Sharing our lives in order to share Christ

In the first letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul says, "So being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our selves, because you had become very dear to us." (1 Thes. 2:8) RSV

St Paul tells us something about his work with the churches. His evangelizing and pastoring were relational. He refers to being like a mother with a child (2:7) and later like a father with his children (2:11). He was inviting and welcoming others into the family of God, the Church. Those who had become disciples of Jesus, members of the church, knew the apostle Paul. I mean really knew him. They saw the way he lived and worked and preached while among them. They saw who he was when he taught and encouraged them as they gathered in homes and assembled together as the church and, when he was working to sustain himself so as to not place undo burdens on them financially. He openly shared his heart and life with them. Just read the letter he sent them with an ear to hear how he relates with them.

To be effective evangelizers especially with those we see somewhat regularly, unlike a one time divine appointment to share God's love with a person during a flight somewhere, - we are called to share who we are. Witnesses in our lifestyle and in our words. Just like St. Paul.

And that doesn't mean faking it. The Lord will use us in our brokenness and sinfulness, - if we are attempting to follow him faithfully, with the desire to grow in holiness and a willingness to make Him known.

Of course in sharing our lives with others, discretion is needed when sharing with the opposite sex. Where possible it is far better for women to share their lives with women and men to share with men, or to share in group settings or as teams.

People hunger for relationships and they long to see authentic witnesses. We are introducing people to a new way of living in Christ as members of the Church. When we share our faith in the Lord Jesus, let's be open to sharing our lives with others as well.

St. Paul, pray for us!