WHAT'S UP FRIENDS! As I've announced recently, I will be sharing the load of this blog with several friends and believers to provide added perspective on topics and allow more frequent posting. Below is the first of those posts! We hope you're blessed and enjoy this meditation from Nick Hillard. Nick is great friend of mine who has recently moved away from our hometown of Knoxville, TN. He's a huge dork, a killer skateboarder (and my coach in that sport), and a drummer of legendary skill. Sorry for rambling, here's Nick's post and as always feel free to chat with Nick, myself, or anyone that posts on social media if you need conversation or prayer.
---Grady Milligan
One of the most relevant topics among christian conversation is, how do we share the gospel and interact with nonbelievers?
The first thing I would delve into is how weird what we believe really is. The next time you talk about drinking the blood of your savior or the afterlife called heaven, take a step back. That's some creepy stuff. Moreover, how weird does this sound to someone who doesn't have a Christian faith or background? I guess the transition here is, don't go straight for the 'eating the flesh of our savior' part of discipleship quite yet. Bad foot to start on.
When I first moved to Louisville Kentucky I worked at a pizza place called Spinelli's for some extra money to get situated. There are 5 locations in Louisville and not one of those pizzerias had a Christian employee, which isn't that out of the ordinary. Spinelli's had its own culture of not only being non-Christian, but they also hated the ficticious Jesus. Misfit, Punk rock, Jesus haters. The jokes rolled in everyday when they knew I was an actual Jesus freak. The main thing I heard from them was simple misunderstanding of what we (Christians) actually live by. These people called me crazy and insane to believe those things. It was a true mission field. I made friends with these guys really quickly considering our music and craft beer tastes. Not because of our faith. So I was able to reflect Jesus, eat pizza, and drink beer with my non-believer bros. But as a christian that's not quite enough. if you care for your brothers you will yearn for a transformation.
So, to simply put it. Sometimes the only way to witness is being a light and reflecting Jesus as best we can. The root of being a christian is simply loving God and loving people. Non-believers don't want to sit down and be told they're wrong. Don't be thick. It will push them so far away in most cases. Instead, Pray that God would soften their hearts because you can't. You can't give them that grace and understanding. Just love 'em, be a bro, and pray for them.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Stay posi, guys
-Nick Hillard
Just loving people is good, but it's not enough. There has to be truth actually spoken. While you should never condemn or judge someone, (because, like you said, it will only push them away) it's not enough to just hang out and be bros. While you should be loving people and praying for them, you must also speak truth. "Preach the gospel and when necessary use words" is a horrible philosophy. It IS necessary to use words. The Holy Spirit moves through words. He also moves through love and relationships, so I see your point. Just don't leave it at just loving people. Christ wants to use us to change a dying world.
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