Borders Books is having a going-out-of-business sale; being an avid reader, I went to check it out. The Religion section was quite small–two rows, one for Christianity and another for everything else. While browsing the books, a tall young man with shaggy black hair, around 19 years old, crossed in front of me and said aloud, “Nothing here on Buddhism?” I pointed behind me: “Maybe around the corner.” He headed that direction and I thought to myself, Why did I just help him head in the ‘wrong’ direction? Within seconds he was back in the Christianity section engaging me in conversation.
“Isn’t Buddhism the same as Christianity?”
“No.”
“Do you believe in karma?”
“I believe in consequences for our decisions.”
“Don’t you believe we all have the kingdom of God within us. Jesus said so.”
I won’t repeat the entire conversation except to say that this guy knew the Bible. It was obvious that he had read the gospels. It appeared to me that he was in that bookstore for one purpose: “evangelizing” someone - me! Or perhaps he was looking for answers to nagging doubts. His comments centered on his belief that if we all just loved others we would go to heaven.
He asked me if I loved Buddhists, to which I said that Jesus commands us to love others... and yes, I do. He seemed surprised that I would love people who weren’t Christians (thanks, media!). I said, "Simply loving others does not get us to heaven. Did you know that Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me’”?
This young man considered Jesus a prophet, but I suggested that Jesus couldn’t be a prophet or even a good man if he was a liar. Only a liar would make that claim if it weren’t true.
My words didn’t seem to faze him until I brought up the cross.
As a challenge to his pride in having read the Gospels I asked, “Why did Jesus die on the cross?” He replied something about teaching us to love others. “No,’ I said, ‘that’s not why.’” Finally, after his three failed attempts to explain why Jesus died on the cross, he asked me, “Why, then?” I said, “He died for you, your sins, the sins you committed even as a kid. Mine too. He took our sins on himself so we would not have to be punished for them. His purpose for dying, when he suffered on that cross, was to take onto himself all the sins of all people, evil or not, in all generations. All we have to do is believe, to be saved. It cost us nothing, but it cost him everything. It’s called grace.”
He stared at me for a few seconds, pondering the word grace. Grace, a gift no other religion offers. I suggested he study grace in the Bible. As he opened his mouth to challenge me again, I said, “You aren’t going to convince me of anything today. I know the Truth. I know Jesus.” With that, he briskly stepped around me and walked off. I could see the angst in his gait and said to his back: “I admire your passion, but it’s all about Jesus.” He didn't look back.
I have several reasons for sharing this story. Not at all to say, look at me I’m not afraid to speak up. I am afraid to speak up; I often don’t when I should. In this case, God clearly gave me no choice but to answer this man's questions. Later I thought of other things I could have shared; more convincing arguments. But in the end, I have to believe that God brought him into that store, to that section, at the same time as I, so he could hear whatever it is the Holy Spirit wanted to say to him through me. That’s the neat thing about having God’s Spirit. Just open your mouth in His name, and He can take over. When the encounter ended, I felt really great. I had stood up for Jesus!
In Matthew 28:19a Jesus said: Go and make disciples of all nations. For those who claim him as their Lord, this is not a suggestion, it’s a command. I wonder, apart from being ambivalent about the lost, why we are so afraid to speak up. After all, we have the words of eternal life!
This "chance" encounter on a Saturday afternoon reminded me that in today’s culture, Christians are the subtle and even outright targets of defamation religiously, politically and socially. Now is the time to stand strong in faith, and to know what we believe. Christian persecution has been tolerated in our nation only in the past 20 years and will probably escalate.
When and if the time comes we are forced to take a stand for Jesus, we can have the confidence of Mark 13:11: Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Our children need to see we are willing to be ridiculed for our faith. They will possibly be tested under greater pressure as adults.
If you’ve read to this point, you know I didn’t write this so we could feel all comfy and warm about our salvation, but that we would be reminded that God expects us to stand and boldly speak what we know is right no matter the cost. It cost me nothing for that half hour conversation with a stranger. Someday speaking out boldly could cost us our life. Will we be ready? Oh, I pray so.
Ponder
Consider what changes of heart, lifestyle and attitude you need to make so you can:
Be ready to...
Give an answer and...
Share the hope of eternal life...
With gentleness and respect.
Pray
Lord and Savior Jesus. I've been a coward in this area. Give me the selflessness to spend more time in your Word, learning, growing, understanding, so that I can give an answer to those who ask. By your Spirit, draw me so near to you that I am compelled to speak out. When opportunities arise, open my mouth to speak truth in love.
© copyright 2011. Sandra Dowling Housley. All rights reserved.
“Isn’t Buddhism the same as Christianity?”
“No.”
“Do you believe in karma?”
“I believe in consequences for our decisions.”
“Don’t you believe we all have the kingdom of God within us. Jesus said so.”
I won’t repeat the entire conversation except to say that this guy knew the Bible. It was obvious that he had read the gospels. It appeared to me that he was in that bookstore for one purpose: “evangelizing” someone - me! Or perhaps he was looking for answers to nagging doubts. His comments centered on his belief that if we all just loved others we would go to heaven.
He asked me if I loved Buddhists, to which I said that Jesus commands us to love others... and yes, I do. He seemed surprised that I would love people who weren’t Christians (thanks, media!). I said, "Simply loving others does not get us to heaven. Did you know that Jesus said, ‘I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me’”?
This young man considered Jesus a prophet, but I suggested that Jesus couldn’t be a prophet or even a good man if he was a liar. Only a liar would make that claim if it weren’t true.
My words didn’t seem to faze him until I brought up the cross.
As a challenge to his pride in having read the Gospels I asked, “Why did Jesus die on the cross?” He replied something about teaching us to love others. “No,’ I said, ‘that’s not why.’” Finally, after his three failed attempts to explain why Jesus died on the cross, he asked me, “Why, then?” I said, “He died for you, your sins, the sins you committed even as a kid. Mine too. He took our sins on himself so we would not have to be punished for them. His purpose for dying, when he suffered on that cross, was to take onto himself all the sins of all people, evil or not, in all generations. All we have to do is believe, to be saved. It cost us nothing, but it cost him everything. It’s called grace.”
He stared at me for a few seconds, pondering the word grace. Grace, a gift no other religion offers. I suggested he study grace in the Bible. As he opened his mouth to challenge me again, I said, “You aren’t going to convince me of anything today. I know the Truth. I know Jesus.” With that, he briskly stepped around me and walked off. I could see the angst in his gait and said to his back: “I admire your passion, but it’s all about Jesus.” He didn't look back.
I have several reasons for sharing this story. Not at all to say, look at me I’m not afraid to speak up. I am afraid to speak up; I often don’t when I should. In this case, God clearly gave me no choice but to answer this man's questions. Later I thought of other things I could have shared; more convincing arguments. But in the end, I have to believe that God brought him into that store, to that section, at the same time as I, so he could hear whatever it is the Holy Spirit wanted to say to him through me. That’s the neat thing about having God’s Spirit. Just open your mouth in His name, and He can take over. When the encounter ended, I felt really great. I had stood up for Jesus!
In Matthew 28:19a Jesus said: Go and make disciples of all nations. For those who claim him as their Lord, this is not a suggestion, it’s a command. I wonder, apart from being ambivalent about the lost, why we are so afraid to speak up. After all, we have the words of eternal life!
This "chance" encounter on a Saturday afternoon reminded me that in today’s culture, Christians are the subtle and even outright targets of defamation religiously, politically and socially. Now is the time to stand strong in faith, and to know what we believe. Christian persecution has been tolerated in our nation only in the past 20 years and will probably escalate.
When and if the time comes we are forced to take a stand for Jesus, we can have the confidence of Mark 13:11: Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. Our children need to see we are willing to be ridiculed for our faith. They will possibly be tested under greater pressure as adults.
If you’ve read to this point, you know I didn’t write this so we could feel all comfy and warm about our salvation, but that we would be reminded that God expects us to stand and boldly speak what we know is right no matter the cost. It cost me nothing for that half hour conversation with a stranger. Someday speaking out boldly could cost us our life. Will we be ready? Oh, I pray so.
Ponder
Consider what changes of heart, lifestyle and attitude you need to make so you can:
Be ready to...
Give an answer and...
Share the hope of eternal life...
With gentleness and respect.
Pray
Lord and Savior Jesus. I've been a coward in this area. Give me the selflessness to spend more time in your Word, learning, growing, understanding, so that I can give an answer to those who ask. By your Spirit, draw me so near to you that I am compelled to speak out. When opportunities arise, open my mouth to speak truth in love.
© copyright 2011. Sandra Dowling Housley. All rights reserved.
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