Tuesday, 08 July 2008
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Speaking Too Fast About Faith
It was warm yesterday, but not so warm that my frozen water bottles melted fast enough for me to quench my thirst. After awhile, I noticed that I was giving my plants more water then they probably needed. Had I been doing this all day? Just because I was that thirsty doesn't mean they were. I wonder if we treat people the same way. When I really discovered Jesus for myself, I began spending every spare moment studying the Word, reading Christian non-fiction, and writing to God in my journal. Even though it's been two years since I committed to Christ, I feel like I can't get enough of our Jesus.
As an immature Christian, I unfortunately forget that not everybody else is in the same place as me, and I'm awful at hiding my emotions when I realize that they might feel differently than I do.
For example, during a conversation with a friend, I learned that this person believes in the following: this existence is Hell, this existence is reincarnation, and will be lived until it's gotten right, and/or reach "Heaven," one merely needs to live a good life. In other words, my friend hasn't really thought about it enough to reach a conclusion. My response:
"Well, you need to go read that Bible of yours because that is not how we get to Heaven!"
Tactful, huh? I'd just never come across someone who hasn't at least formed an opinion on why we're here, what the afterlife is, whether or not there even is a god... I did immediately recover, and I told this person that my god is Jesus Christ, I follow the teachings of the Bible, and believe fully his words in John 14:6. At home later, I pleaded with God repeatedly to not let my shocked outburst mess up his plans...but I still feel I could have handled that moment better.
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, NIV
I've beat myself up all day over my outburst, but the Holy Spirit just reminded me that it was Peter, the most impulsive, outspoken, and impetuous of the disciples, who penned those words. I'm thinking Peter might have had a moment very similar to mine...and he also cringed over it later, which caused him to caution the rest of us.
I knew that verse, but as usual, my tongue ran faster than my brain.
Do you try talking about your faith in a tactful way? Have you ever spoken too fast?
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Comments (11)
i think speaking too fast is a constant fault with me. my husband always says that if i was a disciple i would be Peter. :) when you feel like things are so clear it's hard to remember that you are the only one who has a brain like yours so you may be the only one that things are clear to. ;)
Back when I was in college, the best book on evangelism was Rebecca Pippert's "Out of the Saltshaker and Into the World". One of her anecdotes concerned the discovery that, when she was herself, honestly, before other people, they saw Jesus. When she tried to present a holy front, all they saw was Becky.
Your friend will probably survive, especially if you asked his/her forgiveness for your outburst. God may even be making use of your "thoughtless words" to get the person to think. And you learned something valuable.
I too have spoken way to fast when sharing Jesus with someone and like you my tongue runs faster then the ole brain. I still do it from time to time but now I think more about what I'm going to say before I say it. I also say a lil prayer to God that He would give me to words to speak to that person so they are not my words but His.
Oh I definitely have done that!
I was leading a campus Christian fellowship, and once, during a Bible study, I snapped at a Catholic member. She had been going on in private conversations about praying to the different saints for various needs, and my nerves were raw. So when she made a comment about sainthood during the group Bible study, I was super annoyed that she brought it up again and that others in the group may misunderstand the theological concept. I snapped and said "All Christians are saints! The concept of saints is sanctification, which the Bible clearly states that Christians have been sanctified by the Blood of Christ, so there is no need to do anything else to achieve sainthood! It has been achieved by what Jesus did!"
Not exactly exemplary behaviour from a Christian leader. I spoke not out of love, but out of frustration and anger at her. And what more, at a public setting! Horrible horrible me.
When you have the burning, it is only natural to want to share with others.... and sometimses go a little overboard. As for me, I have never read any non-fiction accounts - or read any of those so called Bible experts. I have always prayed to the Holy Spirit before sitting down and studying the Bible... At first I didn't understand it... Then all of a sudden the words became very clear.
JAMES said if any of you lack wisdom, ask and God will give to you (out of context)
Let the Bible be your guide..... not others that claim they know what everything means.
@Roadkill_Spatula@xanga - i thought that was an excellent book on evangelism too. i think it was the first thing i'd read that portrayed evangelism in a very normal, sensible way for me.
I think the important thing in evangelism is to speak and listen without fear. To speak without fear means being unashamed and sometimes blunt about the validity of your beliefs. To listen without fear means not being so insecure as to "pretend to listen" but genuinely taking interest and giving due consideration to the beliefs of others. I have many close non-Christian friends, I think, largely because I try to take their beliefs and arguments seriously. A lot of the time Christians are afraid of seriously considering other viewpoints for fear of "losing faith", but if we are truly earnest in seeking the truth then we ought to have nothing to fear in listening to and empathizing with the viewpoints of others. The only true respect is genuine respect.
I think everyone does that! When I was a baby Christian I couldn't wait to tell everyone "What great things the Lord had done for me!" and I was pushy about it! That left such a BAD taste in my mouth that now I hardly ever speak of Christ openly for fear of repeating the same mistake. Don't let you enthusiasim about what you have control you As you quoted, "... always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for
the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;" (1 Peter
3:15 NASB77)
@rachelserine@xanga - I would be thrilled if someone likened me to Peter, considering what he became. Unfortunately, most of us remember Peter's betrayal and temper, so therefore don't want to be compared to him. But the Holy Spirit once showed me that this was all done in the beginning, but by his ending, he was raising people from the dead, casting out demons from others, and wasn't it Peter's mouth that the Holy Spirit used to bring about the death of Annanais and Sapphira?
@Roadkill_Spatula@xanga - I'll have to check out that book. I pray also that my friend isn't too hampered by what I said. He's a great guy, just unfortunately not yet a great Christian guy.
@tnladywolfe@xanga - I've prayed that before myself, but have you experienced this: my tongue not only runs faster than my mind, it seems to interrupt anything the Spirit might have to say also. What do you do in this situation?
@Issie - Wow...you were certainly right, but how did that "outburst" go over?
@pja2@xanga - I welcome your advice, and certainly understand your wariness. Too many Christians take what they read as the Gospel-truth...but anytime humans write, or speak or sing, things may be mis-said. False doctrines are rampant for this very fact.
On the other hand, the Spirit is always revealing wisdom to ministers, writers, and musicians. I pray before reading the Christian literature as well as listening to sermons, asking for discernment on what is from God and what isn't. But to disregard absolutely everything in writing as well as things spoken from the pulpit or messages emanating from the radio...I just don't want to miss anything the Spirit is trying to get across, especially if I'm not spending enough time in the Word with him.
@WasaiWarrior@xanga - Excellent advice; I'll be coming back to this in prayer so that I might be able to do this. It resonates with what the first commenter, Rachel, said.
@Biblerapture@xanga - Thank you, I'll be checking out that site. I also think that God can use my outburst...only I feel a bit certain it isn't how Jesus would have worded things. I've asked that he use what I said to make the guy think...but not push him away.
As for your last comment, I agree. My best posts have been the ones that have been written if 15 minutes. I've come to the point that if I spend hours on one, short piece...then I'm trying to force revelation. That isn't good.
--Miss Goldenrod
my parents are muslim. my mom was a catholic who married a muslim man after she and my dad separated... so she converted for him because that is what religion requires. but i was baptized a catholic. i grew up in a culture (saudi arabia) with many different religions and denominations. this taught me to be very careful about the words that i say. i've only had contact with a bible two-three years ago. i'm learning to be more outspoken with my faith.. but my experiences have helped me curb the thought of my mouth running away with me. my culture has engrained in me to be respectful and gentle (tactful) when discussing my faith and those of others since i grew up with the knowledge that there are many different beliefs out there.