Assuming that you, the reader, are a Christ-follower, what if an unbelieving friend or family member came to you and said, “You know, I’ve been thinking about this Jesus, and I would really like to know more! How can I become a Christian?” What would you do first?
How would you answer them yourself?
This is a question and a scenario worth thinking about. Many people (and pastors) have been in church for years. They’ve been saved. They serve. They love God and care about people. They’re going to heaven. Over the years, they’ve been told they need to share their faith.
But how many of us would be confident or practiced opening a Bible and having faith conversations that would lead an unbeliever to surrender their lives to Christ, repent of their sin, be buried in the waters of baptism, and begin new life in Christ?
Well, for those interested in reading further, I’d like to add something to your toolbox to help when those opportunities present themselves. And it has everything to do with homemade cookies and rhubarb pie.
“I’d like to add something to your toolbox to help when those opportunities present themselves.”
When I was a kid, I would spend lots of time at my grandmother’s house. Like many grandmas, her love language was food. There was always something for me to eat. There were two things in particular I want to tell you about. I loved my grandma’s oatmeal raisin cookies and her famous rhubarb pie.
1. Grandma’s oatmeal raisin cookies were the absolute best.
Upon reflection, Grandma’s oatmeal raisin cookies were, shall we say, oddly shaped. They were more square than round. She either didn’t have a proper scoop, or she had to push the dough off the spoon on to the pan with her thumb because it was so dense. So dense, in fact, that when they were baked, milk was required to either choke them down or soften them up before one could chew them. I think I remember losing a couple baby teeth as I attempted to eat one before applying the milk strategy. I always wondered why she would never eat one of her cookies unless she had a cup of coffee. But they were awesome!
2. Also, Grandma’s rhubarb pies were the absolute best.
Grandma had a rhubarb patch behind her house the size of a Ford F-150. And she used it—a lot. As a kid, I remember seeing TV commercials for Crisco. I always wondered what the big deal was about pies with golden-brown flaky crusts. Grandma never had Crisco. She used lard and maybe mixed in some bacon grease for color. The crust was a ghostly, pale off-white, way chewier than her cookies, but not nearly as thick. I loved the way the rhubarb was not spoiled in any way by other intrusive fruit like strawberries. And she was apparently so health-conscience that she hardly used sugar. Upon reflection, her pies were a bit sour, flat, and unattractive. But they were awesome!
But then . . . I married Rhoda.
“Upon reflection, her pies were a bit sour, flat, and unattractive. But they were awesome!”
Rhoda’s Baking
My wife Rhoda can bake. I recall early in our marriage when she made an apple pie. It was looking nothing like my grandma’s pie. So, I assumed I would hate it. Who needs golden-brown flaky crust that has just the right amount of crunch? Who needs sugar and cinnamon in abundance? Who needs real butter instead of margarine? Who needs the fruit to be cooked just enough that it’s neither crunchy nor mushy?
Turns out, I did. One bite, and I was a new man. I had no idea a fruit pie could be so delightful. I confess as a young person, I hardly ate the edge crust of Grandma’s pie. With Rhoda’s, the crust is my favorite part. And what a blessing!
And Rhoda’s oatmeal-raisin cookies don’t chip my teeth! I thought life couldn’t get any better. And no disrespect to Grandma. I just had to admit she wasn’t very good at baking. With Grandma, I had either been in denial or was lost in my ignorance.
Okay, what does all this have to do with sharing Jesus with someone?
This story has to do with Jesus because I just told you a personal life testimony of before, because, and since.
“I just told you a personal life testimony of before, because, and since.”
Before, Because, and Since
Here’s a summary of what I said about baking:
- My life BEFORE Rhoda’s baking was severely lacking, but I didn’t know it.
- BECAUSE of Rhoda’s baking, I can enjoy every part of a fruit pie the way God intended.
- And SINCE I’ve been eating them for thirty years, I’ve hardly found anyone who can make them better! She changed my life, and I just had to tell you about it!
This is also one way you can share your personal faith—a testimony of a changed life.
- BEFORE Jesus, I was (tell your story).
- BECAUSE of Jesus, I realized (tell how He became real to you and saved you from your old way of life—how he changed your view of yourself and your world).
- And SINCE Jesus has done this, I now (talk about what has been transformed because of His power and love in your life).
This isn’t the only way to share your faith, but it’s a great start. If you haven’t tried writing something like this down, you really should! It’s encouraging to see what God has done. And it’s also a reality check to make sure you really have had a change in your life because of Him!
Have you gone from death to life? From darkness to light? Is the fruit of the Spirit growing in you as your walk with Christ deepens? Are you measurably more like Jesus now than when you were lost in your sins? Are you confident enough in your salvation that you could share your story?
“This is one way you can share your personal faith—a testimony of a changed life.”
Writing Your “Before-Because-Since” Story
Take a few minutes now. Grab a piece of paper and a pen or jot some notes on your phone. Ask yourself what your life was like before you knew God. When did Jesus enter your heart and begin making you a new creation? And what has life been like since that process began?
It doesn’t have to be a neat, tidy, happy-ending kind of story. They rarely fit that kind of mold. But there should always be an element of good news—the gospel—which makes the difference.
Then take a stab at telling someone your “before-because-since” story. You might be surprised how easy it comes once you put some prayer and time into it. Or you might find yourself realizing that you’re kind of stuck in the before part. Maybe you’ve never really had a ‘because Jesus’ moment. If that’s you, then it’s time to let Jesus write the next chapter in your story, starting today.
And when you’ve got your “before-because-since” story, then talk to someone about it…soon!
