A Different Kind of Conversation

Ever read something or hear something that affirmed exactly what you were thinking/marinating/wrestling over just a few days before?  That happened to me yesterday while reading an article from Dr. Tom Clegg, president of  CoachNet North America in “Neue Quarterly – neueministry.com” concerning the idea of evangelism.

What goes through your head when you hear the word, evangelism? I believe when the average Christ follower hears the word ‘evangelism’ they think – knocking on doors, tracts, stadiums, crappy Christian TV with a shouting embarrassing over zealous preacher, pressure, fear, and annoying.

What if evangelism was simply, another conversation?

No sales pitch, no agenda, no craziness… just another conversation where a follower of Christ mostly just asks questions, listens and reflects back on what they are hearing.  Doesn’t that sounds refreshing and enjoyable for both parties involved?

Dr. Glegg wrote about this very topic saying, “…if we’re sensitive to the needs of others, we can become more life-giving witnesses. Rather than believers directing the conversation to where we want it to go, we can simply listen to how the Holy Spirit is already at work within the person to whom we’re talking.  The resulting conversations are natural and engaging rather than pressured and artificial.“

Sounds like the way that Jesus interacted with people, doesn’t it?

• sinners
• tax collectors
• prostitutes

Jesus engaged them in conversation where they were comfortable and where He did most of the asking and listening.

What if we became a part of other people’s worlds instead of expecting them to become a part of ours – to be an influence without being easily influenced.  More often then not, I believe we will see a whole network of people experiencing the transforming power of the Gospel.

So how do engage in these different kinds of conversations?  I believe it really depends upon the questions we are asking in those conversations (which I will address in my next post).

In the mean time, look for each conversation God brings in your path today and ask, listen and reflect on what was said just as Jesus modeled.