Childlike Faith

            I feel like I had a better grasp on being a Christian when I was a child. I mean it was so much simpler in my mind! I remember one time when I was around six or seven, my pastor was talking about tithes and offerings. He said that when we give a tenth of what we have, God would bless it three times as much. So seven year old me was like, so if I give God this 10 cents, He's gonna give me 30 cents?!?!! What a deal! Why doesn't everybody tithe! Were my motives for tithing so faithfully the purest, perhaps not. I did, however, understand that it was important and it showed God I was thankful for what He had given me (and thankful for what I would receive). Now, at 23, I can't say I have a spotless tithing or offering record. I didn't have a job to tithe from in college, and as far as offering, I was debating whether to give the Lord my last two dollars or save them for washing clothes. I knew giving was important, I just never felt like I had enough to give, and I could do it "when I have something better." 

 There was another time when I was playing with a friend in my neighborhood. We were riding bikes, but being children we couldn't go very far and she definitely was past her point. I asked her if we should move closer to her house so she wouldn't get in trouble. She told me she just wouldn't tell her parents. I then informed her that it wasn't good to lie, as a matter of fact, it is a sin to lie. I told her to tell her parents she was playing with me and hoped they wouldn't mind her being too far. I felt very proud of my baby theologian self, sharing the good word of the Lord with my friends. I was basically on my way to being an evangelist. Now, even with a Bible minor, I find it so much harder for me to discuss my faith with others. Now I have a few friends that I would love to share the word of God with, or even invite to church. However, I don't feel the boldness or courage to do so. Why? Where did the bluntness of my childhood go? Maybe I don't need to go around telling people they are straight up heathens, but being able to share my faith would be nice. I feel like as I have gotten older and as I learned more, I also have become more concerned and really more sensitive to people and how they respond to something I say.

 Now being aware of people and their concerns isn't a bad thing. I wouldn't want to intentionally hurt someone. But at the same time, I can't let my worry of what people will think of me keep me from speaking out on something that is bigger than me. I was listening to Charles Stanley's podcast this morning and he spoke about effective witnessing. One of the things he said that stood out to me was the attitude of people who are hesitant to share their faith. He said that if you're more worried about what people will think of you, or if you're more afraid of being rejected by someone than you are about the state of that person's eternal fate, you are being prideful. That hit me like a ton of bricks. I will admit, the main reason I stop myself from sharing my faith with friends, or even strangers, is my concern of looking like a Bible-thumping Christian and being shunned by those I know, but I never thought of it as pride. However, it is selfish, if I truly care about these people and truly believe what I profess there is no reason for me to hold back this good news from them. Dr. Stanley then turned to 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, "And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power." These were the words of Paul, and even he was nervous when preaching the gospel. However, his approach wasn't to wow them with his superior intellect and fancy doctrine, as some Christians do today. He came with a humble heart and preached the simple message of the cross. That's what I need to do. I don't think my personal nervousness will instantly fade, but I won't let it hold me back. I won't get bogged down with techniques or terminology, but I will speak the simple truth of the gospel. I will revive the little child in me who spoke her mind about God. I will have more tact and knowledge than my 7-year-old self, but I will hold on to that courage and excitement to share what I know.