Relationship

I’ve had a lot of deep talks playing Minecraft.

These have usually been with my friends Billie and Corey - each of us playing from a different part of the world.

These conversations were hardly ever planned - they just happened.

And I’ll never forget how that changed Billie’s life.

Skype Spirituality

When I first met Billie, we were both atheists.

We met online in 2012 as edgy, angst-filled teenagers, but only two years later, I became a follower of Jesus.

At first, I was nervous that this would hurt our friendship, but Billie, ever the loyal friend, accepted me all the same.

Of course, at the time, he had no interest in faith, and, having been a former atheist, I knew how annoying it was to have people shove religion down your throat. So I did my best not to repeat these mistakes.

You’d think that would be that, no discussions about Jesus.

Only, that’s not what happened.

As the years went on, Billie began to ask more about my faith.

In 2017, we met in person for the first time when he flew out to visit me. He saw my community and faith up close, causing him to see these things in a new way.

Then he went to university where he met someone from a local student ministry. He told me about their conversation, and I encouraged him to check out their church… and he did.

That place had a very positive impact on him, granting Billie direct exposure to Jesus’ love.

Then, on a Sunday morning in September 2019, Billie dropped a text in our group chat saying that he became a Christian.

He was baptized shortly after.

Relationships Are the Mission Field

Billie’s experience just goes to show that relationships are fertile ground for sharing faith.

After all, it’s through a relationship with Christ that one is reconciled to God and liberated from sin.

And it’s through our relationships with one another that God does some of His best work.

This is why vapid street preachers miss the mark entirely. 

The Gospel, after all, is more than an abstract theory. It is an embodied experience, evidenced by the Incarnation of Jesus Himself.

Basically, we require more than words to make disciples.

We must be willing to radically live out the relational love Jesus showed others. This creates a safe environment where others will naturally ask more about our faith. From there, we can witness in an authentic way.

It’s also good to remember that relationship doesn’t always equal conversion.

But that doesn’t mean we should neglect it and embrace the street preacher approach.

Sometimes the relationship is just one stop on another’s journey. An example they’ll remember down the line. That was certainly the case in my conversion.

This is important because, as we seek to make disciples, we must make sure that our expectations are in check.

More on that tomorrow.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter