Sunday will be week #6 and the finale of our Momentum series. We have hopefully been deconstructing some of the myths that surround the sharing of our faith in Christ with those whom we know in the world around us.

The final myth we will tackle this week is that espoused by some folks that they just don’t have the opportunity to share their faith.

How can this be? That’s a good question. Perhaps some feel like it just does not fit the atmosphere at work. After all, the boss is not paying you to have theological and religious discussions.

Beyond work, many Christians end up living in a world that is often rather insular – spending most of their discretionary time with other Christians.

Some may feel incapable or not bold enough to share issues of faith, especially with a total stranger.

A few may feel that this is an item for another and later time of life, something to be done after the priority of the current focus has passed. And that focus right now is fully upon the children and maintaining a godly home life.

These objections when put together have the joint assumptions that there is not enough real opportunity, and that being active about sharing faith is a “project” to be undertaken beyond the living of the rest of life.

It is honestly difficult to imagine that for most of us our lives really do not cross paths with people who are yet to embrace a personal faith relationship with Jesus. If that is true, you really do need to get out more – for a variety of reasons!

Even so, I do understand that – at least to some extent. As I had written earlier in this series, as a pastor I can spend much of my time with Christians all day and all night. I’ve written of certain activities of life that I’ve entered into that bring me intentionally across the pathways of a wide variety of people. It has been an enriching experience. And I admit that in some ways, once I’m out “in the world,” I have a bit of an advantage in that what I do is professionally involved with religious faith, and hence the conversations begin.

But let me speak even more to the other issue. The sharing of faith is not so much an intentional “go do this evangelism thing for the next two hours” as it is looking for God to use you in the everyday situations of life to be a witness for him in specific ways. And beyond that, it is about even asking God to bring such opportunity across your pathway.

The great commission passages of the Bible – the GO into all the world verses – sound like a command to get your gear together, check off the list, set a departure time, and go to a specific place. However, the better understanding of the original language underneath that is more like this:  “As you are going into the world …”

You see the difference, right?  It is all about being prepared in the ebb and flow of natural life to have a desire to be a witness of the saving truth that is the big issue making all of the difference for us about who we are, why we live, and what it is ALL about.

As I was going into the world today, I happened upon this quote by the famous preacher of a century ago, Charles Spurgeon, who said,

“Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others. He will be like the brave fireman, who cares not for the scorch or the heat, so that he may rescue the poor creature on whom true humanity has set its heart. If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”