“Witnessing for Jesus in an Uninterested World”
“You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” – Luke 24:48-49
A few days before Easter Sunday, I did a little survey. I was at the public library requesting a book when I met my first respondent. I introduced myself and asked,
“What does Easter mean to you?”
“Not much,” was the quick answer.
I tried not to look disappointed but I’m not sure I succeeded. The person didn’t look offended by the question. I appreciated the honest reply. But it left me wondering, “How many more people are going to give me this response?”
It is always a challenge to be a witness in situations where most people are just not interested in God, or the language that we use about God. How then do we even begin to bear witness of the resurrected Jesus in these situations? How do we share the good news in an environment that appears to be uninterested. Maybe instead of asking them about Easter, I should ask them first, “How was your day?”
A guest to a Christian podcast on the topic, “How to unstuck stuck churches,” gave this answer to the host’s question, “What are people looking for these days that the church can respond to?” His short answer was, “Friendships are primary.” He then added, “If you think you are a friendly church, but you are only friendly to each other, that will not reach others for Christ. You have to be intentional. Each one has to have at least One person that they can pray for and be a friend to – not as a project or someone to fix – but as someone to love, be a friend to and devote time to know and enjoy. This is not for their sake but for your sake, so that you can grow as a disciple of Jesus. They may or may not come to believe in Jesus – but that is not your job. That’s God’s job. Your job is to love them and be a friend.
The early Christians did not stay inside their homes or places of worship. When they received the power from God through the Holy Spirit, they went out to be with the people in their community. For sure they loved one another, supported and prayed for each other, and broke bread together in remembrance of Jesus. But they did not stop there. They widened their circles of friendships, and went out of their way to meet people in order to lead them to Christ. In some cases, they dared to talk to strangers and reach out to enemies (like what Ananias did as directed by God’s angel to minister to Saul who later became Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles).
If we are to be a church who is serious about being Jesus’ witnesses, “Are we willing to be hospitable and friendly to people beyond our church walls? “ If the answer is “Yes,” then we can begin by going out of our way to welcome newcomers to our church, be intentional in reaching out to family, friends and neighbors and invite them to get to know Jesus, and work together to be the church who is open to new things that God is doing in our midst to renew and empower us to be witnesses of our Risen Lord.
In this season of new life and growth, I pray that we will be open to receive the power from on high and become joyful witnesses in our community and wherever God leads us.
Yours in the Peace and Power of Jesus, Our Risen Lord,
Pastor Carla
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