Sometimes I’m chicken

16 Comments 17 September 2010

I’ll be speaking about writing the truth tomorrow at the North Texas Christian Writers Conference. It’s a challenging talk, one that I’ve labored over a lot. It’s the kind of talk that convicts me as I say it out loud.

Anne Lamott in Bird by Bird writes this challenge to all of us (not simply writers): “Risk being unliked. Tell the truth as you understand it. If you’re a writer, you have a moral obligation to do this. And it is a revolutionary act–truth is always subversive.” Sometimes it’s easy to tell the truth. “You look beautiful today.”

Sometimes it’s not. “Your husband is having an affair.”

Sometimes it’s neutral. “I like granola.”

But when it comes to sharing our faith, it’s never easy, nor is it neutral.

And that’s where the chicken in me comes out. I can share Jesus with people who already love Him. I love that kind of sharing. I like listening to my discipleship group of senior (in high school) girls and then challenging them in their walks with Jesus.

But it’s harder for me to share Jesus with someone who doesn’t know Him. I did that in Ghana, door to door. At first it completely freaked me out. But as I got used to sharing Jesus, it got better. Then joyful. Then thrilling.

So why do I still shirk it? Why am I a chicken?

I worry what others will think. I fret about backlash. I wish it weren’t true. But it is. And then there are times when I’ve shared in so many different ways at different times that I wonder if I’ve become an evangelistic pest. So I pray. And hope. And wonder. And pray some more.

I wish I could end this post with something akin to triumph. But I’m just being honest.

How about you? Are you chicken when it comes to sharing your faith? Why or why not?

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Gail Morris

Mary, when you spoke, God entered the room. He spoke to my heart with your presentation. Thank you for the encouragement and sharing your words of wisdom. Gail Morris, Fort Worth, TX
http://www.SteveDebbieMiller.net Steve Miller

You did fine. It was a good message. I liked how you tied in Anne Lamott’s comments with Jesus being the truth and speaking the truth in love.
http://marydemuth.com Tina

Mary,

Unfortunately a lot of the time I am chicken to share Jesus. I don’t want to be judged or laughed at and the fear of being humiliated. Don’t want people to think that I think I’m perfect or even better than them.

In my family I’m known as “The Holy Roller”.

I need to try and get the courage up and tell them it’s because I care about them.

Oh Dear Lord please give us your courage and the right words to say to people.

In Christ’s Love & Prayers
Sis in Christ
Tina
http://nothingswasted-deb.blogspot.com/ Deb Martell

I have to admit that I hesitate sharing my blog post entries on my facebook…I do it..but I hesitate. Will anyone understand this? Will they think I’m weird, religous, off-the-deep-end, yada, yada, yada … but the love I have always overules. What if it makes someone wonder or question or think a new thought about the reason for everything?
Amber

LOL I have the opposite problem, chicken about sharing having no faith. A few of us atheists came out of the closet (to each other) and formed a social group.

Now I’m out looking for volunteer opportunities for us in conjunction with our Skeptic’s Society. I wrote to the director of Master Gardeners, she’s the queen of volunteering around here and asked for help. I literally rewrote the email a dozen times, worried that she wouldn’t help us if she knew half our group were atheists but I didn’t want to be disingenuous. In the end she agreed to help us and I breathed a great sigh of relief.

I think all of us that are different than the “mainstream” have the same problem…fear of showing who we really are. (However, we usually have good solid reasons for being so.) However, I’ve always said the best way to fight a stereotype is to wear the label and prove it wrong.
http://www.weigandchris.com Chris Weigand

I know how you feel and I must say that I am one of the chickens that stays in the coop. A few years ago I wrote a very Christian article for a very secular on line news source. I recieved several very discouraging emails that questioned my faith. At the time I said I would be like John the Baptist and stand up to those unbelievers. Unfortunately I did not follow through on that promise. Today I still write inspirational novels and articles, but I only publish them on sights I know to be safe. I guess you could say I preach to the choir.

On another note, I also find myself tongue tied when I am confronted with an unbeliever, or someone who is questioning my beliefs in order to find their own path. In a recent conversation with someone who was raised Catholic and now tells me he has forsaken God, I stumbled over what to tell him to convince him otherwise. I know what I believe in my heart and even my head, but when it came to vocalizing them I failed miserably.

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary

From one cooped one to another, I relate!

It’s hard to be a voice crying in the wilderness. That’s when you settle yourself into calling, resting in Jesus’ approval. And you need a community who helps you when others are mean. May the Lord make you brave-brave-brave!

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http://immersionblogapy.blogspot.com/ Lori

I can totally relate to what you are saying. I think my fear in sharing comes from not wanting to be judged or lumped together with some of the crazy and hurtful things that Christians have done. Of course, I have done bad things, too, but I don’t want to be seen as “one of those.” I am going to school right now, and the moment I mention my faith background, I feel like it taints every comment I make in some people’s eyes.

Eventually, though, I have realized that if I am honest, it is well worth it. I also want to say that I am someone who has been deeply touched by your willingness to be honest. It inspires me every day to be real, so keep on keeping on…I’m cheering you on

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary

Thanks for your kind words, Lori. I love that you’re cheering for me!

I agree about not wanting to be judged. That’s difficult.

Julie

You are definitely not the only one. Why am I so afraid? I tell myself it’s because people don’t want to be “preached at”. This is true in a sense, people don’t want to be preached at, they want help in their time of need. The real truth though, is that I am a big fat bocking chicken, who is afraid to put herself out there. The funny thing? I have no issues about writing about Jesus, whether to Christian or non Christian, it’s just in person that I seem to have an issue. (excuse me while I veer off the path and psychoanalize myself here,for a moment) I think it might have to do with my fear of confrontation due to abuse as a child. Hmmm….I think I have just realized an area that Jesus needs to work on…

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary

I find I grow more in Jesus when I make myself do that which is painful or uncomfortable. Maybe we can both choose to share Jesus…

http://www.flirtingwithfaith.com Joan Ball

That fear is a gift…like pain on a broken bone to show us that there is something wrong on the inside. It points us toward the part of us that is still subject to our own ego and illuminates another part of who we are that needs to change.

http://www.marydemuth.com Mary

Good words, Joan. You should write a book!

http://www.jameswatkins.com James Watkins

You’ll do great! It’s a great conference. (I’ve keynoted there a couple times.) Very receptive listeners. 3 John 2, Jim