Can We Talk?

 

“Share the gospel, use words if necessary.” St. Francis

An office receptionist once related her story of trying this approach to her Christian witness in the work place. She was determined to do an excellent job and to serve others as much as possible as ways of demonstrating her Christian faith. She did it for a couple of years and then decided to put two Bible verses on her desk. She had them printed, framed them and placed them within eyesight of anyone who came to her desk.

Within a day or two a co-worker came over and asked if she was a Christian. When she said she was, the other person said she had not known it. The woman did acknowledge that it was not a surprise to her because of the way the receptionist did her job. But, words were necessary – even if they were typed and sitting on the desk. They had many conversations after that, encouraging one another in the Lord.

The Bible also tells us that words are necessary: “And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14b).

What words are to be preached or proclaimed (1 Peter 2:9)? The Words of the Lord, the good news of the scriptures.

Why those words? “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

This topic has come up because of a recent “Gay Pride” event that had sympathizers steering anyone entering the venue away from conversations with Christians who were there hoping to engage people (gay or straight) in conversations about their thinking on the gay pride issues.

It seems that the people promoting and believing they were “protecting” people from the conversations have nothing to say and prefer that no one hear another opinion on the subject. Why? What is it that they believe Christians, and perhaps more directly, God’s Word, have to say about the LGBT+ life that they are trying to keep people from hearing?

The “piercing of the Word of God” can be painful at first. Hearing that a habit, behavior or lifestyle goes against the teaching of God can sting when our human nature is to think that we are all “good.” It is also humbling to see this truth in the “thoughts and intentions of our hearts.” The thoughts and intentions of the human heart without God are not good (Jeremiah 17:9).

This is one reason why the “pride” events are so scary. People are taking pride in something that God says is sin and worthy of death. Romans 1:32 tells us that this is not just those who practice these things but also those who approve the practice.

One of the great truths of scripture is that knowing and accepting the truth is the thing that sets us free. Observing these events makes it clear that those who have invested their lives in such unholy actions are living in bondage to their sin. As Christians, we want to share the truth of the Lord so they may be set free.

Though the “Pride” community clearly communicated that they do not want to talk about these things with Christians, if we are going to love our neighbors, we must continue to try to speak God’s truth whenever we can. One of the things that Christ came to do is to “proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1). As we are being conformed to His image, this is also an assignment for us.

Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. So far, many of us have responded to our own feelings about when those times are. It is clear that, as more and more people are sold the lies of a lifestyle that promises to bring pain, it is time to speak the truth in love.

The question is not just “can we talk” but “will we talk?”

How will they know if no one tells them?