The longer you’re a believer, the less you think like an unbeliever. After you come to Christ, your interests and values change. You will likely begin to develop new relationships at a church and gradually you find that most of the people you know and with whom you spend the most time are also believers.
Because I’ve been a follower of Jesus for more than 40 years, I think like a Christian. I don’t normally think like an unbeliever. That’s good, because it keeps me from doing some horrible things. However, it can be bad if it keeps me from being effective as a witness for Christ.
But worse than thinking like a Christian all the time, I tend to think like a pastor and that’s even farther removed from an unbeliever’s mind-set! That means I must intentionally change mental gears when seeking to relate to non-Christians.
One of the key areas to which we should give special attention is the language we use. I’m not talking about foul language or profanity. No, what I am addressing is the use of terms which non-Christians don’t understand without a full and complete explanation. Even then, sometimes communication does not occur because of a language barrier.
I’ve heard pastors complain that unbelievers are more resistant to hearing the message of salvation today than in the past. I really don’t think that is true. I don’t think people are more resistant; rather, I think we are guilty of practicing poor communication. That’s a problem because that means the message isn’t getting through to the people who need to hear it. Churches need to stop saying that people are closed to the Gospel and start finding out how to communicate on their wavelength.
No matter how life-changing our message is, if we’re broadcasting on a different channel from the unchurched, it won’t do any good.
How do you learn to think like unbelievers? Talk to them! One of the greatest barriers to evangelism is that most believers spend all their time with other Christians. They don’t have any unbelieving friends. If you don’t spend any time with unbelievers, then you won’t understand how they’re thinking.
This is the way we’re to become the church God intends us to be. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples (John 15:13, ESV).
Showing posts with label church attendance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church attendance. Show all posts
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Will It Ever Be Finished?
Ever since I lived in Mandeville, there's been a highway widening project on the books. In fact, I was told that U.S. Hwy. 190 needed to be widened back in the early 1980s. However, a lack of financial resources always seemed to push this needed project back.
About six months prior to Hurricane Katrina (this storm has become a significant date from which we've come measure time), the road-widening project began with tree-cutting and utilities relocation. Now, more than three years later, people in our community have dealt with detours, bumpy roads, construction equipment, traffic delays, entrances to businesses blocked, dust, and generally a big mess until they really don't believe it will ever end.
No doubt, the task of widening a two-lane highway into a four- and five-lane thoroughfare has not been easy for either the construction workers or those who must use the highway regularly. This road literally is the main artery for our community, so we've all been affected.
I've been told that the project should be completed by November. I'm hoping for earlier! The inconvenience has affected businesses up and down this corridor. I'm fearful that some businesses will be forced to close. Our church's attendance has been affected by mess. We have, however, seen more people come check us out since the focus of the construction has moved away from our entrances.
I suppose that we should look forward to our situation improving soon. I'm glad that the road is finaly getting widened. It was desperately needed, and the only reason it was finally started is because it was so desperately needed. That a metaphor for life -- though many know that they need to do something about their relationship with God, they don't do anything about it until they are desperate. Unfortunately, that can be too late.
About six months prior to Hurricane Katrina (this storm has become a significant date from which we've come measure time), the road-widening project began with tree-cutting and utilities relocation. Now, more than three years later, people in our community have dealt with detours, bumpy roads, construction equipment, traffic delays, entrances to businesses blocked, dust, and generally a big mess until they really don't believe it will ever end.
No doubt, the task of widening a two-lane highway into a four- and five-lane thoroughfare has not been easy for either the construction workers or those who must use the highway regularly. This road literally is the main artery for our community, so we've all been affected.
I've been told that the project should be completed by November. I'm hoping for earlier! The inconvenience has affected businesses up and down this corridor. I'm fearful that some businesses will be forced to close. Our church's attendance has been affected by mess. We have, however, seen more people come check us out since the focus of the construction has moved away from our entrances.
I suppose that we should look forward to our situation improving soon. I'm glad that the road is finaly getting widened. It was desperately needed, and the only reason it was finally started is because it was so desperately needed. That a metaphor for life -- though many know that they need to do something about their relationship with God, they don't do anything about it until they are desperate. Unfortunately, that can be too late.
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