Reluctant?

Struggling with reluctance to share faith? God just asks us to show up, listen, trust Him—and watch Him work through our weakness.

Do you struggle with reluctance like I do?  LMK, as the kids say (Let me know).

As I sat down to reflect on my journey as a reluctant Christ Follower, I couldn’t help but think about the countless times I’ve wrestled with sharing my faith. It’s not that I don’t believe in the power of the Gospel—far from it. I’ve seen its transformative power in my life and in the lives of others. But there’s this nagging hesitation, this internal resistance that creeps in every time I’m faced with the opportunity to share Jesus with someone who doesn’t know Him. Maybe it’s fear. Maybe it’s pride. Maybe it’s just me being…well, reluctant.

For example, when I meet up with people who are clearly non-believers, I diagnose myself as having the “Jonah Syndrome” based on Jonah 1:1-3 (ESV):

"Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah... 'Arise, go to Nineveh...' But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord..."

Then, after the opportunity to witness has passed, I put myself through the “Shame-on-You” process based on Romans 1:16 (NIV):

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes..."

As Christ Followers, we are not called to be reluctant. In the next couple of messages, I will share my daily struggle of overcoming reluctance.

I had one of those major reluctant Christ Follower experiences a couple of days ago. I was on one of my many airplane rides—part of my “last rodeo tour” as an aging CEO. I’ve traveled over 2 million miles in my life, and I have a set of rules I follow on flights. I always sit in the aisle seat, close to the bathroom, and I rarely talk to the person sitting next to me. It’s not that I don’t care about people—it’s just that I’m more of a space cadet introvert by nature. My mind is always running research and numbers, always thinking, always processing. And honestly, striking up a conversation with a stranger feels like an insurmountable task most of the time. 

Another airplane rule is to be polite but not talk to ladies who are forced to sit next to me because of their seat assignment. This comes under my theory that God didn’t call me to ladies' ministry; I know I am weird, but rules are rules.

But on this particular flight, my “rules” were put to the test. An older gentleman—probably not much older than me—asked if we could switch seats. He needed the aisle seat because of some health issues. I hesitated for a moment. I could’ve said no. But something in me—maybe the Holy Spirit—nudged me to say yes.

That simple act of kindness opened the door to a conversation. He was a lawyer, retired, with grown kids and a lot of stories to tell. As we talked, I got the sense that he was lonely, maybe even searching for something. He asked me what I do, and I told him about my research into spiritual trends in my present work and my past work with violent people with disabilities.

He asked me to tell him about some research that he might find interesting regarding people's spiritual lives, yet he seemed very skeptical. So, I talked to him about my research on teenage suicide rates and how cultural issues like sexual identity play a major role in those teenage girls who contemplate and or commit suicide.

His response caught me off guard. “It’s those Christians, the stinking ultra conservatives,” he said. “They’re so hateful toward anyone who’s different—gay, transgender, whatever. It’s the conservative right’s fault.”

Touché, I thought. It wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for, but it was honest. I didn’t argue. I just listened. I prayed silently for wisdom, asking God to show me how to respond.

We ended up talking about medical issues, near-death experiences, and even horses—his daughter plays polo, and our equestrian academy piqued his interest. By the end of the flight, he asked for my email address. He said he might stop by Nebraska on his way to California to talk more.

After I got off the plane, I went through this thing about being a wimp for Jesus and wondering why I fought being reluctant the entire time I was talking to this guy who clearly needed Jesus. Thankfully, our conversation has led to more conversations and a possible opportunity which I’ll tell you about next time.

Call to Action: If you’re like me—reluctant, hesitant, unsure—know this: God doesn’t need us to have all the answers or the perfect words. He just needs us to show up and be willing. Start small. Listen more than you speak. Trust that the Holy Spirit will guide you. And remember, it’s not about you—it’s about Him.

More to come.

Send your comments to me here.

-Arnie