Stop Ghosting Your Community: How to Share Your Faith Effectively
Have you ever been ghosted by someone? That sudden, unexplained disappearance where they stop responding to your messages or calls? It hurts. But here's a challenging thought - as Christians, many of us are ghosting our communities by failing to share our faith.
When we don't share what God has done in our lives, we're essentially cutting off spiritual communication with those around us. We're becoming invisible when it comes to our faith.
Are You Ghosting People With Your Faith?
Consider these questions:
- When was the last time you thanked God for your salvation?
- Who have you talked about the goodness of God with who is not a Christian?
- When did you last hang out with a friend you disagree with politically, culturally, theologically, or spiritually?
Based on your answers, you might be ghosting people who need to witness the goodness of God through you. When we don't share our faith, we're essentially telling people we don't care about their eternal destiny. That's a sobering thought.
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus?
In Matthew 4, Jesus called fishermen to follow Him, saying, "Come, follow me, and I will send you out to fish for people." These weren't unsuccessful people looking for an escape - they were profitable small business owners with social standing and money to lose by following Jesus.
When they chose to follow Jesus, they weren't just casually agreeing with His teachings. In ancient times, to follow a teacher meant to emulate everything about them - to be their apprentice. They gave up everything to follow Him.
What Have You Given Up to Follow Jesus?
For many of us, we want to follow Jesus but stay comfortable. We say, "I'll follow you, Jesus, but I'm going to stay on my couch." We don't want to give up our comforts or change our lifestyle.
But Jesus isn't calling most of us to physically leave everything behind. He's calling us to leave our cultural priorities behind and trade in our "fishing pole faith" for a "network lifestyle."
You Don't Need to Be Perfect to Be a Witness
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His followers: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Notice what Jesus doesn't require:
- You don't need a theological degree
- You don't need the title of pastor
- You don't need to be perfect
All you need to do is be a witness of God's power at work in you.
Even David Was Used Despite His Failures
Remember David? He committed adultery and arranged a murder. Yet in Psalm 51, he cried out to God for restoration, and God continued to use him.
Maybe you feel guilty about something. Maybe you feel ashamed or like a fraud. Maybe that's why you've ghosted God or why you're not sharing your faith. But if you're a Christ follower, God can still use you.
How to Cast Your Net Instead of Using a Fishing Pole
Many Christians practice "fishing pole faith" - we sit on the dock, lazily waiting for someone to bite. We're passive in our evangelism. Jesus is calling us to cast nets instead.
Here's how to cast your net:
Be a Witness of God's Story in Your Life
What has God delivered you from? What addiction, pain, sorrow, or anger has He freed you from? Be willing to share that story.
Every time you share your testimony, you're casting a net. When you open up about what God has done and will keep doing in your life, you're fishing for people.
Your Story's "Weight" Helps Catch People
Don't worry if your story has "holes" or if it feels heavy. Just like a fishing net has holes and weights, these elements actually help catch fish. The weights help the net sink to where the fish are swimming.
People with perfect, problem-free testimonies often don't connect with those who are struggling. Your story's weight - the difficulties you've faced and how God helped you through them - is what helps reach people at their lowest points.
Bring People to Jesus, Not Just to Church
In John 1, when Andrew found Jesus, the first thing he did was find his brother Simon and bring him to Jesus. Notice he didn't just invite him to temple - he brought him directly to Jesus.
Stop trying to just bring people to church. Bring them into a relationship with Jesus. If you're just trying to bring them to church, they'll have a relationship with the pastor or worship team instead of with Jesus.
The Exponential Impact of Sharing Your Faith
Think about this: If every person in a church of 50 introduced just one person to Jesus each week, after four weeks, 800 people would have been introduced to Jesus. All it takes is putting out a net.
Jesus Is Coming Back - Who Are You Reaching?
Acts 1:9-11 reminds us that Jesus will return the same way He left. With that in mind, who do you need to be praying for? Who do you need to be reaching?
If we truly believe Jesus is coming back, we should be doing everything possible to reach people for Him. We should be sharing as if He's coming back tomorrow.
If you're not sharing your faith knowing that Jesus is coming back soon, what are you saying to the people around you? That you don't care if they're separated from God eternally?
Life Application
This week, I challenge you to:
Prepare your heart and mind for sharing Jesus. Instead of listening to your usual music or podcasts, prepare yourself spiritually for the conversations God might bring your way.
Share your story with at least one person. Tell them what God has done in your life - not in a preachy way, but as a genuine testimony of how He's changed you.
Look for opportunities to "cast your net." When you meet someone new or have a conversation with a friend, ask yourself: "I wonder if they know Jesus?" Then find a natural way to bring Him into the conversation.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I ghosting my community by keeping my faith private?
- What has God done in my life that would be worth sharing with others?
- If Jesus returned tomorrow, would I regret not sharing my faith with certain people?
- How can I cast a net instead of just using a fishing pole in my evangelism?
Remember, revival can start with you. The community around you needs to hear about the hope you've found in Jesus. Don't ghost them by keeping silent.