Know That You Don’t Always Have to Know

When Lee Strobel quit his job as a Chicago journalist back in the late ‘80s and joined Willow Creek’s pastoral staff, his colleagues wondered if he had gone off the deep end. From a professional standpoint, his decision struck them as strange: His job was a dream come true and, in fact, the culmination of a pursuit that began as a kid when he founded and published a neighborhood newspaper at age 12. 

He was committing certain career suicide, they told him. He had lost his marbles. They were convinced he had turned into a religious nut or at the very least, was not thinking clearly.

Were they right?

“I left journalism reluctantly,” he admitted. “I’ve loved it since I was a kid. But I knew this was the best way to maximize my life and help others to go through the process I went through. I have never regretted my decision.”

Nor should he.

It’s been over twelve years since Lee Strobel wrote and published the perennial bestseller, The Case for Christ, at the time, his fourth book.  As a writer with a compelling way with words, Mr. Strobel’s apologetic books now regularly dot the New York Times Bestseller list. The former pastor has continued to weave powerful narratives, all pointing to a single, absolute truth:

It’s a justifiable fact that Jesus of Nazareth lived and died and rose again.

It’s been a pleasure over the years to welcome Lee Strobel to the Focus on the Family airwaves. On today’s (and tomorrow’s) radio broadcast, Lee shares some refreshingly candid thoughts about evangelism, an activity which lies at the very core of our mission.

But you might know, he doesn’t serve up a formulaic approach with a three-point plan to win hearts and minds to Christ (although there is nothing wrong with tried and true methods of evangelism). Mr. Strobel suggests that sometimes the most effective evangelist is the one who knows that he doesn’t know everything.

More to point, Lee acknowledges that we don’t need to “know it all” to tell people about the greatest story ever told.

There will be times when we can’t answer complicated or layered objections from non-believers. That’s OK. When that happens, it’s best to make it personal. By that he means acknowledge the complexity of the question but take the opportunity to share with them how the Lord has changed you.

Be real.

Be vulnerable.

Or how about “ricochet” evangelism. Have you ever heard or practiced it?

What is it?

To find out, you’ll have to tune in by clicking here.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, faith October 28, 2010 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura