Boldness That I Envy

Leilani and I just had lunch with a couple from church that we are getting to know. I asked them where in ministry do they wish to serve. Their response humbled me and was a challenge to evangelize more boldly.

They told us that they like to visit people in public and bring discussions to a biblical direction. A recent habit of theirs is to go to street fairs and visit the religious booths challenging them to consider the truths of Scripture as they pertain to their false teachings. Expectedly, they are faced with some animosity and anger but often times are overheard by many in the vicinity which are presented with the gospel message in the discussion.

Other times they go to weekly meetings of other churches and ask questions challenging the teacher where from the Scripture he gets a particular conclusion or statement from. They they try to turn the discussion to one that extols Christ and His work.

What boldness! I may not approach those situations the same way, but that's me and they are themselves used of God. We share a similar passion to make Christ known but applied in a slightly different method. Regardless, I found myself envious of their boldness at times. I praise God for granting such faith to members of the body so that we might all be fitted together for His glory and name's sake.

Proclaiming in the Season of Politics

During this season of our nation's elections, what concerns you most?  The results of the election or the calling out of the elected?

"For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."  [1Co 2:2]

I recently took some time to count the number of times in a given week that I had a discussion of politics with a co-worker or friend.  I then counted the opportunities I redeemed the time by leading the discussion into eternal and spiritual matters of the soul.  Sadly, as many of you might find of yourselves, the former outnumbered the latter.

The reason that I chose to specifically count these conversations rather than others is that I have found political discussions to be easier to guide toward an evangelistic discussion.  Consider the following topics and their relation to spiritual and eternal matters:

• Economy - Our trust is in our citizenship in heaven [Phi 3:20].  David says, "I have been young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor begging bread." [Psa 37:25]
• Definition of family - He has made them man and woman [Gen 2]; Denial of gender denies creation; 
• Obama vs. McCain - They are both under the sovereign hand of God.  The believer can be encouraged that "He removes kings and sets up kings" [Dan 2:21].  The unbeliever should be told that both are sinners and fallen leading to discussions of the fallen nature of man. [Rom 3:23]
• Overturning Roe v. Wade - The Lord formed us all in the womb.  He has made all things and is sovereign over all creatures. [Isa 44:24]

It's difficult to turn a debate about sports, business, technology or even TV shows into an evangelistic opportunity but politics is much easier.  Unfortunately, the passion that many of us have in political discussions is often misguided and blinding which limits our usefulness in redeeming the time for the Lord and His glory.

Christian, I encourage you to take a quite moment to prepare yourself through study and prayer for these opportunities so that we might be useful for the kingdom of our Lord Jesus.