As Christians, I think we all too often resort to antiquated, blanket methods to reach new and individual people. In the Church as a whole, we need to tap into the creative power that has been lying around dormant for so long. Our God is a creative God, and He wants a people who will use His creativity to be effective Kingdom expanders. Let me give you an example…
I’ll never forget the time I was at clinical in the elevator of a hospital with two fellow nursing students. One floor after the three of us got on, a man with a badge that said “Spiritual Counselor” got on the elevator. He was also reading a Bible. One of my classmates, a non-Christian, immediately said, “Why don’t you read us something? I want to hear some Bible; I’m feeling stressed.” In my mind, I prayed, “Lord, have him read something good, something moving, something that would have the two of them saying, ‘ Wow! I didn’t know that was in the Bible!’”
The man instantly began to flip away from James, which is what he was reading, like he had something in mind. I thought to myself, “There are plentyof good verses in James! What is he doing?” Then I saw that he stopped flipping and paused at John 4. At this point, I felt better, having misjudged him, and thought to myself, “Oh, the woman at the well story; that will be a nice place to read about peace and refreshing.” Then, to my surprise and dismay, he turned one more page to John 3. Once he read John 3:16, I was feeling a bit angry inside, and I said nicely that he should continue the passage and read verse 17 as well, trying to save the situation. Well, he didn’t, and a few moments later he left the elevator. I was screaming in my mind- he wasted a moment of opportunity on a cliche.
(As a side note, I used the chance to tell my classmates my favorite Bible verse, Proverbs 25:16, and it started a really nice discussion about unexpected things mentioned in the Bible. I wasn’t going to waste the opportunity, too!)
My feeling is to never tell an unsaved person the same thing twice in the same way. If they’re still not saved, apparently it didn’t work! Instead of beating a dead horse, go ride a different one. Most people I talk to who are hostile towards Christians state that being “beat over the head” with something is one of their biggest gripes. Solomon may have been correct when he said in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun, but be encouraged that there is always something new in the Son. When it comes to the average non-Christian, opening a Bible and reading John 3:16 does more harm than good. For those of you that have done this, how many of the recipients have rolled their eyes at you? It’s happened to me.
What you need to do is give yourself some credit. And, more importantly, give Holy Spirit within you even more credit! What works for other people will most likely not work for you. Do not be afraid to try something new or do something you have never done before. Be confident. And, for goodness sake, don’t fall into routine out of laziness either. Your little bit of extra effort can be the difference of where someone spends eternity. Also, know that even if your new approach does not work, God can use your efforts to build Kingdom in the long run even if it is in a way you had not originally intended. (Romans 8:28 )
Just think if God would have done the same thing He did the first day of creation for the other six days. We would have light, dark, day, and night. But what about all of the other things we would have missed out on- like the human race! Jesus went out on a limb when He made you and I (and again when He died for us); the least you can do is go out on a limb for Him.
Pray and ask God to sanctify your imagination, and get creative for Jesus. Do not think that I mean creative in the arts and crafts kind of way, either. Think about the things you like to do through the eyes of God; you will begin to realize that you are more creative than you think.
