|
"Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
(Matthew 22:37-39)
I am currently reading a good book by an agnostic that is helping me do a better job in sharing my faith. That book is Think Again by Adam Grant. I first learned about Grant on the Carey Nieuwhof podcast when he was being interviewed by Nieuwhof. They had an engaging conversation. Nieuwhof clearly expressed his beliefs in Jesus' resurrection and his conviction that the Bible is the Word of God. He was not pushy but very respectful and kind. Grant responded very cordially. I was so impressed with Grant (voted the top professor seven years in a row at the business school of the University of Pennsylvania) that I purchased Think Again and am currently over half way through reading it.
Grant shares many helpful pointers on evangelism without ever actually addressing the subject. For example, he eloquently writes on subjects like confident humility and the power of influential listening, how we are to engage people and show them respect. By far the most riveting story I have read in the book is the one about Daryl Davis. Davis is an excellent blues/jazz piano player and so much more.
After playing in a bar, a man approached Davis and told him he was surprised that Davis, a black man, could play like Jerry Lee Lewis. Davis replied that he and Lewis were friends, and Lewis acknowledged that he had been influenced by black musicians. The man who approached Davis was skeptical, so he invited Davis to have a drink with him. The man commented that he had never had a drink with a black person. Davis was startled by the statement but soon found out why. The man was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
On another occasion, Davis was talking with a member of the KKK who told Davis he believed all black people were inferior, had smaller brains, and had a genetic propensity toward violence. Davis countered that he was black and had never shot another person or stolen anything. The KKK member said that was because his criminal gene was latent, but in time, he would commit these crimes. Davis calmly challenged the white supremacist to name three black people who were serial killers; however, the racist could not name one. Davis named many white people who were serial killers and said that therefore, the man he was talking to must be one as well. Of course, the man protested that he had never killed anyone, but Davis said it had just not happened yet. Months later, this white supremacist ended up leaving the KKK and giving his hood and robe to Davis. Daryl Davis has influenced over 200 people to leave the KKK.
Jesus said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love people. When we truly love God and people, we will show true kindness to everyone and we will share with them the greatest love story of all: the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is vitally important to ask questions, listen to people, have confident humility, and get to really know people. Find out their hopes and fears, and in the context of your compassion, share the truth of who Jesus is. |
Spotify
Stitcher
YouTube
