InterVarsity Press

Conversations: When Faith "Turns Off" Friends

Shannon:

My faith has a pretty good foundation, but sometimes that foundation is threatened by my peers. I want to tell all of them how Jesus has completed my life and how I feel like I could fly when I think of Jesus. I want to tell them what is a good way without sounding like I am closed-minded—like I believe that my way is the only way and the best way—because I am not like that. Please help.

Ruth:

You may very well have a strong foundation to your faith, but you really don't say anything in your message to me that would necessarily indicate that. Rather, you express how you feel like you could fly when you think of Jesus and what a good way the Christian life is.

Yes, to others you may sound closed-minded, but you also may sound less than authentic. The Christian faith has no guarantees about flying. In fact, that almost sounds more like the words of a Hindu guru. Jesus calls disciples to a life of service—of feeding the hungry and ministering to those in prison.

I think your friends would be much more attracted to your faith if you showed them through acts of kindness what it means to be a Christian. Let them wonder about you and ask you what motivates you.

I'm not saying that you're not doing this already, and I'm not saying that you shouldn't have a verbal witness, but I'd back off a bit on the flying metaphors and anything else that makes the Christian faith sound like a heavenly utopia.

Hope this is helpful.