BLOG 4.24.16. IS ANYONE ASKING YOU A REASON FOR YOUR HOPE?

Once upon a time (several decades ago) there were a group of us, who were more mission-minded Protestants, who had been invited by some members of the Vatican staff in Rome (who had never had communication with such as we) to come and discuss two subjects with the: 1) evangelism, and 2) the ministry of the laity in the workplace. It turned out to be a fascinating two weeks for both them and for us. We had to learn each others’ terminology and traditions. Among other pieces of that which I carried back with me was their sense that God’s people needed to have three formations (as they called them): 1) spiritual formation, i.e., are you rightly related to God through Jesus Christ? 2) Biblical-theological formation, i.e., do you have your data-information-facts straight? And 3) formation for Christian apostolate, i.e., are you equipped to engage in your mission to church and world?

I like those. But … I think that there are a couple of other formations that I would add: 4) formation for Christian community, i.e., do you understand the dynamics of relating in love to the mosaic of persons (mature and immature, disciplined or messy) who make up the Christian community? And 5) formation for wholesome communication of your Christian hope to those outside i.e., your free, sensitive, and contagious conversation with curious folk you meet along the way? It is this last one that I want to raise to your consciousness in this Blog.

Those around the globe who are fruitfully engaged in the contagious spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ avoid being manipulative or confrontational ‘like a plague.’ What they look for is what they call men of peace, i.e., those who are genuinely open and curious about the issues of meaning and hope, and whatever is ultimate—something like that. One of the purposes of the personal incarnation of God’s New Humanity that is embodied in you and me, is that we are to be those people of hope, of peace, who incite genuine curiosity in others who are still searching.

The apostle Peter states it like this: “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh that war against the soul. Keep your conduct among (those still outside the household of faith) honorable, so that when they speak against you as evil-doers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God (i.e., know that somehow God is responsible for the good stuff they are witnessing) … Now who is there who to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. … always be prepared to make a thoughtful defense to anyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect …” (I Peter 2:11ff and 3:13ff).

Here’s what I think: I am convinced that if we are responsible and trustworthy and caring fellow-workers, citizens, associates, neighbors, etc. that there will come occasions when we stop for a break, and others will be interested in ‘what makes us tick.’ I have a personal rule that I will not initiate serious conversation, but that I will respond. I find that at coffee/beer breaks I can ask those who are my company: “Tell me about yourself,” and get them to begin to give me a peek into their lives, and I can pursue questions about what their dreams, vision, ambitions, disappointments, stumbling-blocks, etc. might be.

So many times, they will sooner or later, reverse the questions on me. That is when I know that I have found a man/woman of peace. Again, I avoid putting them on the defensive. I will simply say something like: “Well, the one thing about me that you might not understand it that I am an incorrigible follower of the life and teachings of Jesus,” … and just leave it there. They  can pick it up if they choose. But wholesome conversation in an over-connected, iPhone-texting obsessed populace is a gift worth retrieving.

I want my life to make folk curious, and to provoke them to ask me the reason for my hope. To be continued …