A Methodist Way of Life

 

When was the last time you were able to talk about God?  

Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. — Colossians 2:6-7

We talk about the weather, politics, the environment, and much of the minutiae of life, but have you noticed how rarely we talk to each other about God? Is it because we are not sure about our faith? Is it because the sharing of the good news has been professionalised over the centuries? Is it because we are scared of looking foolish, or anticipate that we will be rejected by others.

It has been suggested that our reluctance could be fourfold:

Some of us are painfully aware that we’re a little shy, reserved or introverted in character, and evangelism feels frightening. For others of us, our reluctance can be put down to learned behaviour—we’ve been raised to keep to ourselves, and evangelism seems rude. For many of us, our reluctance comes down to what we think God is like—we’re just not sure if he wants all Christians to engage in mission, especially if we lack the gifts or “calling” in evangelism that others seem to have.But for most of us, I fear that our reluctance could be desire—we have so many responsibilities and problems to face that we’re not persuaded that evangelism should really be an urgent priority for us right now.

Perhaps, one way is to start sharing our faith within the context of our church congregations and maybe would should allow more time for sharing within worship.

In John 15:16 - 16:4 we find Jesus challenging words, “Jesus said to the disciples, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you."

The disciples were able to testify to Jesus, because they had lived and worked alongside him. In this passage, Jesus promises to send them the Holy Spirit, the “Advocate” after he has gone. The work of the Holy Spirit affirms the life and love of Jesus, giving witness to what is true.

To testify and bear witness to something, I must have personal experience, so that I can say: ‘This is true, and I know it.’ Lord, I have not been with you from the beginning. I am one of those who did not see and yet believed. Show me yourself, strengthen your spirit in me, so that my life and my words may testify to you.