Being bold for our faith

Sometimes I think we can get a little bit gun shy about sharing our faith - after all, "what would "so and so" think of me if he knew I was a follower of Christ?"

I understand that. I want to be liked just as much as you do.

Yet I am finding out that many times non-churched people will respect and like me even MORE when they find out that I am a follower of Christ and I live the faith and I AND share my faith with them.

Let me give you an example of that from a confessed atheist.

Penn Jillette is one half of Penn and Teller, a duo that has been headlining Vegas shows for years with comedy and the art of illusion.

Penn has never been shy about his disbelief in God, often writing about his conviction in articles and best-selling books.

Yet in an on-line video blog that can be found on YouTube, Penn shares a story about the time a gracious Christian businessman gave him a Bible as a gift.

Penn goes on to use the story as an opportunity to point out that Christians who don't evangelize must really hate people. Here's the direct quote from his video blog:

"I've always said, you know, that I don't respect people who do not proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, uh, well, it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward—and atheists who think that people shouldn't proselytize, [saying] "Just leave me alone and keep your religion to yourself"—uh, how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize them? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed beyond the shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming to hit you, and you didn't believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

Wow, I couldn't have said it better. Non-churched people ARE our responsibility. So what's more important - whether they like us or not, or where they are going to spend eternity?

One disclaimer: Armed with the above statements, we don't go and try to "beat someone over the head" with the gospel. Notice that he said the Christian businessman was "gracious". It's important that we are relationally sound but yet bold at the same time.

The Holy Spirit will help you with that.

In this season of a remake of "Star Trek" (which I want to see this weekend) - be bold and go where no man has gone before - into the world of the non-believer and share your faith (or at least invite them to church).

Just a thought.