On a parking deck this week, I walked by this van:

I know that it’s impossible to judge a van by its cover, but I think we can consider its impact. I believe that the people driving this van sincerely want to do good. They hope that the writing on their windows will make a difference, or at least I hope that’s what they hope. Maybe it works for some people. Maybe someone reads those windows and it causes them to investigate Christianity and God more closely. It’s possible, but I’m not sure how likely it is.

There are two broad approaches to introducing people to what you believe. Both contain elements of truth.  Both can be sincere, but I believe that in our current world, one works a good deal better than the other. The first type of message we send about God is :

1)Go do something.

Judgment, hell, separation from God, and punishment are the main characters in this story. This approach says, “you had better get your act together because these things are horrible and you don’t want to have to deal with them.” There are some very bad things coming, and you had better act now to avoid them.  If we can paint the horrors that we believe are out there and explain how to avoid them, maybe people will be motivated by a sense of self-preservation to investigate God more fully.

The second message about God is a bit different, it’s:

2)Come meet someone.

This approach seeks to discuss things about God that are attractive like grace, forgiveness, hope, and love. It says, “you really need to meet the God that I follow, he loves you more than you know”. This approach doesn’t ignore that there are consequences to our actions, but believes that relationship is God’s primary desire for us, and that change flows out of that. This approach hopes that people will be motivated by a desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves. The emphasis is relationship rather than behavior.

Of the two options, I believe that the second best connects to our current generation. Many people have been taken advantage of by salesmen, quick fix schemes, and unhealthy employers. They have their radars up and are ready to resist anything that might feel manipulative or judgmental. Appealing to someone’s desire to protect themselves works at times. Our instinct for self-preservation is strong, but fear has a short motivational shelf life.

Likewise, we all have a desire to be a part of something significant, of something bigger than ourselves. The life that God calls us to is beautiful and has the power to change us and the world around us. It doesn’t have the immediate shock value of impending destruction, but it is compelling in its own way.  We run with more purpose in our life when we run to something rather than away from something else.

However you seek to describe your life with God to others, I encourage you to do it. It’s not easy, but something this valuable shouldn’t be kept to ourselves. Most importantly, wherever you fall with your approach, be genuine. It’s hard to turn away from authenticity and caring, and the relationships we gain in the process are valuable regardless of what they decide to think about God or our faith.    gmai