I was riding down the road today heading towards the first of my many errands, when I stopped behind a ragged pickup truck at the red light. Amongst his myriad of bumper stickers, most of which I found to be highly inappropriate for public display, was a plain white, rectangular sticker with purple text that read:
If you believe you can tell me what to think, I believe I can tell you where to go.
Because the red light was an especially long one, I had an opportunity to ponder the meaning of this sticker, as well as the one that told me to honk if I was interested in pursuing an inappropriate physical encounter with the overweight and unshaven driver of said truck. The first sticker, though, had me intrigued (the second... not so much). The conclusion I came to just seconds before the light turned green was that people don't like being beaten over the head with alternative ideas. The unsavory driver sped off, leaving a trail of black exhaust behind him. But his bumper sticker message stayed with me.
I can recall in my youth going door-to-door with the sweet missionary ladies of the LDS church. We went tracting on every street in my neighborhood, knocking on doors and talking with passers-by on the street. 99% of the doors we knocked on were closed to us immediately, some folks were kinder than others. Some folks seemed receptive to the idea that, in some way or another, God was knocking on their doors and requested entry - they just didn't believe that we should come in, too. In the few seconds that the door was open to us, I could quickly peer in to the home and tell if a family was more in need of Jesus than another home. Yes, I know - that's passing judgment. I'm the first to admit that I am imperfect. But in these quick snap judgments, I felt myself making the discernment between a family who was unaware of the kinds of improvements Jesus could make on their family, and a family who was choosing to live far from Him. Sometimes, that door slamming shut was more painful than other times.
Even in my family, I can tell a divide between myself and members of my family that do not fully accept the gift of a savior. Their reasons for this are their own, and I accept that we are different in this, though I often wish it were not so. They have openly spoken to the fact that they do not want any literature on the story of Jesus Christ. They do not want Bible verses repeated to them incessantly. They do not want people praying over them constantly, nor do they want to be called out as "the one who needs you the most" during the suppertime blessing. Hey, I get that. I don't want that, either. And the bottom line is that a nonbeliever cannot be guilted into belief. They cannot be persuaded. They cannot make themselves believe something that they do not naturally believe on their own.
But that is not to say they cannot change their opinion. It's just important to note that man does not convert man. The Holy Spirit converts a heart. And in order for that to happen, a person must have their heart open. Once they open their heart and their mind to the possibility that it could be so, and they turn their obvious opposition into curiosity and question, then the Holy Spirit can come in and begin to work. It is our responsibility, as believers, to make that opportunity possible. It is NOT our responsibility to guilt someone, or force our beliefs onto someone else.
The idea that people don't know about the Good News of the gospel seems in direct conflict with the idea that people don't want to be preached to. But the truth is that they go hand in hand. We've all heard the saying "actions speak louder than words." And it's very true. People need to see Jesus in action. When they witness, through your life, that Jesus has come in and made a true positive change, they will respond. At first, it may be with skepticism. But when you show them with time that the change in your heart reflects that Jesus permanently resides there, they too will have no choice but to begin asking questions like, "how come she seems different?"
When you live your life in such a way that Jesus shines through, words aren't required. People WILL notice. They won't be able not to. If Jesus is truly a part of who you are, your life will follow... and the world will take notice.
Most importantly, love. Jesus said, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) Not by the size of the Bible you carry, not by the number of fish stickers attached to your hatchback, and not by the numbers of verses you can recite from memory on cue. By your love. Remember, Jesus pursued your heart once, too. In Romans 5:8, it says, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He loved us, he truly and deeply and intensely loved us, even during the times we wished that the whole Christianity thing would just go away and leave us alone! His way was to just love us, even in our sin. We should do the same.
No one likes being told what to do - even if it is what is best for them. We enjoy the freedom of discovery and the opportunity it affords us to make change in our own way and in our own time. Beating someone about the head and neck with the idea that they will burn in hell eternally (whether true or not) has never converted a heart to follow the true love that is in Jesus Christ. Forcing someone to confess and proclaim their salvation under threat has never brought any man into a loving relationship with his Heavenly Father. And, it never will. People don't like being told what to do, where to go, what to think. Especially Americans. But people do like having the freedom to choose to love God on their own. That's what God's plan was all along. He gave us the freedom to accept or deny the gift. So why bother wasting your energy pestering people with verse upon verse about Jesus love? Just go out and show them what it looks like instead. And show them crazy love - love them the way Jesus loved you before you came to him. They might be able to plug their ears and ignore your voice, but they can't ignore your love.
Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.
- Francis of Assisi
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