Monday, February 18, 2008

 

How Will They Know Series

Matthew 4:18-19 “They were casting their nets into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come follow me,” Jesus said, “And I will make you fishers of men.” 

 

Investing in People

 

The best way to win someone to Christ is by befriending them as a Christian.   It is taking time to be with them, sharing life with them, and not from the perspective of some superior person, but as one authentic human genuinely caring for another.  

 

Twenty five years ago, the first summer I was appointed to First Methodist in Montgomery, I was 31 years old and Caroline was 19 months old.  We lived in a rented house that was overgrown and set back from the road.   This particular Saturday Averette had gone to Frazer UMC for a workshop and I was practicing my parenting skills.   I remember I had a summer cold and felt terrible.    It was very hot and Caroline and I sat in the back yard in the baby pool most of the morning.   I also remember that she had just gotten a plastic bag of barrettes and had fastened most of them in my hair as we sat in the pool. 

 

She suddenly was hungry and I brought her inside to make her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  We were both dripping wet and I wanted to change her when I saw two women standing at the front door.  I went to the front door wet and holding a squirming child.   I had barrettes in my hair and the lady at the door said, “Are you saved?”  I thought to myself, “How do I explain to her I am an Associate Pastor at First UMC in Montgomery looking as I did.”  I decided I wasn’t going to share that I was a Methodist minister, especially because of the barrettes.

 

I told her indeed I was in a saving relationship with Jesus and needed to change Caroline and feed her lunch.   Caroline, wet as she was, at this time was sitting on Averette’s brand new sofa.  The lady continued to ask me if I really was saved or was I just saying that so she would go away.   Finally, I said to her, “I don’t know how many times I need to tell you I know my final destination is heaven and if I died tonight I know I will be with God.”  She looked at me and said, “I don’t really believe you are saved.”   I then took charge, had a rather pointed prayer with her, and went inside to dress Caroline. 

 

I felt that she had intruded on my life and not done the cause of Christ any good.   All these years later it seems to me that it is not a Christian in a Bibleman costume that swoops down and saves people and then disappears, identity unknown, that makes a lasting impression on someone.   I don’t argue that can happen.  It does sometimes.  I have led strangers to Christ many times myself.  However, usually there is a predicating circumstance.   Even Jesus made the greatest impression on his disciples during their three year faith sojourn.  

 

Prayer: Dear God, help us to invest in others so that they may see Christ in us.  Amen