Are You Prepared to Defend the Faith You Profess?
God speaks in mysterious ways (even when it’s time to defend the faith we profess).
Sometimes I just get a feeling I need to go somewhere in particular. And that it needs to be right at that moment. I call it my “Go to straight street” moments. It has to do with a story I love in Scripture.
So I left my apartment and went downtown. First I went to Cabin Coffee, but no one seemed to need encouragement there. Maybe I misunderstood the “feeling”…
BAM! There it was!
I left the coffee shop and decided to walk the couple blocks to the lake to read my book. And BAM there it was…out of no where. I felt totally unprepared to defend the faith. I couldn’t remember “talking points”. It has been a really long time since I have had opportunity to speak with a Mormon (whoops: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints).
They had crossed the street to talk to me.
As I saw them coming, I prayed for wisdom. I prayed to remember verses I could use to defend the faith. But, unfortunately, nothing specific came to my mind. I was feeling so inadequate. Ill prepared. It had been a long time since I had spoken to a Mormon missionary.
I found myself just being curious about these two sweet girls.
Connecting
I began asking questions. Nothing spiritual. Did they grow up in a Mormon home? Where are they from? Where are they living now? Do they have to raise their own support? All kinds of questions. I tried to remember specific Scripture verses that would be applicable, but they would not come to me. I felt inept…
Instead, I said things like… “God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.”
I asked if they knew they would go to Heaven. And how did they know. They spoke of works they were doing to please God. That made me sad. So, I shared a bit of my testimony. Nothing harsh. Just three women sharing life together. On a street corner. Just talking.
I spoke of how I knew that I would go to Heaven and that God is not into our working our way into Heaven. He is into relationship with us. And that what I do is in gratitude to Him. Not to earn His love.
We laughed a lot.
I genuinely enjoyed them. They relaxed. They felt loved. I could tell they felt loved. I guess it was because I actually felt love for them.
I told them of a Mormon that had tried to convert me where I used to work and we laughed at all those things that happened as he tried to convert me. Turns out they knew the person I was referring to. In fact, they had just had lunch with him. Small world.
I couldn’t remember “talking points” I’d learned.
I could not remember specific stuff that I had once learned about what we “disagreed” with. And yet I had talked about my relationship with Jesus and questions I myself had about denominations and I was just REAL.
Anyway, like I said I thought I failed. I prayed for them on my way home. I asked God to make up for my lack.
Defend the Faith with the Help of Google
As soon as I got in the door, I Googled about how to witness to a Mormon. (Those who know me, just said, “Of course she did!”)
GOD PROMISES wisdom when we ask for it.
But, we have to ASK. It turns out that God did indeed give me the wisdom I had silently asked for. I was sincerely interested in them as people. I was curious about them and I instinctively prayed for the sprained arm of one of the girls. And I said my usual “God bless you” as we parted company.
Maybe I didn’t fail after all…
Maybe God did as He promised. Giving wisdom to those who ask. And He says we must believe and don’t waiver in unbelief. I did not run from the encounter. I sincerely felt concern for these sweet young women.
What About You?
Are you prepared when a Mormon or anyone else approaches you? Are you intimidated? Do you see it as an opportunity or a threat? Or nothing at all? Do you need help getting your courage up? Let’s conquer the fear BEAST together!
Invest In Your Relationships
Living From Your Strengths
The Living From Your Strengths Trilogy was written to help you value the strengths of others and embrace the person God created you to be.
