Thursday, January 19, 2012

Clumsy

Well, while I was finishing up some work today at a customer, one of the people I'm working with mentioned that I have some odd beliefs and questioned me as to what religion I belong to. I announced that I am a Christian. This inspired some further discussion which made one of the participants uncomfortable with having it in the workplace. He suggested that we should adjourn to a nearby restaurant to continue.

Turns out he's an athiest. As the conversation continued on into the evening he attempted to essentially cure me of my insanity and explain away the delusion of religion I have been suffering under for all these years. When he failed, he ultimately stormed out angrily.

I suppose that I am a poor witness for Christ. I remained calm and patient throughout the discussion, which is not particularly in my nature to do, and I steered clear from trying to argue the promotion of Christianity from a logical standpoint. (Christianity is NOT logical and is an act of faith, not intellect.) Yet ultimately I failed. I don't know what success would have looked like. I didn't really expect to get down on my knees with an unbeliever in a TGI Friday's restaurant and have him accept Christ on the spot. Yet angering him to the point of leaving wasn't really my intention either.

I pray God grants me more success in the future, or at least more opportunities.

5 comments:

HermitJim said...

You did good by not losing your cool! Often all we can do is to live our lives as best we can.

Maybe the other person will see that you didn't lose control or get angry and that might just be enough to convince him of the strength of your faith!

He might just feel badly the next time you see him, who knows?

Patrice said...

I'm glad you kept your cool and you are correct that Christianity isn't logical, it takes strong Faith to trust and obey God. Better luck next time Ernie. :)

smallhomestead said...

Just remember just like with a garden you must sow before reaping. You never know in the future he might have the same talk with someone else and become a christian. Just pray for him

OD from HT said...

His anger was more likely in response of the struggle going on in his soul. A pat on your back for holding your cool. You can be assured you did plants seeds....or he wouldn't have gotten angry.

Farmboy said...

Our best witness is by example. Sounds like you did fine. Acts 13:47 The writer of Hebrews seems to say faith is neither illogical nor irrational, the evidence (fingerprint of the almighty as seen in creation) attests to his existence... even though we can't see him. Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. :)