Here's some hints and tips on how to talk about Christianity; how to bring it up and how to talk about it in a way that doesn't put people off but encourages them to ask more in future:
- Think about how to talk about the Bible's storyline, rather than just abstract facts about God. People who don't have much biblical knowledge need to understand the importance of creation-fall-judgement-promise etc.
- Opportunities often arise because of ethical issues. We need to think through how to talk about ethics that makes it part of the good news of the gospel, rather than just moralism.
- Be careful to spend lots of time listening, and trying to appreciate other people's point of view.
- Ask lots of questions: clarifying questions, provocative questions, follow-on questions.
- Be willing to admit when you don't know things, or when Christians have done the wrong thing, or when you have doubts. You don't have to portray some squeaky clean, impenetrable shield.
- You don't have to say absolutely everything. Just give a brief, partial answer, rather than a huge information dump.
- Get good at sharing your own spiritual biography.
- Don't shy away from talking about the hard bits of the faith, like Hell, predestination, moral issues like homosexuality.
- Some great opportunities come up when you learn to watch movies in a thoughtful way. Don't just switch off when you watch movies, but put on your gospel-goggles.
- Find ways you are comfortable with to use 'God talk', including your faith in everyday life. Things like 'God-willing', 'I'll pray for you', 'God bless' might be a good place to start.
