A Curious Girl: Some thoughts on witnessing

Just remembered, I wanted to comment about a guestbook signing I got a couple of days ago.

i'm not sure that your coworkers need jesus. they'll probably slap you for suggesting such a thing. as, i think, would i.

Seeing as there was no contact address (understandable, I can't stand spam) and no url, there is no reliable way to respond to this remark. On the basis of this I debated whether to delete the message from my guestbook as I don't like people leaving unhelpful and unencouraging messages and then refusing to allow a response. Decided not to, as it provoked some interesting thought as opposed to being directly insulting. I posted a response in my guestbook, but I doubt it will get read by the author of the previous message.

I do believe my co-workers need Jesus. I realised that would be controversial as soon as I wrote it, but write it I did. It's my diary :-) Now this may be a symptom of my love for English Literature, but this message seems to assume that my actions after deciding that my co-workers need Jesus will automatically be the tract/pamphlet approach to Christianity. That it is assumed I will simply go rail at them to repent of their sins (for example) and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour... and maybe leave a few Chick tracts for their reading pleasure. That thought actually never entered my mind until I read the message. I know that this approach is cast as the judgemental, intolerant Christian attitude, and I don't agree with intolerance and judgementalism. To use an analogy, think of a successful salesperson - they may manage to make some sales by forcefulness and threats, but their long term credibility is helped much more by likeability and integrity.

I'm glad I got that message because it made me think of what I am going to do to give Jesus to my co-workers. I couldn't actually bible-bash them if I wanted too, being as I'm still shy in their company and not quite ready to be alienated as a religious nut. But I can show Jesus to them by trying to behave in the way Jesus would, with as much love and care as possible, and I can pray for them too, which is more powerful. I don't expect just words to convince them to change their lives - I have to show it with actions, as well as allowing God's power to work through me.

If God wants to change them, it's his will - I'm not interested in having impressive conversion statistics (never mind the fact that I can't convert anybody) if that means that people are convinced into belief by words without experiencing God's love. They need Jesus, but they aren't forced to believe in him - if someone decides to stay away from God, that's their business, between them and God. This doesn't mean I don't think it's a bad idea, or that I won't pray for them. I'll still be concerned for them. But I can't bring them back alone, and not with words, not just by telling them they need Jesus. However, I can show them that I care for them and that Jesus is a good person to follow. Then they can make their own mind up.

The other feeling I got from this message is the general response to me thinking that my co-workers need Jesus - that this is dogmatic or patronising of me to think this. I guess a lot of people would feel the same - they don't share my beliefs and they believe that for me to decide they need Jesus (well, everyone does) is judging them, and probably incorrectly. This is why I don't want to be obnoxious... maybe it would have been more PC for me to say 'In my personal opinion they would probably be happier in the Christian faith'.

*sigh* God is so wonderful - and assuming I'm not a wonderfully deluded madwoman, there is a God and he loves us - when we turn away from him and when we do harm, we hurt him, and ourselves. When we're with him, we can know peace and forgiveness. And that is why I believe my co-workers need Jesus. OK, so they may not agree with me, and I'm not going to impinge on their personal freedom to do so. It's just that, like my friends, I'm concerned for them.

Random word for today:

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