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by David
Phelps
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.” – Mother Teresa
July, 1996
Several weeks ago, my friend and former co-worker, Tom, called me on the phone. Among other things, he wanted to share the good news that he had become a Christian. Tom is a martial arts enthusiast and, like many persons with similar interests, he had been studying Buddhism. When we worked together, I shared my faith with him whenever I had the opportunity, but I never tried to "convert" him. As we spoke on the phone, Tom told me about the Christian jujitsu instructor he had found, who began his classes with prayer, and eventually gave Tom a Bible. Through his witness, Tom accepted Christ.At one point, Tom said, "I used to have a lot of questions about Jesus and Christianity, and I couldn't find the answers, but now that I'm reading the Bible, I'm finding the answers to all my questions." I responded by asking, "Tom, did it ever occur to you that you might not find the answers to questions about Jesus by studying Buddhism?" He replied, "Well, yeah, I guess you're right."
Afterward, something occurred to me: There could be lots of people looking for answers to questions like Tom's. Perhaps they don't understand what they've seen or heard. They may have questions but don't know where to find the answers. Clearly, there are at least some, like him, who don't know. Christians like you and I can show them the answers.
Someone you know has questions. Someone you know needs answers. Someone you know needs Christ.
"So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' And he said, 'How can I, unless some one guides me?' And he invited Philip to come and sit with him." (Acts 8:30-31 RSV.)