May we speak for Christ without faith?

May we speak for Christ without faith?

Whenever any of us stands in the pulpit to preach or hold a pen to write words of wisdom there is a common mandate that confronts each of us; make sure we are giving to our listeners the words of Christ that are the truth of the gospel.

Anyone can speak about some activity that envelopes their leisure time or along with supporters that have similar interests in some casual activity for recreation.  That is fine for a school or some other group that encompasses their children or community forum for information.  But speaking about Christ and reaching the minds of needy people who are searching for spiritual guidance, the speaker needs to know Christ as a personal disciple.  

Some attendees at your church or reading your writings might look for the titles of B.A. or a PHd in your profile, but if you falter as you speak or write and leave your audience in a quandary of just what is presented, the effort may not bring the one whom the Holy Spirit has called to hear you, very well informed.  This is where a faith that is strong and exemplified by grace will in fact plant a message in maybe just one person that the Holy Spirit has led to hear you or read your efforts.

We can admire the outward words that Peter spoke at Pentecost.  He did not have the degrees of education but a faith that he absorbed as a direct follower of Jesus for 3.5 years.   The proof of this was the appearance of the Holy Spirit; “When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together.  And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were.  Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.  (Acts 2: 1 - 4).

Just a thought of how this same event occurred to a group of Duquesne University students at a retreat house just north of North Park in a suburban community of Pittsburgh, PA.  They said the house shook and they all felt a movement that energized the Charismatic movement in Pittsburgh.  

This group was able to reignite the Charisma of the Spirit’s intent to reach out to the masses and get the real message of Christ’s presence through his Spirit and bring the Word of God into the hearts of millions.  How?  Through a faith that is waiting for many others to adopt and find the grace of God deep in our hearts.

It is the very faith in Christ that brings his grace through the Holy Spirit to inspire us and send us forth to preach, teach, and write about.  This is the ability to speak for Christ, finding a faith that is eternal.  

Ralph B. Hathaway