Hi all,
Now I have a question I just recently got saved although I've been raised in a semi Christian family. (Parents where never really involved much with church or anything) So now I'm married and have kids and while I know I'm saved I have a question about people. I'm not very talkative even on a good day to people and not the best at conversation unless I really know the person. Honestly I know it says to love your neighbor as yourself. But when it comes to people I usually either hang with people I know or hang by myself. And I know Christians are usually supposed to glorify God by talking about him with people but that just is not me.
Question: Is this ok in gods eyes. I'm not that great of a speaker even in small conversation unless of course I know who you are. I'm more solitary when it comes to my personality
There is a view in some Christian circles that each and every one of us is supposed to be out on a street corner waving a Bible around arguing people into "getting saved". That isn't, however, the normative view of most Christians and churches. Evangelism is important of course, but evangelism is about announcing the good news, sharing it. For most of us sharing our faith is about living out our vocations in life--as friends, as fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, as doctors, receptionists, ditch diggers, whatever our vocation in life happens to be. If we are asked about our faith, we can share it with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Our job isn't to bring people into the Church, that's God's job, our job is to be faithful to Christ, hearing His word, trusting His word, and living out our faith in the world as God's people in whatever place of life we find ourselves.
In fact I think we do good to acknowledge that some people shouldn't be out there preaching, someone who is really new to the faith or who simply isn't equipped to preach probably shouldn't. That doesn't mean, if you're new to the faith, you can't share what you believe with those who ask, but it does mean that you shouldn't feel obligated to be out preaching because that isn't what you are called to do.
The Apostles we read about in Scripture were called to be out there, preaching, that was part of their calling as Apostles. The word "apostle" comes from a Greek word meaning "sent out", so being sent out into the world to preach, establish churches in different cities, etc was part of their distinctive calling. And certainly others have done similar things throughout history, for example St. Patrick is remembered by the honorary title of "Apostle to the Irish" even though he wasn't an Apostle proper, but because of his work reaching out to the pagan Irish he is so remembered.
It's about understanding that in the Church there are many different kinds of callings and works to be done, and we read in 1 Corinthians 12 (among other places) that there are a diversity of gifts given to the Church. Some are pastors, but not everyone is a pastor. Some are evangelists, but not everyone is an evangelist. Some are teachers, but not everyone is a teacher. Some are called to preach, but not all are called to preach. Etc. And if we are not pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc that doesn't mean we don't have a role within the Church's work. What about the little old lady who volunteers to help clean up the bathrooms on the weekends so they are clean come Sunday morning? God knows her and her works, and her work in the Body of Christ is no less than what the pastor who preaches on Sunday morning does, or what the missionary in Africa working to feed and clothe the hungry and naked does. We are all together in the fellowship of the Body of Christ, knit together in the Holy Spirit, under the love of God the Father.
Right now, continue to learn. Continue to grow. Hear the word, trust in Christ, seek to love your neighbor as your are able. When you stumble in your sins, repent, trusting in the forgiveness that is yours in Christ by the grace of God.
-CryptoLutheran
