Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
John 1:45-46
If you ask most people what in this world gives them anxiety or makes them nervous, often the highest items on the list are death and public speaking. If you talk to Christians what is often a close third is telling other people about God, or inviting them to church. We feel ill-prepared, what do I say, what if I get it wrong, what if it is weird between me and that person? In response we say things like, if only I knew, so we go to classes, read books, and take part in seminars of how to evangelize to our friends. If you go on amazon and search for “evangelism” under Christians books, it will bring you a list of 19,476 books about the topic. Everyone has the “secret” to how you can tell others about God.
Now look at these verse from John 1. Philip has recently met Jesus and been called to follow Him. His response was to run home and tell his brother. His explanation is not deeply theological, it is not airtight logically, but it is simple and from the heart. My favorite part is where Philip looks at his brother who is not so sure about all of this and says, come and see.
This is not meant to be rocket science. When you begin to talk with others about faith, they rarely are looking for a thesis on theology. They are wondering, why are you telling me this? Why does this matter? Philips story reminds us that this can be simple. Philip was convinced that Jesus was the real deal, and instead of a lengthy argument with his brother of whether or not it’s true, he simply says, come and see. Come experience it yourself, try it on, and see for yourself what has made such an impact on my life. Philip is not trying to sell something, he is saying to his brother, “I love you, and I want you to experience what I have.”
The next time you are in a circumstance and you can share your faith, or invite someone at church keep it simple. Just tell them, this is why it matters to me, this is why my faith has made an impact in my life. I want that for you, why don’t you come try it out? Sharing does not need to be contingent on your theology or public speaking ability, but instead a willingness to share your story, and to point people to the One who has changed your life.
Pastor Bill