Talking to Strangers

Had a wonderful time with my team tonight. We had a team bonding night. We were given a piece of paper with instructions telling us to drive down to Santa Monica area (about an hour away) and to go to "little Ethiopia," the African version of Chinatown. We were also instructed with a few other tasks, but in the midst of it all, we were required to talk to at least one stranger, each of us.

I have really been thinking about that lately. Lisa LaGeorge, who's in charge of the mission trips at Master's, mentioned that the real reason we don't share the gospel with people is because we don't know how to have friendly conversations with strangers. My life screams this truth. I don't know how to initiate a conversation with someone I don't know beyond the polite formalities. I'm nice and friendly, but I don't go out of my bubble unless they start it off (then I can talk for hours haha). But I've been praying to the Lord, that he would cause me to fear him more than embarrassment and inability and cause me to love those I come in contact with. And through my love for them, the gospel will naturally flow.

This is what Jesus means when he calls us to be witnesses for him (Matt 28:19-20). This passage applies to us. And an even stronger one that funnels down to us is Acts 1:8, which says that we have the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raised Christ from the dead (Eph 1:19-20) and we are called to "BE MY WITNESSES...to the end of the earth." This is a position, a title that defines our nature. It's not something we do with our friends for an hour on the weekend (oh, our time/structure/departmentalized American ways), which isn't bad because the gospel is preached. But the gospel is to be the natural outflow of our hearts, our care and love for strangers, for sinners, as Christ loved them.

So I would challenge you as I challenge myself, to love the stranger you don't know and naturally sacrifice a few seconds to talk to them. You don't have to share the gospel, but that's great it the conversation goes that direction.