How to Share Your Faith

Christianity Go!

Megan Breedlove August 8, 2016 0Comment

By now, you’ve probably heard of the game Pokemon Go! Players download an app to their smartphones and walk/drive/parkour anywhere and everywhere, trying to locate and capture Pokemon.

Within 13 hours of its being made available, Pokemon Go! became the top-grossing app in the U.S. It attracts 21 million users and 4-5 million downloads per day. In other words, it’s very, very popular.

Why? Because it gives people a fun way to obtain something they really want.

If Christianity were something people really wanted, they would be out chasing it, too. But it isn’t.

Why? Because when nonbelievers hear our presentation of Christianity, they feel like we’re giving them an unpleasant, arduous way to obtain something they don’t really want—a relationship with a God who isn’t really interested in them unless they get everything right.

Maybe, just maybe, we should take a closer look at how we often present Christianity.

See if the following way of presenting the gospel sounds familiar: “God is holy, and we’re sinners. We can’t come close to God unless we’re righteous. Fortunately, Jesus made us righteous, so now we can belong to God and go to heaven when we die.”

It’s all true. It’s 100% accurate. But most people don’t want just one more person (God, no less) to tell them that unless they find a way to measure up, they can never be accepted. If that’s the only thing you tell them, they probably won’t be interested.

What people are interested in is relief from stress and loneliness, comfort when they’re discouraged or grieving, wisdom to know how to relate to others and which decisions to make, and the assurance that they can make it through this crazy, sometimes excruciatingly difficult and painful thing called life.

A relationship with God offers them all of those things, but that’s not what we tell them about. Or if we do, we promise them incredible things, then make those things conditional upon their right actions.

Please hear me clearly: YES, we must submit to God and obey Him. YES, we must admit our sin and our neediness. YES, we must acknowledge Him as the Lord of our life. YES, we must make sure people know about God’s holiness and our sinfulness and what Jesus did on the cross for us.

But this is not how Jesus primarily presented the gospel. He didn’t say, “You’re a screw-up. You need to get it right for God to love you.” Instead, He showed them by His response that He already loved them.

When Nicodemus came to Him seeking a right understanding of God, Jesus took the conversation deeper and explained the answers to questions Nicodemus didn’t even know he had.

When the woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus, He first assured her that He didn’t condemn her, and then He told her to stop sinning.

When a pagan Roman soldier sent emissaries to Jesus to request that Jesus heal his daughter, Jesus began by commending his faith, not confronting his sin.

True, Jesus confronted sin when appropriate. I’m not suggesting that we not do that. There will be many occasions when we must confront sin. But even then, we must remember that the point of presenting the gospel is not to get people to clean up their lives, but to introduce them to the incredibly rich spiritual blessings of a relationship with a holy, perfect God who loves them passionately.

That’s the good news, that such a relationship is even possible.

Psalm 16:11—You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (NIV)

Imperfection

Megan Breedlove February 10, 2014 0Comment

I always enjoy making my children’s birthday cakes. I love the creative process, and I love their enthusiastic reactions to my creations. Even when a cake doesn’t turn out perfectly, it usually turns out pretty well, a cake I can be proud of.

That’s why it’s difficult for me to let my children help decorate cakes. When Jessica asked if she could help decorate the cake and cupcakes for her recent party, I’ll admit that I hesitated before saying yes. I could do better, I thought.

The point, of course, is not who decorates better, so of course I let Jessica (and Lindsey) help. I told them they could decorate the cupcakes, and I would do the cake. They set to work cheerfully and enthusiastically, slathering blue frosting on the cupcakes and applying sugar and sprinkles. Hiding in the kitchen with Phil, I watched them at work at the dining room table.

The blue frosting wasn’t even. The sprinkles weren’t even. The cupcakes looked like two little girls were decorating them. (What if someone thinks I decorated them? I wondered briefly.) “It’s hard for me to let them do it so imperfectly,” I said to Phil.

And then I thought to myself, I wonder if this is how God felt when He entrusted the spread of the gospel to mere human beings?

God had an important message He wanted—and still wants—to get out to the world. He’s a far better communicator than we are and could have done a fantastic job of spreading His message all by Himself. Yet He chose to entrust it to imperfect human beings who couldn’t do it as well as He could.

Beginning with the apostles and continuing down through history to you and me, God has chosen fallible men and women to proclaim His message—the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. He didn’t have to let us help. He could have written it in the sky, or implanted it in the hearts and minds of human beings, or done some other miraculous thing far beyond what we can do. Yet He granted us the privilege of partnering with Him in His work.

Beginning in our homes with our children, God has called us to partner with Him in introducing others to Him and helping them know Him. He wants us to have the same attitude about doing His work that Jessica and Lindsey had about doing the cupcakes—enthusiastic participation to the best of our ability.

What are you doing in your home (and elsewhere) to participate with God in making His good news known? Do you have family devotions? Do you talk about God with your children, or with others? Are you at least doing something to share the gospel with those God has put within your reach?

Help Him by decorating the cupcakes. Don’t just make Him do it all Himself. It’s not only a command, it’s also a privilege that we’ve been allowed to help Him. Let’s take Him up on it.

Matthew 28:19-20—Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Smells Like Breakfast

Megan Breedlove July 16, 2012 0Comment

Recently my husband had to attend a work-related conference in our state capital. Since the conference lasted only one day, and since his employer was paying for the hotel the night before, we decided that the kids and I would accompany him, and we’d stay a little longer and turn it into a mini-vacation.

For three nights, we stayed in a nice hotel. In the mornings, the hotel served a hot breakfast downstairs. One morning, Phil took a kid or two down to breakfast, and I followed later with the remaining kids once the rest of us were ready.

The elevator arrived, and my kids dashed on (good thing nobody was trying to get off). I followed them, and as I turned to tell Jessica which button to push, I noticed a delicious aroma. It was the smell of hot and sizzling sausage patties with fluffy scrambled eggs on the side. It was warm, golden-brown buttermilk waffles, sugary maple syrup, and melting butter. It was orange juice and ripe strawberries and fresh black coffee.

“Mmmm, this elevator smells like breakfast,” I said.

Perhaps the aroma had wafted up from downstairs; perhaps people who had been to breakfast had also been in the elevator. Maybe it was a combination of both. Either way, that delicious food was giving off the aroma of, well, food.

Obvious, right? After all, what else would a delicious breakfast smell like but a delicious breakfast?

And that’s the point. If it is, in fact, a delicious breakfast, it will smell like one. It will give off the aroma of yummy food, and it will cause those smelling it to become even hungrier. If, on the other hand, the foods are not fresh and healthy, the breakfast will smell quite different. Rotten eggs give off quite a different smell from fresh ones. Stale coffee smells terrible. Waffles cooked a little too long smell burnt. There’s no way to disguise a breakfast like that as anything someone would want to eat.

Did you know that you and I give off an aroma too? I’m not talking about smelling a little funny because you’ve been working out. Nor do I mean smelling floral because you are wearing perfume. I’m talking about the kind of aroma referred to in 2 Corinthians 2:14 (see below), wherein God desires to spread the knowledge of His Son to everyone with whom we come in close proximity.

The only problem is, we may not be spreading the right aroma.

Instead of spreading the aroma of Christ, His love, and His ways, it’s entirely possible to be spreading the stench of hatred and impatience. Instead of emanating a beautiful aroma of sacrifice, truth, and uprightness, we can instead emit the stink of selfishness, falsehood, and disgrace.

You and I spread an aroma to everyone with whom we come in contact. That’s a given. The only thing to be settled is what kind of aroma. When people step into the elevator of our lives, will they be pleased and want more of what we have? Or will they get out of the elevator, hurry back to their room, and vow never to eat breakfast again?

Take some time in prayer before the Lord. Ask Him to show you what people sense when they are around you. Do you spread the pleasing aroma of Christ, or do people retreat from you?

Breakfast gives off the scent of, well, breakfast. What scent results from your life?

2 Corinthians 2:14-15—But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

Smiley Guy

Megan Breedlove June 18, 2012 0Comment

Remember Guy Smiley, the Sesame Street character who was a game show host? He talked in that “game show host” voice, and he always had a huge smile. Hence the name.

Timmy’s a lot like him in that Timmy always has a smile, too. In fact, just yesterday morning, Ellie woke up and came to find him in hopes of catching him having his morning smile-a-thon. So, while Timmy doesn’t host any game shows and therefore can’t be called Guy Smiley, exactly, he definitely earns the title of Smiley Guy.

Last month, when I took Timmy with me to the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference, Timmy charmed everyone with his desire to be cuddled, his sweet nature, and—you guessed it—his smiles.

Ellie seeks Timmy out, knowing the odds are good she can catch him smiling or make him smile. Friends and even strangers seek Timmy out, hoping for the same. That’s because Timmy has a reputation. At not-quite-four-months old, he’s already known for his happy demeanor. And I love that.

What are you known for? What am I known for? When people think of us, what do they think of? Smiles and a sweet spirit? Or…something else?

We are all known for something. For some of us, like Timmy, it might be for our sweet and always-ready smile. I have a friend like this. She is beautiful, both inside and out, and her smile lights up my day.

Others of us might be known for our sense of humor, our willingness to work hard and serve others, or our encouraging nature.

But it’s possible to be known for negative things, too, such as constant negativity, frequent complaints, or lack of sensitivity.

Which group are you in? The first group or the second?

Granted, we all have occasional bad days. I’ve had days where I complained more than I smiled, and you probably have too. But what are you known for on a consistent basis? When people think of you, what do they think of?

If you’re not sure, you can ask your husband and your children (children, especially young ones, will be brutally honest), or a friend who is brave enough to be honest with you, even if she thinks it’s something you wouldn’t want to hear. Ask them to tell you what they think of when they think of you. Let them be free to give their true answers, and listen to those answers.

The reason why it matters what you’re known for is this: Jesus said that people will know we are His disciples if we love one another. He also said that if we love Him, we will obey His commandments. In other words, if we truly love Him, we will be best known for doing something He commands us to do, not for a negative quality.

Find out what you’re known for. Perhaps people’s answers will be encouraging. Perhaps they will be enlightening. Either way, you need to know. If you’re known for something that would please Jesus, thank Him for shining through you. If you’re known for something that doesn’t please Him, repent. Confess what you’ve done wrong. Ask His forgiveness, and ask Him to pour His life into you so that it spills over to others.

That’s what being a Christian is all about.

John 13:35—“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 14:15—“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

A World Like This

Megan Breedlove December 5, 2011 0Comment

As of today, I’m almost 28 weeks pregnant with a son. Maybe that’s why I’ve had baby boys on my mind a lot lately. That, and the fact we’re about to celebrate Jesus’ birth. I’ve been thinking about what it must have been like for the Almighty Christ to be born as a virtually helpless human infant, to subject Himself to hunger and fatigue and needing to have His diaper changed. It’s incredible to me that He would take on these limitations, entrusting Himself to very human parents—even ones who loved God—and making His home among more human beings, some of whom hated Him and eventually succeeded in killing Him.

That’s because the world then was a lot like the world is today. No, people in the first century didn’t have iPhones or computers, but they did have many of the same problems we now have. And Jesus came to earth to show them that they didn’t have to live like that anymore.

He came to show them—and us—that we no longer have to be strangers from God…

…no longer have to suffer broken relationships…

…no longer have to be ruled by greed and hate…

…never again have to worry…

…never again have to fear we won’t be taken care of…

…never again have to wonder if God cares.

He came to a world distorted by sin and showed us that it didn’t have to be that way, that even now, in the midst of a messed-up society, we can live in joy. We can walk in intimate fellowship with God and the confidence that this world isn’t all there is waiting for us. We can know that we’re taken care of and that one day, everything is going to be okay. We can know who God is because we’ve seen Him in the person of Jesus.

You and I haven’t seen Jesus with our eyes—at least, not exactly, not in the human form He took on. But we can see Him clearly in the pages of the Bible. We can know what He is like, and therefore, what God the Father is like. We can walk intimately by faith with Him on this earth and then face-to-face in heaven.

I’ve known all these things for a long time. I’m sure you have, too. But until recently, I had never thought about how Jesus came to a world just like mine. The world I live in is full of wars and lying and betrayals, killing and stealing, hate and neglect and selfishness. So was Jesus’ world. He came to a world just like mine. He was frustrated and offended by it sometimes, too. He was angry. And by His words and actions, He showed the world that there is something better than all that, not just in eternity, but right here and now.

Jesus loved and still loves people in the world. Yes, even the ones who don’t please Him. And His way of showing people that things could be better was to come among us, love us, and serve as our example. Too often, instead of loving the world, I roll my eyes at it get disgusted with the way things are going, and complain about it, when what I should be doing is pouring out Jesus’ love.

Maybe you can identify with me. Maybe you, too, have a hard time loving a world like this. But Jesus didn’t, and doesn’t. He knew exactly how to show love to us. And He wants us to show that same love to a world that desperately needs it.

Does Jesus’ love show through you and me? Do people see our lives and realize how much Jesus loves them? Even people who are “undesirable”, or who do undesirable things? I pray that they do.

May you and I become more like Jesus, especially in the way we show love to those He has created.

John 3:16—For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Mine

Megan Breedlove June 20, 2011 0Comment

Three days ago, my husband and I were overjoyed to learn that we are expecting Baby #5. In our excitement, we began calling family and friends to share the good news. Naturally, we wanted to tell our four children also. The only problem was that we wanted to tell all of them together, and two of them were off at day camp. So we waited until after the camp awards ceremony, when we were all in the van, ready to head home.

“Kids, Daddy and I have some exciting news,” I said.

All four of them looked at us. “What is it?” Ellie asked.

“Today, we found out that God has put another baby in Mommy’s tummy. In a few months, you’re going to have another baby brother or sister.”

Lindsey’s face lit up, and her mouth dropped open in excitement. Jessica looked like she wasn’t sure what to make of the news. Ellie shouted, “Yay!”

“We don’t know yet whether it’s a boy or a girl,” I said, “but we’ll find out in a few months.”

“If it’s a boy,” Kenny asked sweetly and hopefully, “will it be mine?”

I smiled at his question. “Cuz if it’s a girl,” Kenny continued, gesturing at his sisters, “it would kind of be theirs, right?”

Kenny knew that a boy would look like him, so he figured that meant it would be his. He understood what it means to belong to someone because you share his image.

That’s the same way we belong to God. Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, tells us that God decided to create us in His image. In other words, in some ways, we look like Him. True, we don’t look exactly like Him. For one thing, we’re not God. For another thing, sin has marred His image in us. But in some ways, just as a brother would unmistakably resemble Kenny, we resemble our Father.

What exactly it means to bear God’s image is open to debate, but I believe it means primarily that we think, feel, and act like Him. He has allowed us to possess most of His characteristics in some measure (except those attributes related to His deity), and He wants us to show them to the world.

If, at the end of February, I bear a son, anyone who looks at our family will recognize the resemblance between my baby and Kenny, a certain fundamental sameness, more even than that which he would share with his sisters. Likewise, if someone looks at us, they should see the resemblance to God.

And that’s the thing: people will assume they are seeing the resemblance to God. In other words, those who don’t know Him well may very well think that since we and Christ bear the same name, Christ must be like we are. If we’re unloving, many people won’t believe that we’re the ones acting contrary to the family characteristics; they’ll assume that God is unloving too. Fortunately, the reverse is also true: if people see that we truly love them, they’ll be much more likely to believe that God does, too.

Think about that this week. When people see how you and I act, what will they believe God is like? Will the family resemblance they see make them want to know Him?

I pray that the answer is yes, in your life and in mine.

John 13:35—“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”

Bringing Them to the Father

Megan Breedlove February 15, 2010 0Comment

One of Jessica’s favorite activities is playing “bobbies” (her word for “babies”). We have several baby dolls, some doll-sized equipment, and a thousand little outfits and accessories. Jessica loves taking care of her dolls, doing all the things with them she knows mommies do with babies.

One day, Jessica and I were playing dolls in the playroom. We had a few dolls spread out around us, and we were taking care of them all. I put two of the smallest ones in the doll swing, which is not balanced very well, and swung them until they fell out.

“Waah! Waah!” I said, pretending they were crying.

Jessica reached toward them.

“Help us, Jessica!” I said, in my best baby doll voice.

Jessica picked up the babies and handed them to me without hesitation. She watched me as I comforted them and made them feel all better.

In the same way that Jessica handed me her babies, we, too, should bring our broken, hurting loved ones to our Father. Instinctively, Jessica knew that the best comfort for those babies was to be found in my arms. Likewise, we know that the greatest healing is to be found in the arms of our heavenly Father. Yet too often, we focus on offering our friends other things rather than bringing them to God. All of these things—our support, counseling, medication—are fine in and of themselves, and they may be the means through which God chooses to heal our loved one. But we make a critical mistake when we do these things to the exclusion of pointing our loved one to Jesus.

It’s wonderful to offer our empathy, but let us not forget also to remind our loved one how God feels.

It’s great to offer sympathy, but let’s not fail to gently correct or rebuke where that may be needed, and to point our loved one toward God’s righteous standard.

It’s healing to help our family and friends through their struggles on this earth, but may we never forget to remind them of heaven, where “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain”.

I’m not suggesting that we listen to someone’s pain and offer them a pat, religious answer, or a cliché. I’m suggesting that we do every bit of the kind of comforting and encouragement we are used to, but that we also offer them more. We bring them to God.

Of course, the ultimate “bringing to God” involves introducing someone to Him, to His love for them and their need of Him, and to His wonderful plan of salvation.

Providing comfort is part of the healing ministry of Christ’s church. It’s something we must do, because humanity needs it, and we’re commanded to do it. But even more important than comforting their souls is introducing them to the One Who can save their souls.

The next time someone comes to us for comfort, may we comfort them in a way that shows them God’s love.

But even more important, may we show them God Himself.

John 1:40-42—Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.

Mark 2:1-5—A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Preparing Him Room

Megan Breedlove November 30, 2009 0Comment

A few years ago, I began a new Christmas tradition with my children. Each day of Advent, which begins December 1 and lasts until Christmas, we do an activity designed to illustrate a particular aspect of Christ’s birth. Most of them, I design myself, taking into account the ages and abilities of my children.

One activity they always really enjoy is called the Mall Treasure Hunt. I use ClipArt to create a sheet with eight to ten Christmas-themed pictures, such as a wreath, a candy cane, and a wrapped gift. Of course, I always include a picture of Baby Jesus in the manger. I print out one sheet for each child, and we drive to the mall.

At the mall, the kids’ job is to find each of the items pictured on their paper. Excitedly, they point out the things they have seen, and everyone crosses them off. They’re usually able to find most of the items pretty quickly. But they always have trouble finding one: the baby Jesus.

That, my friends, is the point. Baby Jesus isn’t at the mall.

“Why not?” Ellie asked one year. “Why wouldn’t people want Him?”

I explain that there are many reasons Jesus is not represented at the mall. Some people don’t believe He was anyone special, and don’t love Him. Some people are afraid that if they welcome Jesus, other people won’t shop at their stores. Some people might not know about Him.

On the way out of the mall and then home, we talk about why we do welcome Jesus into our homes. It’s because we believe He’s Who He said He is—the Son of God, I tell them. Because of Who He is and what He did for us, we worship Him, and we love Him.

Then, I ask them what we can do to show Jesus that He is welcome at our house, and to show others, too.

We can tell Him He’s welcome, they say. We can pray to Him and decorate for Him.

What can we do to let others know that He’s welcome at our house? I ask.

That question’s harder to answer. The kids usually give ideas like decorating. Last year, Ellie suggested that we could tell people He is welcome at our house.

Indeed. That’s basically what it comes down to—showing and telling. One doesn’t have much effect without the other. We need to do both.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of making our homes look beautiful, buying and wrapping the right toys, and cooking the right food that sometimes Jesus gets crowded out of His own celebration. So I encourage you to spend some time thinking about how you will make sure Jesus has a place in your home this Christmas.

What will you do this year to let Jesus know that He’s welcome in your home?

What will you do to let others know that you welcome Jesus?

What will you do to show Jesus that He’s welcome not only in your home, but in your heart?

How will you prepare Him room this season of celebrating His birth?

Luke 2:6-7—While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.