Over the past few weeks I’ve been involved in door to door gospel and leaflet delivery in my local area. I’ve also knocked on hundreds of doors and spoken to many people. For lots of Christians the mere thought of doing such a thing makes them shudder with fear, anxiety and nerves. But I have to tell you… It’s been an overwhelmingly positive and encouraging experience through which I’ve been able to share Christ at different levels with many people.
What’s surprised me most is this… the incredible openness of people to receive a friendly invitation from someone representing a local church. I expected antagonism, anger and resentment but instead I met the opposite.
My aim has not been to convert people on their doorsteps. Instead I’ve sought to be friendly, kind and open hearted to each person I’ve spoken to. I’ve met lonely older people, those struggling with grief and loss, those seeking spiritual meaning in life, those who are cynical and angry at life, one person stoned on drugs, one person who really believed that God had sent me to their door because they had just been praying and seeking Him, several Christians who gave up on church but are still believers.
The more people I’ve met, the more convinced I am at how dearly God loves each and every one. The gospel is Good News to lost and broken and sinful humanity. And there is a longing and emptiness in every human heart that only Jesus Christ can fill.
Perhaps there is a shift in our society and culture, a new openness to listen and speak about faith that simply wasn’t there 20 years ago. My experience is that it is there now. Don’t allow fear to hold you back from connecting and relating to those who have not yet found Christ. They desperately need Jesus and you are called to be an ambassador for Him. Be ready and willing to step out. It’s time for us to move beyond our comfort zone Christianity and join with Jesus who is seeking and searching to save the lost.
Richard H H Johnston