Kevin Alan Wells

There are appropriate times to stand in a crowd and shout, “Repent and be baptized from your sins in the name of Christ!” There are moments too for cornering someone with a straightforward question. But in the commercial-saturated culture of America, we should use these tactics carefully, and maybe only when convicted to do so.

Living a Christian life and waiting for the other person to approach the subject seems to be the best way forward most of the time; as humans, we are more interested in our own thoughts than another’s, so the discussion is usually most fruitful when the other person initiates.

Please remember this: our job as the Church is not to convince people about God, nor convict them about sin. Those tasks belong to the Holy Spirit. Our role is to simply and lovingly communicate the message—every day by our behavior, and then sometimes with our words. The rest of the work is God’s.

So when the actual conversation happens,

Tell the truth

Say something about sin, its consequence, and the only solution. Use clear and concise language. Avoid ‘Christianese’ codewords like ’saved’ and ‘born again’ unless you explain what they mean. Billy Graham does it like this.

Tell your story

Yes, you have a story. More than likely, it’s not sensational, and that’s a good thing; sensational testimonies often place a person on a high, useless pedestal. Plain old personal stories still nurture relationships the best. You’ve lived this long; what’s been your experience with God, faith, prayer, and other Christians?

Listen to their story

One of the most effective ways to show care for someone is to listen to that person—truly giving attention to and asking thoughtful questions about his or her feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It’s a great way to learn, too.

Stay friendly

The message of the gospel is offensive, but how you communicate it shouldn’t be. Starting off by telling your friend she’s going to hell probably isn’t the best of your options. Use tact. And remember, it’s not your job to convict or convince anyone of anything. You’re a witness and a messenger of the Truth.

Pray

Throughout the conversation, while you’re talking and as you’re listening, pray in your mind both for yourself and the other person. We need His help.

Other suggestions? Share them below.