I was struck by two of the responses...

1) To Question #5: "The knowledge that this is the only way."

2) To Question #6: "Be authentic and honest, having compassion for where they are at."

As professed believers, we hold to the truth of Holy Scripture and Jesus Christ as the only way to life... as witnessed by Christ's own words:

I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Jesus Christ accepted all who came to Him, without reservation, as they were. Jesus displayed compassion, mercy, forgiveness, love... all attributes of the present Kingdom Life among us... as shown in the story regarding the woman caught in adultery:

Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin." (John 8:10-11)

Because our award and destiny is certain, believers must never be ashamed to profess their faith in Jesus Christ, fearing the ridicule of the world: the righteousness of Christ is more to be feared:

If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels. (Mark 8:38)