Besides the general- “Are you sure?” and “Is that even safe?”, the most common question I got, from friends and strangers alike, was- “Oh, are you Mormon?”
Spoiler alert: no, I’m not Mormon. I’m just a simple Christian girl that wants to share the love I’ve received with those that haven’t yet.
Why is it that people automatically assumed I was Mormon? Because Mormons are SO bold in their faith. Whether you agree with their beliefs or not, you have to admit that it is incredibly difficult and brave to share your faith with someone else. They live their lives like that.
So it’s easy to make the connection and assumption that if I want to live a life showing people God’s love, that I must be Mormon. However, that assumption makes me a little sad. Did you know that 90% of Christians will never tell another soul about Jesus Christ? 90% of believers, those that truly believe that Christ died on the cross for their sins, will never share that incredible news?
What a heart breaking statistic. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus puts it pretty clearly. He says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” There’s no real way to sugar coat that. He told us, and is still calling us today. For me- I felt this calling. I had the mentality of, if not me, then who? Someone’s soul is too important to chance that someone else will get around to it.
Paul also talks about this in Romans (my favorite book if you haven’t read it). He says “How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”- Romans 10:14. Man, Paul. Okay, we get it.
Like I said earlier, it is incredibly difficult and scary to talk about God to someone else. God and politics are pretty much off limits in our society. But sharing God’s love doesn’t have to be some grandiose thing- in fact I’d argue that it’s better if its not. The way that you love someone exactly the way they are, without expecting anything in return, is showing God’s love.
There are so many small choices we can make to improve and prepare the Kingdom of God. Talk to your waitress at your favorite restaurant and compliment her every time you see her. Say “God Bless You” every time you hear a stranger sneeze. Pick up trash you find on the ground without expecting praise. Do a random act of kindness for someone. Sing Jesus Loves Me with a child. Be interruptible in conversation and in life. Be generous with your resources, not talking just money. Smile at strangers.
Everything you do is a choice. Everything you do could potentially show people that they are loved, whole, and made holy through Christ. What a powerful gift we have! I challenge you all to start exercising it. Email me your stories! The smallest of stories. Tell me about your waitress or your postmaster or the way you see your little daughter unbiasedly love strangers. Email me at [email protected], I can’t wait to hear your stories.
