Meeting People.
A couple days ago I was in an RV park in Willcox, Arizona. Contrary to my normal pattern of pulling in, setting up, and sitting at the computer all day -- I ended up chatting with the manager and another resident for several hours. The next day the manager popped by to see if I wanted a ride into town and I went grocery shopping with her. When I left yesterday they both gave me a hug and wished me well.
After driving through 200 miles of spacious desert I pulled into Las Cruces, New Mexico and another RV park. While getting situated I noticed that my neighbor's license plate was an Idaho 1A so I went over to say hi. I ended up staying 3 1/2 hours shooting the breeze and sharing dinner with them.
I know this probably doesn't seem like odd behavior, but for me it is. I'm so used to only spending time with close friends and others who exist in my Christian bubble. It was different when I was working in a traditional office setting -- I tried to be salt and light over a broad expanse of time without ever really being verbally explicit about my beliefs. But these random, brief encounters with people the last several days have made me think.
I almost feel like these encounters were as ordained as the "impressions" I wrote about a couple days ago -- mainly because it goes against my natural inclination toward spending time alone. I didn't force these conversations, I was just open to having them and <mostly> not worrying about what I should be doing instead. And I want to be clear, I never felt one smidge of leading to share the Gospel. The only thing that would have given a hint of my belief system was a casual mention of church or the response to where I went to college.
So here's my question. Can you be salt and light when you only interact with someone for a couple hours and never see them again? Can you be salt and light without mentioning the Gospel?
Comments
The answer to your question is yes. You can be a witness for the gospel without ever opening your mouth. People notice the way a Christian lives; their actions. People will know you are different when you don’t cuss, tell nasty jokes, gossip; etc. It will create questions in their mind.
To quote Newsboys ...
Shine Lyrics
Dull as dirt
you can't assert
the kinda light that
might persuade
a strict dictator to retire
fire the
army,
teach the poor origami
the truth is in
the
proof
is when you hear your heart start asking
What's
my motivation?
And try as you may
there isn't a
way
to explain the kinda change
that would make an
eskimo renounce fur
that would make a vegetarian barbeque
a hamster
unless you can trace this about-face to a certain
sign
shine
make em wonder whatcha got
make
em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it shine before all men
let em see good
works and then
let em glorify the Lord
Out of
the shaker and onto the plate
it isn't karma it sure
ain't fate
that would make a deadhead sell his van
that would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah
freaks
and science seeks
a rationale that shall excuse
this strange behavior
when you let it shine
you will
inspire the kind of entire turnaround
that would make a
bouncer take ballet
even bouncers who arent happy
but
out of the glare
with nowhere to turn
you ain't
gonna learn it on "What's my Line?"
Shine
make em wonder whatcha got
make em wish that they were
not
on the outside looking bored
shine
let it
shine before all men
let em see good works and then
let em glorify the Lord
Let humility guide you.
Posted by: Jenny W. | February 16, 2007 01:11 PM
so this lady calls me about going to the Holy Land. I ask her why she wants to go. she says, do you have a couple minutes, yes, I say. she says "I'm 55, smoked all my life, used to do drugs. last year I felt lumps and could hardly take a full breath. a friend told me I was going to die within 6 months the way I coughed like another friend who just died. I got out of the car one day and could not breath, I leaned on the hood and decided to call a guy that worked with me since from something he said I thought he might know God. I called him and told him how bad I was and did he know how to pray, I had heard some people pray for the sick, lay hands or something like that. Anyway he said yes and prayed for me over the phone. I felt my chest go up and down 5 times or so involuntarily, like I watched my chest just do its own thing. I felt for the lumps...they were gone. I have felt like I am 30 again for the past year. I want to go walk where my saviour/healer walked."
Posted by: birdman | February 15, 2007 05:28 PM
Yes, absolutely. In my work as a counselor especially I have been told numerous times by my supervisors and others who have worked in the field for years, that the one session a client may spend with me can change their life forever. Sometimes a simple smile can change a person's day..or eternity. And I've heard stories where just that one thing did in fact prevent someone from killing themselves. You're doing great! :)
Posted by: Stacy L. Harp | February 14, 2007 05:42 PM
Yes, they will know we are christians by our love.
Posted by: jdog | February 14, 2007 05:31 PM