Faith Hurdles (6)

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.” John 5.36

Christianity and good works
Most people associate Jesus with good works. You won’t find many people who will deny that Jesus, Whoever He may have been, was a good Man.

Consequently, most people also believe that real Christianity has something to do with good works – with living sacrificially, caring for the poor and needy, not passing judgment on others, and helping wherever one can.

At the same time, most contemporary unbelievers do not associate such good works with Christianity as they have known it, and observe it, in this country. Ask many unbelievers their view of Christians in America, and it won’t be long before the word, “hypocrites”, is expressed.

Sometimes we Christians can be the greatest obstacle to others believing the Gospel. The 20^th-century philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell, a renowned atheist, pointed to Church history as the most convincing evidence that Christianity was a lie and Jesus was a fraud (Why I Am Not a Christian). His very selective reading of Church history dwelt on religious wars, persecution of those who did not toe the majority line, factionalism, and a variety of other undeniable evils which have appeared in the record over the years. If he were still alive today he would doubtless include the sex and money scandals that have rocked the Church in recent years, as well as the shameful record of certain putative Christians in supporting terrorist activities and bigoted demonstrations.

No one can deny that the record of Christian history is not perfect. However, as Rodney Stark and others have shown, the positive contribution of the Christian faith far and away outpaces the negatives we have managed to strew along the course of world history (The Victory of Reason).

The need of the hour
What many unbelievers lack today is a witness to the Good News whose life is truly believable, someone who evidences the fruit of the Spirit, the tokens of love, and a sincere and humble holiness, someone whose life, like Jesus’ life, bears witness to the claims he makes about a new Kingdom and a new way of life.

Someone truly living a life of full faith.

You may be such a person. But if unbelievers are going to know that, you’ll have to get close to them. You’ll have to learn their names, begin praying for them daily, take an active interest in their lives, and look for ways to serve them in Jesus’ Name. You’ll have to demonstrate a quiet spirit, a gentle and respectful tongue, and a readiness to hear them out on whatever they want to talk about. You’ll need to be a good listener, to ask relevant questions, and to be willing to admit your own ignorance and shortcomings.

We need believable Christians if we’re ever going to help our unbelieving friends get over the hurdle of hypocrisy and come to faith in Christ. Unless we are able to demonstrate the reality of the faith we proclaim, many people are going to continue in their unbelief.

Personal Mission Field
The place to begin in becoming a credible witness for Christ is in making sure you are staying close to the Lord in prayer and His Word. Only as the living Christ replaces the dead attitudes, thoughts, and values of our sinful souls will we begin to show a genuineness and hope that will make others curious about what we believe (1 Pet. 3.15).

Then, by identifying and owning your own Personal Mission Field, you can begin to show the Jesus in you to the people around you by your daily words and deeds.

Just as Jesus was sent to a particular place and time, and to a particular people, with a mission to bring near the Kingdom of God, so He has sent each one of us (Jn. 20.21). Do you know the people in your Personal Mission Field? And are you working – through prayer, service, demonstrating Jesus’ love, and seeking conversations – to bear witness to these people about the Good News of the Kingdom?

Unless the people in your life encounter a credible witness for the Lord, they’re not likely to get over the hurdle of hypocrisy and find their way into the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus has sent you to them. Are you ready and willing to go?

For reflection or discussion
1.      What do we mean by “Personal Mission Field”? Do you have one? Who’s in it?

2.      How do words and works come together to create a credible witness for the Good News of the Kingdom?

3.      Jesus commands us to make disciples “as you are going” (Matt. 28.18-20). Where do you “go” each week? To whom has God sent you for the purpose of making disciples?

Next steps: Download the free Personal Mission Field worksheet, map out your Personal Mission Field, and begin showing Jesus to the people to whom the Lord has sent you.

T. M. Moore

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This week’s ReVision study is Part 7 of a 10-part series, “Full Faith.” You can download “Faith Hurdles” as a free PDF, prepared for personal or group study. Simply click here.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.