We are social beings by nature. We need others in order to be
fulfilled. Genesis 2:18 says, "It is
not good that man should be alone." Christianity is not a synonym for
isolation. As Christians we need to learn how to manage our relationships
within our social circle without letting them have a negative effect on us. On
the contrary, we are destined to have a positive influence on them.
I. OUR FIRST CHALLENGE: THE PEOPLE THAT SURROUND US
After receiving Christ, the first issue that we face is dealing with
our family, lifelong friends, fellow students or workers and acquaintances. All
of these people confront us with: "Is it true you have become a Christian?
Don't tell me you don't drink anymore! Don't believe everything they tell you
over there! Is it true they don't allow you to have boyfriends? You've let them
brainwash you!" We have all found ourselves faced with questions and
statements like these. So how do we act in front of this type of person?
HOW TO BEHAVE IN FRONT OF NON-BELIEVERS
- ACT CAMLY AND WITH CONVICTION
It will not be hard to face questions that are
intentionally antagonistic if you are fully convinced that you have made the
right decision and chosen what is the best way, especially as you remember how
much Jesus loves you! This knowledge will give you security and conviction.
When the opponents of Jesus cunningly tried to
trick Him with questions, He left them speechless with His answers. You will do
the same because the same Jesus is living in you and He will be the One talking
through you. Jesus is by your side: He is your Wisdom.
1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for
us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” ! So
you do not need to be intimidated. His Word says of Jesus! Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:11
Act naturally, and calmly respond saying,
"Now I am truly enjoying life, and you guys don't know what you are
missing!" If they respond with irony and criticism, don't get upset, keep
calm and tell them you are not going to renounce what you now believe just to
make them happy.
Being radical means that people will try to
pressure you to give into their desires. But when they see your firm stand they
will respect you to the point that when they have problems, you will be the
person they turn to! Remember! Nothing makes the kingdom of darkness happier than
an angry or out-of-control Christian. The adversary enjoys this, because when
you get angry you lose your authority with people, which gives your opponents
reason to ridicule you. It also makes you believe that you have failed God!
This calls for the truth that even in your anger or your weakness, God is still
pleased with you because He sees you IN CHRIST!
As you continually remind yourself of His love
for you, He will lead you to communicate even with those who treat you wrong.
Just like the apostles John and Peter, after having experienced the love of
Christ, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard [Acts
4:20],” guided by His wisdom.
- KNOW THAT THE FATHER IS PLEASED WITH YOU EVEN WHEN MEN AREN’T!
Satan will try to make you afraid of what others
will say and of how they may ridicule you. He may tell you that to fail in the
eyes of men or to lose acceptance from a group of people is the worst thing
that could happen. Many allow the enemy to deceive them in this and deny Jesus
in order to be accepted by their friends.
We need to know that our choosing to be
associated with Jesus Christ is highly affected by how we view our faith. When
we think the blessings He gives us depends on our works, on our love for Him,
our focus tends to be on our abilities, and consequently we will wind up
feeling like standing up for Him is not worth it.
If you are ashamed of God, it is most likely due
to an inadequate picture of His goodness, and therefore strives being approved
by man more than by God. For example, Peter denied knowing Christ. When we
check the context of when Jesus told him he would deny Him three times [John
13:38], Peter was boasting about His love for the Lord! Meanwhile, John, who
called himself “the disciple whom Jesus
loved” all throughout his own gospel, was found standing right at the foot of
the cross right up to the very end. He didn’t care what people thought because
he was so caught up by this One Man who loved him more than anything!
The key is for us to remember Christ's sacrifice
at Calvary and realize how much He loves us that He gave it all, unconditionally,
abandoned, no strings attached! This enables us to walk as Christians of
conviction, not of convenience!
Feeding on His love will make sure you are not a
secret disciple of Jesus, because His love will just cause you to overflow and
you will not be able to keep quiet about His goodness! You have no reason to
feel ashamed when asked malicious questions or when you are made fun of: they
truly don’t know what they’re missing!
- UNDERSTAND YOUR NEW POSITION IN CHRIST
As believers we are lights shining on whoever we
meet. The Bible says: “You are the light of the world." Matthew 5:14 Being
a light is imparting the life of Christ! Amazing privilege! We make a
difference in the world simply because we are destined to! And we exude the
very fragrance of Jesus Christ to everyone we meet: “Thanks be to God, who
always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads
everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma
of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing [2
Corinthians 2:14,15] It seems crazy to those accustomed to their old way of
life, but they cannot understand because they are carnal and unspiritual.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are
spiritually discerned.” I Corinthians 2:14
This is why others do not understand the path you
have chosen, but you need to remember that you have made the right choice. Time
will prove you right and you will be able to say:
"Now to Him who is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that works in us..." Ephesians 3:20
Since you have God on your side, all who attack
you calling you a fanatic, crazy, or
religious, will eventually see that yourGod is real and that your decision was
wise and true.
Being a "light" might make some people
feel uncomfortable as your new lifestyle will highlight their bad habits and
customs. The Bible teaches this: "For
everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come into the light, lest
his deeds should be exposed." John 3:20
For this reason they will try to deny
Christianity and what it represents, and get you to fall back into your old way
of life, which produced nothing good. But hallelujah, you have been made new! Imagine a beautiful butterfly flying
about from flower to flower. This butterfly may alight sometimes on a trash
heap, but it will never stay there because the nature of the butterfly is to
feed on the flowers.
Similarly, when Christ changed us, He gave us a
new nature; hence no matter what the world entices you to, you know that it no
longer is in your nature to frolic in the old way of life you used to live!
We need to understand that the world does not
want the best for us, but for us to drown in a life of slavery and emptiness.
That is why we need to be wise and choose true friendships that will help us
become better people.
- TO FORM A NEW GROUP OF FRIENDS
The believer who has no Christian friends will
find it difficult to continue strongly. Your heart has been made new to the
point of its never being satisfied anymore with cheap pleasures. As such, you
will want to make a new group of friends who share your new way of life, who share
the same love for Jesus as He revealed His love to them!
Talking with people in the church, knowing how to
listen and answer them courteously will help you make friends and learn to love
and value them. The best way to make new friends is by faithfully going to a
cell group, net meetings and Sunday services. Enjoy the open and friendly
attitude Jesus has bestowed you with,
that instills confidence in those to whom you talk.
Enjoy becoming friends with the most committed
people in the church. They will challenge your life by their intimacy with the
Lord and as they point you to Christ.
II. TAKE THE CHALLENGE TO WIN YOUR FRIENDS
- Rest and let God show the positive things He has done in you
Your life is a good testimony to your family,
friends, and acquaintances. Nothing is more harmful in winning others than to
say one thing and do another. We thank God that the work He has done in us is
complete, that is why you can be consistent wherever you are. When you do fail, rejoice knowing that it
allows you to point to the grace of God in your life, and also to reflect the
love of God.
- Share the love of God with wisdom
Titus 3:5,6 says, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by
all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated
and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior
appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous thing we had done, but because
of his mercy.”
This enables us to avoid assuming a condemning
attitude, showing off as being super-spiritual, and looking at others as vile
sinners.
Practically speaking, His wisdom also teaches us
to connect to them on their level. This means we don't normally use terms
around them such as, "Hallelujah" and "Praise God." These
sound good in church, but for someone who does not know God this can be
strange. Also, we usually do not mention about learning to speak in tongues or
about deliverance to non-Christians. This will be very hard for them to
understand or accept.
Remember that you do not need to force your
beliefs and doctrines on anyone. The Holy Spirit is the One who convicts people
of their need of a Savior, not you.
This also keeps us from having pointless
discussions and meaningless arguments that instead of drawing people closer to
God, actually drive them farther away. We are ambassadors of Christ, and we
simply share the wonderful message of reconciliation [2 Corinthians 5:19-21]!
- Include your friends in your prayers
Someone once said, “Talking to people for God
stands no match to talking to God for people”. Prayer has the power to change
everything. Amazing privilege the Lord grants us, that He would do things as we
ask! Always believe what James 5:16 says, "The
effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
Know that this promise is yours because you are
always righteous in God’s eyes on account of Jesus. For God made Jesus who knew
no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of
God.[2 Corinthians 5:21] Allow the Lord to overwhelm you with His love, and you
will consequently yearn to have your friends experience His beauty!
There was one young man who was accustomed to
living a very unruly life. When he came back from an Encounter he immediately
showed a change in lifestyle. This changed his previously bad reputation. He
was no longer deeply dissatisfied.
He had a peace, so unlike the fleeting happiness
that many sins give. At the same time, he included his three best friends in
his daily prayers and consequently won them for the Lord. Now they all serve
God together. Rejoice that in you lies the Answer for the world's need. Therefore,
if at first they reject you, don't understand you, or don't accept you, just
continue enjoying the Great Lover of your soul. In time they will search for
what you have, and one day you will see them enjoying the blessings that come from
living in Christ.
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