When we think of sharing our faith what usually comes to mind are words, lots of words, crafted with passion into sentences designed to persuade and convince someone else that embracing faith in God will be truly transformative for them.
As the disciples encountered Easter, the risen Christ offers them a radically enhanced alternative to this narrow view of faith-sharing. How we live our lives – what we do and who we are in relation to God and to each other – becomes central, because we share the value and meaning of our faith each and every time we put it into practice as God’s Kingdom-building people. Just like Jesus did. Words then are only part of the picture. Loving actions and attitudes always speak more loudly. Carrying the presence and power of the Kingdom makes a fresh announcement.
Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21-22)
It is through the phrase ‘As the Father sent me’ that we enter the revolutionary ‘Jesus’ dimension to sharing our faith which reframes our understanding so decisively. With stark simplicity it really does flesh out the magnitude of what Jesus expects to be normative for those who dare to follow him as disciples.
We are to be as focussed on being good news for the poor as he was. We are to be as determined to see justice done as he was. We are to be as passionate about those whom society excludes as he was. We are to be as resolute in facing up to evil as he was. We are to be as in touch with the needs for healing and wholeness in those around us as he was. We are to present the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, that has been breathed into us with authority, so that people are forced to asked the question ‘who is this Jesus?’ We are to participate with the mission of Jesus to bring heaven to earth.
(excerpt Rev Dave Perry blogspot Mon25.04.11 edited and adapted by M Dewar)