Don't Be Offended - Share Christ

Recently a very dear friend of mine called me. It’s not unusual to hear from her because she is a good friend. The call from her wasn’t unusual; the topic of her conversation was the weird part. My friend is not a Christian, so her perspective isn’t from a biblical stand point. When she called my friend said: “you know, you and my boyfriend’s mom (let’s call her Betty) have a few things in common.” Of course I wanted to know what these things were since Betty is 20 years my senior. She went on to say “The thing you two have in common is that you are both Christian and neither of you are married.” Wow talk about a slap in the face. I didn’t see that coming at all. For all the singles you know how touchy this subject can be. She proceeded to tell me how Betty is disappointed and upset with God over the fact that she’s in her 50’s and has never been married. She went on to say she doesn’t understand why God wouldn’t want women like me and Betty to get married. She said she thought God values family and marriage. At that moment I felt like Jesus in the wilderness. Satan is twisting the scripture! (Ok, I’m not calling my friend Satan. But Satan does work through people to twist things)

In that moment, after the words rolled from her mouth though the receiver and into my ear I felt the offense building up in me. Did she forget that she is also not married? Is she trying to offend me? Is she saying that I’m doomed to be single because I’m a Christian? What is she trying to say? I immediately started to conjure up a fiery response and at that moment God gently spoke to me and said get out of your feelings and shift the focus off yourself, use this as an opportunity to tell her about me! Oh my goodness how could I have missed that. (Thank you Lord) So I did just that. I explained that she is correct, God does honor marriage. I also told her God commands us to have no idols before him and anything we can’t be happy without is an idol. This includes good things like marriage.

You shall have no other Gods before me. You should not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth or in the waters below. (Exodus 20:3-4, NIV).

I also told her God doesn’t owe us anything. It’s not about what we do; it’s about who God is. I then went on to say that although I am single, I still have the greatest gift of all. I humbly explained to my friend God gave me the greatest gift of all when He sent His son Jesus Christ to die and the cross for my sins and rose from the dead.

That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus us Lord,” and believe in your in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-11, NIV)

She responded with a long uncomfortable silence. After a few seconds she said a long Oh-Kay as if to say whatever, I don’t want to hear about Jesus. She promptly changed the subject. The good news is we are still friends and we often have conversations about Jesus and God’s gift of salvation. So, when someone brings up a touchy subject and offense rises up, check with the Lord and ask him how to turn your offense into an opportunity to share Christ.