The price is right!

I got some disturbing news from a business partner that a business acquaintance of mine is “enraged” at me because I shared the Gospel with him. This person made his views known to my business partner and several people in their organization and as a result they are afraid to mention my name or the name of the company I represent to him for fear of retaliation as he has a rather high position in a very large company. This is worrisome because our company is probably losing significant sales from his company because of his high position within his organization.

I do not remember sharing the Gospel with this guy, but cannot rule it our either as I share the Gospel routinely with hundreds of people and not only with friends and acquaintances but even complete strangers whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself. I must assume that I did so, or why else would he be telling people I did? This gentleman happens to be from India and I assume is of the Hindu faith. I used to work with him rather frequently but I have not seen or talked to him in a couple of years and he has never mentioned any of this to me. I was astounded that he was telling people this.

I intend to contact him and ask him about it. I want to make sure that he knows that sharing the Gospel is not an act of disrespect to his faith or demeaning to his character, rather it is an act of brotherly love and as the Bible puts it, “Sharing the good news”. I intend to tell him that unlike many religious organizations throughout the world I do not hate anyone who happens to have a different belief system. I personally believe we are put on this earth to make a decision about Christ and we all have a “free will” to do so. God will deal with those decisions when we die and at judgment and I do not worry about that end of it. My calling is simply to share with others the good news of what Christ has done for me since coming into my life and it is indeed “good news” in my case. I do not really have a choice in attempting to share the Gospel, as God has instructed all Christians to share the Gospel and when I do, I am just following one of the tenets of my faith. If someone expresses to me that they do not want to hear it, I do not keep rattling on, I stop.

At our company there are representatives of multiple denominations of Christianity, Hindus, Muslims, those of the Jewish faith, agnostics, those of no faith, and probably others. Free will is alive and well at our great company, just like it is in this great country. I am at peace with this free will concept and am in complete harmony with it. Why? Because God set it up like that and who am I to question Him?

The Bible that I have read and studied does not tell me to persecute anyone for their faith, get enraged’ at anyone, burn anyone’s flag, hate anyone who does not believe what I believe, or blow myself up with a bomb in a school killing innocent children. It tells me to love God, have loving compassion for my fellow man, to treat them like I would like to be treated, and to share the “good news” of what Christ has done for me in order that others may enter into God’s eternal kingdom and once again and forever enjoy fellowship with God almighty.

Perhaps I will have to pay a price for sharing the Gospel with this gentleman in lost business from the company that he represents, lost business from other companies that he might influence, and I might be personally ridiculed by him to anyone who will listen. If that is the case, then so be it. Other Christians throughout the ages have paid much higher prices because of their faith and of course Jesus led the way by paying the ultimate price. I would consider it a small price to pay compared to what I have gained from my Lord. To be completely honest though, the blessings of the Lord have far exceeded any damage this gentleman might have exacted upon our company or to me personally and if I am paying a price for my belief system it is not even noticeable to me as I have been mightily blessed as has our company.

It is my hope that you will unashamedly stand up for Christ whenever and wherever the opportunity presents itself in spite of consequences, potential or otherwise. Christ was ridiculed, spat upon, beaten, cursed, and cruelly crucified on our behalf. The least we can do is to take a stand for Him in spite of the cost. To do otherwise is just another slap in Christ’s face.

What to do with those who make us pay a price?

Romans 12:17
Repay no one evil for evil.
Have regard for good things in the
sight of men.
If it is possible, as much as
depends on you, live peaceably with
all men.