Craving the Gospel

In my short 10-year ministry career, I have learned many things. I give credit to the Lord that he gave me wonderful men of God as mentors along my journey, many of which I still lean on for wisdom. I have no place to tell people how to do their ministry, and I feel like I don't have the experience to lead people in ministry. But yet, God has placed me in a position to do just that. To lead Christar Canada, Ashley and I are still scratching our heads, trying to figure out what happened. Life is an adventure, and we need to remember who is leading the expedition. I am excited to see what the Lord is not just going to do in my life, but yours as well. 

I read this morning about how 8.2 million people in a Muslim country in Asia minor watched the Jesus film at Easter. That is 10% of the population in that country. God is at work, and this news proves the points I want to share today. The moment I became a Christian, my youth pastor sat me down and explained the Gospel to me; at the end of the conversation, he said: "Tristan, your soul was craving it." That idea of craving the Gospel didn't hit me fully until my first few years of ministry. I wasn't craving the Gospel as it sits, but I was craving what it would bring—life, acceptance, love, mercy, and accountability. I believe that these are all things that no matter who you are, you are looking for, to be accepted, to be loved, to have life, to have someone care for us so much that they would tell us before we walked off a cliff. 

As a young boy, I was looking for all those things, but more so I was looking for someone to tell me about it. This is what drove me into ministry because I am convinced that a lot of people are just waiting for someone to come and tell them about the life-giving Gospel. 

Living overseas has taught me three things about missions and the Gospel. Well, it taught me more than three things, but today I want to share what's on my heart with you. I believe that these things are relatable no matter where you are in the world, whether overseas or in Canada.

1. People are craving it: As stated above. People are craving life, and if no one tells them where to find it, they will find it in the wrong things. "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. no one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 Jesus is clear on where to find life; it's in Him and Him alone. How many of your neighbours or friends have heard this? Not in the condemning, I'm better than you tone, which I think the church can sound like sometimes, but, in a loving, caring tone. My first experience with the Church I left feeling judged; the first thing that I was told was that I needed to burn all my CDs. It was the wrong tone; my second experience with the Church was a relatable one. The youth Pastor and leaders met me where I was at, they not only told me about Jesus Christ, but they also showed me how to find Him. We are all craving life, and it shows in the numbers of all the people who watched the Jesus film in this Muslim country stated earlier. Our world is waiting not just for us to tell them, but for us—the Church, to show them. We also need to remember just because they are craving life doesn't mean they are ready for it. God is the one that draws people to Himself; all we can do is point the way. 

2. Sharing is easy: The idea of sharing the Gospel is easy, but the practice can be mentally hard. It took me a while to be able to share without thinking of rejection. The reality is, rejection will happen; we see examples of it throughout the bible (2 chronicles 3:16). Christ says that if we are rejected to remember that they first rejected Him, John 15:8. This is not a good start as my point is sharing is easy; what I want to say is sharing is easier then we think. If we know that people are craving life, love, grace, and accountability, it gives us a start on how we can share it. I have found that religion is a topic everyone has an opinion on. I have rarely been shut down when I ask the question of what do you think about God? Or do you believe God is real? These two questions seem to open up countless conversations. Sometimes the conversations are short, but I know that they left hearing how to find Jesus Christ. In Turkey, I shared the Gospel with every cab driver I met using those two questions. Some of the cab drivers it was just a one-time conversation, but for those cabs that I frequented, I had an excellent opportunity to continue asking questions. I realized that sharing was easy, and all I did is change my perspective on the fact that they are craving something, and I had the news that their souls truly craved.

3. Fear doesn't have to cripple us: I think that fear can drive people to do great things; on the other hand, it can cause us to stop, turn around, and walk away. What are you afraid of when it comes to your faith? For me, I am scared of missed opportunities. I believe that the Lord puts people in our paths to encourage, love, and point to Christ. I fear that I would be too busy, or don't want my day to be interrupted that I miss the opportunity to listen and hopefully share with someone. There's a saying amongst Christians in Turkey, and it might be similar amongst the Arab culture; it takes a thousand cups of tea. The statement doesn't have to mean a literal 1000 cups of tea; it takes an investment and a relationship. It takes time, work, and sometimes rejection. Those three things, time, work, and rejection, can cripple us so much that we don't want to share. We should not be afraid of how much time it takes or of rejection; what I think we should fear is missed opportunities. Your neighbour could be one cup of tea away from coming to the Lord, or you may be the one to pour the first cup; both are equally important. One thought that I wrote down while in Turkey is, "I should not fear for my life, but for the lives of those who don't know Christ." My fear is not in how others see me or what they say about me; it is that those same people may die without even hearing about this life-giving saviour, Jesus Christ.

Fear shouldn't cripple us; it should motivate us to share more, why? Because people are craving life, and our world is leading them to the wrong things. And those who identify as Christ-followers have the ultimate answer. And if we know what they are craving, it makes it easier for us to share it.