Telling your story about why and how you became a Christian.
God chose us to be his people so that we can be very different to others in society. He wants our lives to be based on his Word, he wants us to be both a holy people and a people who share the news about how people can get right with God by becoming followers of the Lord Jesus. The addendum to this article gives some of the many references in the Bible about these two priorities. The difficulty we all face is how to share the message effectively without appearing ‘naff’, an embarrassing failure.
Peter recognised that his time on earth was likely to be short so he wrote his two letters to help Christians to keep their priorities on track. He wrote,
“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” 1 Peter 3:15
This is fundamental, we must all keep living with the knowledge that the Lord Jesus is now our Lord and that we will have to give an account to him about how we have lived for him. God wants his people to become like him in character and in purpose. He wants his people to be effective in attracting people to the Saviour of the world as they see the beneficial effects the Lord has had on the way we live and hear what we have to say. Peter continues,
“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” 1 Peter 3:15-16
The gracious way we communicate is as important as what we say - if we are to be effective.
A worrying study in the United States revealed that 80 per cent of evangelical Christians had not spoken to a non-Christian about their Lord over a period of 6 months. What a tragedy it is for Christians to deny their Lord in this way. It almost certainly means that such people are not praying to be given opportunities to point people to the Lord Jesus. They must have forgotten that he is the only hope of salvation both for individuals and for societies, as Jesus alone can forgive our sin.
Peter recognises that to be able to answer others effectively will require ‘preparation’. At school we were required to do ‘prep’ to prepare us for the next day’s lessons. We do all need to prepare answers to the common questions people have about the Lord Jesus. We need to learn key Bible verses by heart. If we then pray for opportunities we will undoubtedly come across people who are interested in knowing why we are Christians. Some will then want to know why we are different to others and why we are not blown away by life’s problems. What a joy it it to be able to give succinct answers as to why and how we became Christians. Paul had clearly done his ‘prep’ to be able to answer those who asked him about his ‘hope in Christ’. If the account can be made into an interesting story so much the better.
When we begin to talk with others about spiritual matters, questions such as, ‘Do you believe in hell?’ or ‘Are you anti-homosexual?’ and the like will regularly be thrown at us. One great secret, that many have yet to learn, is to ‘blame Jesus’. So when asked whether you believe in hell it is so helpful to say, ‘Jesus taught more about the coming judgment and the future in either heaven and hell than anyone ever has. I’m convinced Jesus is the Son of God, God’s Messiah, so we must accept what he teaches.’ With regards to questions about sexuality it is much safer to say what Jesus taught. He ratified every word in the Old Testament which clearly condemns sexual activities outside marriage. By ‘blaming Jesus’ the question is turned onto ‘Who is Jesus?’ which is a great place to be. It is by being involved in such discussions that we quickly have to learn key Bible passages so that we are ‘always prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks.’
A remarkable story
How we behave inevitably influences how what we say is received. After speaking at a conference in Poland, my wife and I were taken to Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp where thousands were executed. There we learned about Father Maximillian Kolbe, a Polish priest who gave up his life to save someone else.
Born in 1894 in a poor home, he was a very able man Franciscan priest who established a large friary near Warsaw and subsequently friaries in Japan and India. In 1936 he returned to lead the Warsaw priory which by then housed 762 monks and printed eleven periodicals, one of which had a circulation of over a million. When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, he knew that the friary would be seized, and so sent most of the friars home. He was imprisoned briefly and then released, and returned to the friary. There he and other remaining friars began to organise it as a shelter for 3,000 Polish refugees, among whom were 2,000 Jews who were housed, fed and clothed. They also continued to publish literature, some of which was anti-Nazi.
In May 1941 the friary was closed down and Maximilian and four companions were taken to the concentration camp in Auschwitz.
In order to discourage escapes there was a rule that if someone did escape ten men would be killed in retaliation. In July 1941 one man from Kolbe’s bunker went missing.
‘The fugitive has not been found,’ the Camp Commandant yelled. “You will all pay for this. Ten of you will locked in the starvation bunker without food or water until they die.”
Ten men were randomly selected, including Franciszek Gajowniczek, who had been arrested for helping the Polish resistance. This poor man cried out,
“My poor wife, my poor children. what will they do?”
At this point Father Kolbe stepped out of the line and, took off his cap, and stood before the Commandant.
“I am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children.”
The astounded Commandant asked,
“What does this Polish pig want?”
Father Kolbe repeated his request, pointing to Franciszek,
“I am a Catholic priest. I would like to take his place. He has a wife and children.”
The offer was accepted. Franciszek was returned to the line of prisoners and Father Kolbe joined the other nine as they were pushed down the stairs in Block 13 and locked into the small cell in the basement. It was hell in there as one by one the inmates died. After two weeks there were still four alive so these were injected with a lethal dose of carbolic acid. Kolbe was the last to die, he simply offered his arm to the executioner. Their bodies were taken to the crematorium and destroyed.
The irony was that that body of the prisoner who had supposedly escaped was later found drowned in the latrine.
Later Franciszek, who survived the war, said,
“I could only thank him with my eyes. I was stunned and could hardly grasp what was going on. The immensity of it: I, the condemned, am to live and someone else willingly and voluntarily offers his life for me, a stranger.”
The effect of that sacrifice stayed with Franciszek all his life - he couldn’t stop talking about it. Similarly, that is how the sacrifice of Jesus should affect us.
Paul’s first example
When telling our story about how Christ entered our lives it is helpful to see how the early christians did this and Paul gives us great examples. When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem he was given the opportunity of speaking to the angry crowd. He gave his testimony in a very clear, structured way.
Life before he was a Christian Acts 22:1-5
In this section Paul emphasised his credentials, he had been a student under Gamaliel in Jerusalem, and was a zealous Jew. He had persecuted Christians, to the extent that some had died, and had sent both men and women to prison. He had done all this under the authority of the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. He had been authorised to bring some Christians from Damascus down to Jerusalem to be punished when something extraordinary happened to him.
This introduction was clearly aimed to help the angry crowd empathise with him and yet at the same time to suggest that his ardent religion was inadequate in God’s eyes. The aim of this part of a testimony is to help your listeners realise that if they are relying on family, career or religion to satisfy them, these will all be inadequate when they face God.
2. What caused him to accept Christ Acts 22:6-11
Paul now describes succinctly what caused him to change his mind about Jesus. He doesn’t go into great detail of what had been building up to this crisis but tries to help his hearers put themselves in his situation so they can understand his decision. He is careful to use words his listeners can understand.
3. The effect Christ has had on his life Acts 22:12-21
Paul emphasises that after this experience he immediately became involved with Christians and that his commitment to Christ was immediately followed by baptism. He explains how his life was changed by Christ, that his purpose was now to live for God inwardly and not just outwardly. He stresses that his call by Christ was associated with the call to share the gospel with as many people as possible.
This is an excellent model for all of us to follow. When we tell our story please avoid cliche’s and superlatives and emphasise the Lord Jesus and how God used circumstances to lead you to put your trust in Jesus Christ. Remember that a miracle is when a law of nature is broken by God, a remarkable coincidence is very different! Paul became convinced that the news about Jesus was true and tried to convince his hearers about this truth. Our emphasis will inevitably vary depending on who you are talking to, just as Paul’s recounting of his conversion fitted his situation. However his basic structure is a very helpful framework for us to follow.
Useful advice
My grandchildren are often told,
‘If you want to be good at anything you must practice and practice and practice.’
This is especially true when speaking in public. Those who think they have naturally the ‘gift of the gab’ may well become ‘wafflers’ who repeat themselves and put in extraneous material that is not helpful. If you want to have the maximum impact by what you say, first write it out word for word and then rehearse it so that it comes across, not as being read but as natural speech. Even smiles, emphases, gestures and volume can all be rehearsed so that what is said makes a maximum impact.
The more often you tell of your story of conversion to Christ, the more natural the story will sound.
Most of us are normally apprehensive about talking to others about our faith. However the more Jesus means to us the easier it becomes.
Paul’s second example
Paul was then kept in prison whilst the governor, Felix, reviewed his case. At his first hearing he defends himself, explaining that he had done nothing illegal and that the charges against him were ill-founded. He doesn’t stop there though, he wants Felix to understand that the real reason for the charges against him was that he had become a Christian. He said,
“However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they (the Jewish authorities) call a sect. I believe everything that is written in the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before god and man.” Acts 24:14-16
‘The Way’ was an early term for the Christian the Christian gospel and Christ’s Church. Paul tries to show that it is because people had misunderstood the gospel that he had been arrested and arraigned before the Sanhedrin. At subsequent meetings with Felix, who had a deep understanding about the Christian movement, Paul focuses on the spiritual matters at stake. He knew that the Sanhedrin was controlled by the Sadducees, who were largely political and not so interested in spiritual issues. The Sadducees did not accept that there is a resurrection and judgment after death. It was they who had condemned Jesus to die. Paul finished,
“It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.” Acts 24:21
Several days later Felix summoned Paul from prison and they talked about the Christian message.
“He sent for Paul and listened to to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid.” Acts 24:24-25
It is apparent that Paul recognised that his Lord and Saviour had arranged for him to be in this frightening situation so that he could witness to the truth and content of the Christian message to the highest authorities and he did not miss the opportunity. The only reasonable explanation for Felix being afraid was his realisation that he also will be judged by God.
The purpose of telling our story, about the hope we have, must be to help others recognise that they too need a real Saviour because of they are also sinners in God’s eyes.
Festus then took over as Governor from Felix. He was less experienced in Jewish affairs so asked the help of King Agrippa who was visiting Caesarea at the time to pay his respects to the new Governor. Paul was again given the opportunity to explain himself and he used this to explain both the gospel message and to tell how and why his attitude had changed from opposing the Christians to joining them. He uses the same structure in what he said, as before.
Life before he was a Christian Acts 26:4-11
He describes his life as a strict Jew who persecuted the Christians under the authority of the Jewish authorities in the Sanhedrin.
2. What caused him to accept Christ Acts 26:12-18
He then describes again his experience of meeting Jesus when on his way to Damascus, the Syrian capital, in order to persecute Christians there. Jesus said to him,
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
It would seem that Paul’s conscience was troubled by what he was doing. The ‘goads’ were the prods of God. Perhaps the death of Stephen, which he had been involved in, was continuing to play on his mind. Paul’s response was very reasonable,
“Who are you, Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” the Lord replied. “Now get up, stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. . . I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
This paragraph is beautiful. Whilst describing what happened to himself he is also telling his hearers what the good news is about. It is about Jesus, who is the Lord God, it is about forgiveness of our sin and about becoming a holy people, committed to living for the Lord. The message about Jesus demands a response.
“So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the the vision from heaven.”
3. The effect Christ has had on his life Acts 26:19-27
The effect on Paul was immediate.
“First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.”
Again Paul teaches his listeners the gospel by telling his story. He continues,
“That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. But God has helped me to this very day, so I stand here and testify to small and great alike.”
It is the need to repent and turn to God that many religious people have always disliked, but the Lord wants our hearts.
Again Paul uses the opportunity to point to the Bible and to Jesus. Jesus is the reason Paul was in prison so Paul wants the debate to focus on the claims of Jesus. Christianity is essentially a message about Jesus which is either true or false.
“I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen - that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
We also, whenever given the opportunity to explain why we have become Christians, must remember that the aim should be to draw people to Jesus. What we say should therefore focus on Jesus so our hearers will question who he is.
We hear of Christians who in their attempts to witness are rude and invasive of people’s privacy and so do a grave disservice to the gospel. All we do and say should make Jesus attractive. At the same time our listeners must understand that a response to Christ is essential. At this point Festus interrupted Paul and suggested he was mad! Paul replied that he was only telling evidence-based truth.
“‘I am not insane, most excellent Festus,’ Paul replied, ‘What I am saying is true and reasonable.”
Ask a personal question
The secret of effective personal work is to get to the point where you can ask a direct question about your listeners walk with God without causing offence. Paul asked,
“King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets. I know you do.”
This is a brilliant question. Herod was a king of Jews so he could hardly say he rejected God’s word. Yet if he said he did, it opens the way for Paul to suggest they look at some of the 330 prophecies in the Old Testament that point to Jesus as being God’s one and only Messiah. It is becoming clear to Agrippa that he will need to make a decision about Jesus and this makes him uncomfortable.
“Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?’”
That is exactly what Paul longs for, that all who hear his story should recognise the truth about Jesus and be saved by becoming one of his dedicated followers.
“Paul replied, ‘Short time or long - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
Paul was a man committed to Christ.
The secret of effective personal work is to start talking about something religious or spiritual and then get to the point where you can ask a simple question such as,
“Excuse me asking but are you convinced about Jesus or aren’t you sure at present?”
Such questions open the door to speaking about the Lord Jesus and all he means to you.
There are so many ways to help people think about their relationship with God. Literature is a great way, either giving copies of articles or short books. I try to always carry an article with me that introduces people to the Christian message. These are given to people we meet at the door, on dog walks or whenever the opportunity arises. We keep a pile of ‘Cure for Life’ books on hand to give to any who seem interested in knowing more about whether the Christian faith is really true and what a Christian believes. Another way is to invite people to your church, Bible study or enquirers supper where someone skilled will be able to explain the gospel. An invitation, even if refused, makes the point that these things matter to you and should matter to them.
Addendum - Bible passages that emphasise the need for God’s people to speak out for Christ
This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. 2 Kings 7:9
I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1
. . . proclaim among the nations what he has done. Psalm 9:11
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away. Psalm 32:3
My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long. Psalm 35:28
So I remained silent, not even saying anything good. But my anguish increased; my heart grew hot within me. While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue. Psalm 39:2-3
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, LORD, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. Psalm 40:9-10
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Psalm 51:13
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us - so that your ways may be made known on earth, your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:1-2
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long. Psalm 71:24
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73:28
. . . with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. Psalm 89:1
Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence. Psalm 89:15
. . . with my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD Psalm 109:30
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. Psalm 118:17
Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name. Psalm 142:7
One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendour of your majesty. Psalm 145:4-5
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. Psalm 145:11-12
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Psalm 145:21
You are my witnesses’ says the Lord, ‘that I am God.’ Isaiah 43:12
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her vindication shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. Isaiah 62:1
I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised. Isaiah 63:7
They will proclaim my glory among the nations. Isaiah 66:19
Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them . . . Jeremiah 1:17
Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. Jeremiah 4:19
But if I say, ‘I will not mention him or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed I cannot. Jeremiah 20:9
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘the kingdom of God has come near.’ Matthew 10:7
Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33
‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them everything I have commanded you. and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ Matthew 28:19-20
On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations . . . Just say what is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.’ Mark13:11
Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Luke 9:60
‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ Acts 2:8
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in your eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:18-20
‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,’ he (the High Priest) said. ‘Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.’ Peter and the other apostles replied: ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!’ Acts 5:27-29
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you . . . ‘ Acts 18:9-10
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’ Acts 23:11
The Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Do you think in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?’ Acts 26:28
He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance! Acts 28:31
. . . that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Romans 9:17
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him form the dead, you will be saved. for it is with your heart you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and so are saved. Romans 10:9-10
I am talking to you Gentiles. . . in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. Romans 11:13-14
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. . . I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 1 Corinthians 9:19,22
Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 2 Corinthians 3:12
It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak. 2 Corinthians 4:13
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you, on christ’s behalf; be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains. Ephesians 6:19
And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. Philippians 1:14
I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. Philippians 1:27-28
With the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 1 Thessalonians 2:2
. . . in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. 1 Thessalonians 2:16
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 3:2
This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. . . and for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle. 1 Timothy 2:3-7
I pray that the sharing of your faith may promote the knowledge of all the good that is ours in Christ. Philemon 6 (RSV)
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. Revelation 6:9
They triumphed over him (Satan) by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony. Revelation 12:11
. . . those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus.
Revelation 12:17
And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. Revelation 20:4
BVP
