Coming Out (it's not what you think)

[Guest tygra]

Hi,

I am a pretty new Christian, I've been saved for about a year. Most of my family are Christians as well, I've even got a pastor for an uncle. My family of course were really happy when I told them about finding Christ. However, most of my friends aren't Christians and even those who believe in God don't live a very godly lifestyle (drinking, partying, weird relationships). Anyway, I've been really nervous about admitting my faith. I guess I'm afraid of their reaction. Many of my friends scoff at religion in general and are not too impressed with Christianity. I don't know how to tell them. What is a good way to introduce my faith without alienating my friends?

Also, even though some of this is new to me I did go to church a lot when I was younger and I feel I know enough to evangelise at least a little. Is it too soon to start talking to my friends about this subject or would you recommend learning more first? Thanks.

[Hvnly1Rose]

It is never too soon to tell people about Jesus. Our pastor told us of a woman that was bombarded with questions from a man that she had no way of answering because she hadn't learned the answers to them yet. Every question he asked her she answered with, "I don't know, I only know that I love my Jesus." It was a day or so later and that man came back to her and was so moved by what she said that he wanted to know why she loved her Jesus so much. It opened the door for her to share the gospel without the battle, just the basics. The man finally excepted Christ as Lord. AMEN.

Never be ashamed of the Gospel. But understand that people are going to give you a hard time about your change. I hate to tell you this but you may have traded most of those friends in for the one Friend you will ever need. He is constant and never failing, but friends are a dime a dozen. You might find that you are better off without them. I truely believe that before you speak to them about the Lord you should PRAY and let the Holy Spirit do the speaking through you, you will get much further that way. Plant the seed, but know that it may need watering by someone else so keep praying for that person. Share what you know about the Gospel and that will get you a long way, don't worry about arguing the controversial issues with them (evolution, dinosaurs..etc.) bring it back to the Gospel always. Be Unwavering. Don't let them go that route, just like I shared about the woman above. She always went back to her Jesus.

Blessings~Rose

[OneAccord]

Hi Tygra:

I pretty much lost all my friends when I found Jesus, and don't fit in with the church people too well either, plus all my family is atheist. So it's been a very lonely road socially, but Jesus seems to give me always just enough to take the next step and the next.

As for witnessing to your old friends, that is a hard one. Most of them probably don't want to hear it and have a kneejerk reaction to Christianity in general. They are probably going to start thinking that you will become judgemental of them and condemning and none of them like thinking that you believe they are going to hell. This has been my experience. Also none of them is really very interested in my new faith and I have not had a single person ask me about it in 3 years.

They all know that I'm a Jesus Freak but never ask me why.

My way of sharing my faith is by trying to be a living light, walking it, not just talking it. I did have one close friend come to the Lord because he saw the change in me and because I didn't 'push Jesus on him' ( which is how a lot of people feel about being witnessed to), mostly I had just told him how I had just fallen in love with Jesus. He has a strong dislike for churches and it was encouraging to him to see someone who was totally in love with Jesus but not getting all churchy and holier-than-thou, just living it in my daily life.

You are blessed to have your family in the Lord.

[WayneB]

Good advice from Rose!

Just remember, it is the light of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us; we are just the vessel that the light shines through. Let His light shine through you and others will see it and wonder what it is. That will open the door for you to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Blessings,

Wayne

[nebula]

Hey, Tygra!

(Cute name, BTW!)

I was wondering how old you are? I am guessing by the sound of your post you are in high school or college? Is that correct?

I ask because although principles are the same, being in a younger age group (speaking as a 33-year-old) changes the dynamics of the situation. That is, acceptance is a much bigger issue and the pressures are greater, I believe, during the "under 21 years."

I would agree that any time to start evengelizing is good, and I believe you are wise in wanting to know more to share your faith with. If you are a teen, there's some good books out there geared towards adolescents and Christian living (i.e. Josh McDowell books, Teen Mania resources - they're a missionary group).

But what I pick up the most from you, and I may be reading this wrong, you need to find your strength in Jesus. I am naturally more a timid person, and I don't like confrontation, and I hate getting into religious debates with non-believers (I'm not that good at it!). (FYI, I write better than I talk off the top of my head.) But Jesus means so much to me that I don't want to hurt Him by denying His name or hiding my light, so to speak. Even during the time of the worst verbal persecution I went through from my classmates, I had to speak what I believed.

Mind you, not everyone is cut out to be an evangelist. True, we are all called to be witnesses to Jesus, but that does not mean we have to become "preachers of the Gospel" so to speak. We all have our gifts and talents, and a good evangelist needs to have a "salseman" talent, I believe. I know I don't!

So, what I am saying is to not feel pressured that you have to carry your Bible around and pass out tracks or whatever. Just start simple.

First - Spend time communicating with the Lord (officially called "prayer"), get to know Him, and read the Bible so you can know about His ways and receive a guideline for how you should live. Likewise, buy some Christian CD's especially praise and worship CD's. Spend time learning to worship the Lord! It can be so awesome!

Second - Just live the Gospel. St. Francis of Assisi (famous Christian from the past) said something like, "Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary, use words." Separating yourself from evil is good. When your friends ask you why, let that be your answer. "I am a new creature in Christ. The old has past; the new has come. I no longer need [beer, wine, sex, whatever] to satisfy my heart. I have new life in Christ Jesus, and He fulfills my need!"

But of course, following Jesus is more about "do's" than "don'ts." Let your "do's" stand out, too. Give to those in need, return love for hate, speak words of peace amidst turmoil, sacrifice your comfort for the life of another. I know these are not easy to do, but these things grow out of a life in Christ.

Fear not for the Lord is with you. It may be tough to make a stand for Him and let your witness be displayed for all to see. But stand anyway! YOu may be verbally persecuted, you may lose some "friends," but in the end, you will find greater love and peace for following in the footsteps of Jesus, rather than the pressures of this world and those in it. It may hurt, I know, because I have been there, but when you run to Jesus with your hurt and basically cry on His shoulder (in spirit anyway), you will find greater love in Him than you could possibly know otherwise.

And remember, your friends' lives are in the Lord's hands. It is not your responsibility to change them. All any of us can do is testify to what we have seen and known and experienced. The choice, though, is theirs to make, and you need to allow them that grace, same as you were given.

Make sense?