If you answered “Yes” to this question, then keep reading because in a moment, I’m going to reveal a simple method, developed by Sam Chan, which can empower you to be the Evangelist, you’ve always wanted to be. But first I need to give you some background.
Two Things You Need to Know, Before You Start?
We need to get into the post-modern mind, to see the world through their lens.
The first thing we note is that today’s unbelieving man or woman, are unlikely to have any meaningful contact with Christians, the only impression of Christians they have is that which the media has inculcated to them. Something like, we’re all bigots and must be intellectually impaired to believe the stories found in the Bible.
Consequently they have no 'Community Validation', which puts us in a hard place, when bringing them evidence about Jesus.
Secondly, we need to navigate the cultural imposed taboo, (bequeathed to us from the Enlightenment) about speaking about God in the public space. We all know that mentioning God, good and evil and other noumenaltopics, are instant conversations stoppers, when conversing in public.
So How Do We Tread This Perilous Path?
Well assuming, you’ve read and implemented the recommendations, discussed in the previous articles. Then you should be at a point where you have established some rapport with your non-Christian friend(s).
It is at this point Sam Chan offers the follow strategy.
Coffee, Dinner, and then Gospel, in this order.
Start with coffee, it’s in a public space, takes about 30 mins and you’re done. This is an eminently safe place, the conversations are everyday topics. Trust is developing between you and them.
After having done this a few times next move to dinner. We are in a private space, which is a little scary but manageable. Here the conversations can go deeper. Discussions about values begin. For instance why you send your kids to a Christian School, or euthanasia.
The crucial imperative at dinner is to resonate with your unbelieving guest. Show them that you value their opinion (this’s not the same as endorsing it). Now trust is really growing, you’re letting them share the views without condemning them.
After doing a few dinners, the conversations will invariably drift,the noumenal. There’s a lot pent up demand for noumenal discussion in our society, it’s up to us to the create the milieu for it to happen
Those Who Have Ears, Let Them Hear
While conversation over dinner is progressing, and your guest feels safe. Sam Chan advises us to be aware of the three levels of conversation, so that we are recognize the drift into the noumenal, ie worldviews, life after death, prayer etc.
The first level of conversation, is the banal stuff that happens when we hold polite conversation, next values, and finally assuming your guest feels safe we arrive at, worldviews, life after death, prayer etc. This is our cue to bring in Jesus/God. It may take a few dinners to get to this point, but that’s what it takes in a post-modern society.
Tactics For Those Embarrassing Silences
When conversation comes to the subject of God, which in turn initiates those embarrassing few seconds, which seem like an eternity.
We have a choice, retreat to a safe topic like the weather or the footy, or offer an open door for the other side to open or shut.
An open door would be something like this, “Yes it might surprise you to know that I have faith …. What about you? Do you have faith?”
They can now choose, there’s no pressure. It’s entirely their call if they want to take the conversation to the God stuff.
The more we put ourselves out there, the more opportunities God will put before us. Let’s take that risk.
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Vic Matthews, has three degrees B.Optom, B.Arts& B. Christian Studies. He is a kiteboard tragic, who now works as a Christian Copywriter. He can be found at http://trustworthycopywriter.com/writing-services/christian-copywriter/
Vic Matthews' previous articles may be viewed http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/vic-matthews.html
Vic Matthews, has three degrees B.Optom, B.Arts & B. Christian Studies. Is available as a Guest Speaker for your next Church conference or camp. He is a fledgling author, and copywriter.
For more information visit http://www.graphw.co/
Vic Matthews' previous articles may be viewed http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/vic-matthews.html