Dont Talk About Jesus Christ

A well-meaning Christian asked a panelist in an open forum, “I want to share about Jesus with everyone, but I find it difficult to convince people to believe in Him. Can you please tell me how to talk about Jesus Christ convincingly?” The panelist responded, “Please don’t talk about Jesus Christ or Christian faith.” The startled Christian immediately questioned, "How can I share about Jesus if I can't talk about Him?" I am sure this would also be our response. There is a truth in the panelist’s counsel. In this information age, why we should not talk about Jesus is as important as why we should.

Best intentions and prescription

Imagine a person who is sick and visits a doctor. As soon as the doctor sees the patient, he greets him with a big smile, asks about his family, and discusses recent sports events to make the patient feel at ease. While they are talking, without investigating the symptoms, the doctor hands over a prescription and says, “I wasn’t feeling well last month. I took this medication, and I was completely healed. So, take this medication, and you’ll be fine.” The patient looks at him, puzzled, but the doctor insists, “Believe me, it worked for me, and I’m sure it will work for you.” The doctor did not examine or listen to the patient, but he prescribed the medication because it worked for him. Like this doctor, with the best of our intentions and a sincere heart, we often try to talk about Jesus Christ without understanding the worldviews or beliefs of the other person.

The worldview

Worldviews are a set of deeply ingrained beliefs about the origin, meaning, morals, and the ultimate destiny of human beings. They shape how one sees life. They are not primarily a set of information that can be replaced with another set of information that is superior and convincing. They are an integral part of an individual's core, ingrained and intertwined with emotions, and deeply embedded in the subconscious mind.

A child is not born with a worldview; instead, parents, friends, family, education, society, culture, and experience play a crucial role in shaping it.  It acts as a foundation for how we see and interact with the world, people, and life as a whole. Understanding the worldview takes time.

Listening to understand

Since childhood, we have been trained to speak, write, present, and express ourselves. But we were not taught to listen, observe, and understand. Learning equips us with knowledge and skills whereas listening opens the door to understanding. One fills the mind, the other touches the heart and builds connection. We all listen, but most of us listen to reply. The highest form of listening is listening to understand. It is empathic listening. Listen with the intent to understand, really understand, and not with the motive to be understood. It is entirely different from what we are taught. It involves entering another person’s frame of reference. It is not agreeing with someone, but fully and deeply understanding that person emotionally and intellectually.  The Bible says, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” Proverbs 4:7.

Jesus began His earthly ministry at around the age of 30. Until then, he lived among his people, observing, understanding, and following their customs. The Bible provides limited information about His upbringing, except for one incident at age 12 when His parents lost Him after the Passover festival. The Bible says, “After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Luke 2:46-48. He listened, questioned, and demonstrated a significant amount of understanding.

People love those who listen

People love those who listen because it makes them feel understood; Listening exhibits empathy, respect, and a genuine interest in the other person. This fosters a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable being themselves. It shows that their thoughts and feelings matter. It calms the nervous system, reduces defensiveness.  When people feel heard, they are more likely to trust you.

Understanding the worldview

When missionaries engage in cross-cultural work, they undergo training to gain a deep understanding of the culture, customs, language, beliefs, and other aspects of the people group. Subsequently, they move in and live among those people groups, addressing basic needs such as education and healthcare. This helps them gain acceptance and trust, paving the way for others to accept them and their message. Initially, missionaries prioritize understanding before seeking to be understood.

Likewise, in your effort to connect with family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers who are struggling to believe, first focus on understanding them more than being understood by them. As you start socializing, refrain from attempting to convince others with your worldviews or share your faith in Jesus Christ. If they ask about your beliefs, you can share them, but avoid imposing your beliefs on them; doing so may push them away. Therefore, in this phase, why you should not talk about Jesus is as important as why you should talk about Him. Let your focus be on understanding them.