Sharing
As children, we learned to share. Or we should have. Some learned better than others. But I remember watching my own children trying to learn that. It's amazing how important one toy, perhaps ignored the rest of the day, becomes when someone else wants to play with it. "Mine!" the child will shout while yanking it away from the other. Tears ensue. Lots and lots and lots of tears. More than the situation warrants. And the parent will remind the child of what they've reminded them many, many times: "You need to share."
Eventually, we learn to share most things. Sharing our toys is only the first step that begins to develop a heart of generosity in us. As we grow, we learn to share resources, money, time, our possessions, all of life...except one thing.
The thing we claim is most precious to us we most often fail to share. And it's the thing that could and should be most shared.
That "thing" is our faith.
John Wesley's tenth question is very pointed: "When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?" When I first saw that, I read it wrong, as if I was supposed to be speaking to people who have the same faith as me. (That's a problem of centuries-old English. Syntax and grammar have changed.) What Wesley really is asking is when was the last time was that you shared your faith with someone, or when you had a conversation about faith, about Jesus. Well, some of us do that all the time...at church. So perhaps the question ought to be asked this way today: when did I last talk about Jesus outside of the church building?
Not so easy now, huh? If we're like most people, the answer is, "Uh, well...it was a while ago." Or we start making excuses like, "Well, I share my faith through my actions." And we point to the words supposedly said by St. Francis: "Share Christ always; use words if necessary." And actions are necessary and important. But both Wesley and Francis point out that there does come a time when words are necessary. We must not only show Jesus but speak of him.
According to a 2012 research study by LifeWay Research, 61% of active Christians have not shared their faith or spoken to an unchurched person about Jesus in the last six months. They believe in it, they say, they just don't do it. Nearly half of those asked couldn't even remember ever inviting an unchurched person to come to church, and only 25% said they had ever shared their faith, maybe once or twice in their lives. And only 21% of those asked said they pray for someone who is not a Christian outside of a worship service.
So the question remains: how good are we at sharing that which is most important to us? And maybe not even how "good," but do we do it at all? Not in a "turn or burn" way. But in a loving way, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Peter said this: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
So...when was the last time you talked to someone about your faith? How are you doing at sharing that which is central to who you are?
Eventually, we learn to share most things. Sharing our toys is only the first step that begins to develop a heart of generosity in us. As we grow, we learn to share resources, money, time, our possessions, all of life...except one thing.
The thing we claim is most precious to us we most often fail to share. And it's the thing that could and should be most shared.
That "thing" is our faith.
John Wesley's tenth question is very pointed: "When did I last speak to someone else of my faith?" When I first saw that, I read it wrong, as if I was supposed to be speaking to people who have the same faith as me. (That's a problem of centuries-old English. Syntax and grammar have changed.) What Wesley really is asking is when was the last time was that you shared your faith with someone, or when you had a conversation about faith, about Jesus. Well, some of us do that all the time...at church. So perhaps the question ought to be asked this way today: when did I last talk about Jesus outside of the church building?
Not so easy now, huh? If we're like most people, the answer is, "Uh, well...it was a while ago." Or we start making excuses like, "Well, I share my faith through my actions." And we point to the words supposedly said by St. Francis: "Share Christ always; use words if necessary." And actions are necessary and important. But both Wesley and Francis point out that there does come a time when words are necessary. We must not only show Jesus but speak of him.
According to a 2012 research study by LifeWay Research, 61% of active Christians have not shared their faith or spoken to an unchurched person about Jesus in the last six months. They believe in it, they say, they just don't do it. Nearly half of those asked couldn't even remember ever inviting an unchurched person to come to church, and only 25% said they had ever shared their faith, maybe once or twice in their lives. And only 21% of those asked said they pray for someone who is not a Christian outside of a worship service.
So the question remains: how good are we at sharing that which is most important to us? And maybe not even how "good," but do we do it at all? Not in a "turn or burn" way. But in a loving way, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Peter said this: "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
So...when was the last time you talked to someone about your faith? How are you doing at sharing that which is central to who you are?
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