I don't really know why I feel led to write this post but because I feel led, I will obey. I was in a Bible study tonight and the conversation surrounding a specific question prompted this question in me: "Are we as Christians scared of this non-believing world?"
The question in the study asked, "What opportunities do you have for contact with unbelievers? What could you to do increase these opportunities?" In thinking about this question, I have been at both ends of the spectrum, seasons in my life where it seemed like all that was around were "unbelievers" and then other times only "believers". And I began to think about which I prefer.
When I worked at a Bible college, I often referred to the experience as being in a Christian bubble. My co-workers were Christians, our students were Christians and the only other thing I did besides work was go to church...with other Christians. I remember getting restless being solely around Christians. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty easy being in the Christian bubble. Many things were kept at bay due to the rules and regulations of the Bible college, at least I should say in my realm. We as staff went to chapel at least once a week and our days started with group prayer. It was a pretty great deal. But then I started to get stagnant and really restless. There was no one to share the Good News with. Yes, I encouraged the students and prayed with co-workers but as far as being around "unbelievers" I had to go search them out. I remember going to a specific restaurant, almost weekly, to try and develop a relationship with this one particular waitress, so I could tell her some Good News. (Trying to evangelize the world without relationship is pretty useless but I digress.) This soon to be friend was all up in the world, very non-believing and very much in need of Jesus (aren't we all?!) But minus this new friend, I pretty much remained in the Christian bubble.
This season of life finds me at an internship made up of 90% unbelievers and I attend a public university for graduate school that probably consists of about 85% unbelievers. And when I think about my next internship, I will be in the darkest of the dark places, a mental health hospital with probably even higher levels of unbelievers. If I allow myself, I can become scared of the internship that lies ahead, scared of the unbelieving world that I live in and the world of mental illness that I am about to enter. But in those moments when I start to feel fear or find myself starting to pull away from the world so that it's doesn't influence me poorly, I have to remind myself that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD!! I have no reason to fear the world or the unbeliever. I think that too often, Christians quote Scriptures that call for separation from the world to lead a holy life without balancing that out with the other half of Scriptures that call us to go into all the world and share the gospel or to go meet the needs of the needy or just plain go show them love. I know that I have been guilty of this so I am not trying to point fingers at anyone. I just feel a burning in my spirit that we as THE CHURCH need to rise up, to not fear the things of this world and to know that HE has overcome the world and since HE lives in us, so do we! When we look at Jesus' ministry, He was all up in the world! No, he didn't participate in all of the things of the world and I am not saying we should either but He was right in the mix, right next to the unbeliever showin' em love.
I read a Beth Moore quote today that said something to the effect of "we don't share our faith because we don't have enough of it." This challenges me. And I would like to add that "we don't go into this unbelieving world because we are scared of it."
I don't want to be scared of this world or the unbeliever. I don't want to be ashamed of the Good News that transformed my life. I want to be such a bright light in a dark place that people are nearly blinded by the Jesus in me. And I want to have enough faith that I have plenty to share, an overabundance.
Feel free to share your thoughts or comments.
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