As human beings, we’re much more comfortable when we’re around people who are just like us. That’s the tough part about ministry and outreach: We are forced outside of a comfortable zone with like-minded people.
In order to reach out, we have to get out, and that’s just not something we like to do very much.
In the numbers game, convincing 10 people 100 percent of the way is the same as convincing 100 people 10 percent of the way. But it’s a horseshoes and hand grenades situation with ministry. Coming close to a decision, or coming close to witnessing to someone, just doesn’t count.
But because of our nature as humans, we tend to focus on those 10 people who are easy to approach while leaving the 90 people out in the cold. I think it’s time that we aim for the 90.
Those of you who are reading this are in a unique position to speak to the 90. Chances are, you’re not much different than them. Maybe you’ve always been an outsider. Perhaps you felt that nobody really understood you. Or maybe you had a perfectly “normal” life as a kid, then found out later that the real you wasn’t quite so vanilla.
I’m one of you, and these are my situations. I’m guessing that I’m not alone.
It takes people like us to head out into the big world and talk to people like them. Who are they? They are the ones wearing the clothes that are a little bit different, or listening to music that just isn’t quite “normal”. They’re the tattooed, pierced, funky-haired masses.
In my own life, I spent a few years straying pretty far off the path. I did just about everything that I knew I wasn’t supposed to be doing in the life of a Christian. It’s because of this, however, that I’m able to relate to the ones that others have a hard time approaching. I’m one of them and, regardless of how I look now, they still are able to see it.
A few months ago we had a couple come to our church who we all felt were seeing the full blessings of the Lord. The service was an amazing experience, and a group of us went to lunch with the couple afterwards. As we’re sitting there passing salad and conversation, the subject came up about witnessing to people in unusual places.
We were talking about an especially hedonistic retreat that happens in the middle of the desert, and I was telling my story of having gone there years before. I was so disappointed to hear the words “those people can’t be saved” that I literally had to fight myself down from a rant.
Why can’t they be saved? They are exactly the people that we want walking into the doors of the church. Why would we dare to give up on them and write them off as a lost cause? If we are striving to be more like our Heavenly Father, are we then saying that He would give up on them too? The God that I know wouldn’t ever turn His back on the 90.
It’s very true that we, as believers, need times of fellowship with other believers. But I’m pretty certain that God never intended for our Christian walk to end at the front door of the church. In fact, if anything, I’m going to go out onto a limb and say that the front door is where our walk really begins.
So watch your aim.
Spend the time that you need being around the people that you need, but then set a course that will lead you somewhere uncomfortable.
Verlinda says
Awesome witness! Thanks for sharing.
Chris Ames says
Great post, man. I’d wager that if we set up shop at Burning Man and created, essentially, a church, we’d be accepted and welcomed with open arms by almost everyone there. In fact I’ve never been… but I’d also wager that my idea isn’t original and that others have done it in years past.
Lessons to learn.
peace | dewde