Take Off Your Armor

 Take Off Your Armor

As I have deconstructed- evolved- changed in my beliefs, I realized WHY lifestyle evangelism was

preached against. 

It takes the work out of reaching others. 

It is easy to carry signs, dress right, and look down on those you disagree with. 

But it takes WORK to live as Christ did. 

It takes WORK to put ourselves aside and get to know people for who they are. 

This work takes time. 

This work meant the “conversions” numbers would be drastically lower.  Because we wouldn’t be just pulling by the skin of their teeth. 

To develop a relationship not like you challenges your beliefs. So this would crack and break so many surface level believers. 

Everyone prefers the echo chamber to the hard reality that not everyone will agree. 

But as I have grown, I realized that pulling myself off this pedestal was EXACTLY what I needed to do. 

To sit with people where they are. Get to know them. Love them. Develop a relationship and hope to become a safe space for them. 

Because of their physical/mental/emotional need are not met; the spiritual ones will not be. 

People need to feel safe and loved to let someone in. 

I’m not at all advocating for an ulterior motive here.  I mean truly get to know people who you want to know. Love them. Answer questions if it comes up. But don’t enter this thinking at the end you’ll convert someone. 

Just be as Christ is. Loving and kind. Let them see you love them whether they choose to believe or not. 

So take off your armor of self righteousness.

Lay down your sword you use to so easily cut the wounded. 

Our enemy is not people.

The only way people will ever see Jesus is if we start mending these Bridges burnt by fundamentalist and evangelicals.  

It is one step at a time.

-Amber Schultz 

2023