Conversations about Jesus and the truth of Christianity come up often when I talk about abortion. The nature of this ministry not only helps people see the value of unborn children; it also helps people understand there is a God who is worth seeking and knowing.
I talked to “Mary” at San Diego State University in March. She was pro-choice. As we talked, I felt that I wouldn’t be able to make more progress with her on the abortion issue, and I wanted to go deeper with her, so I asked her what she believed about Jesus.
She told me she believed he was a man who lived, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Noting she said Jesus was a man, I then specifically asked her, “Do you believe Jesus is God?” Mary paused and said, “I’ve never thought about that before.”
Her response to this question illustrates how important it is to ask clarification questions because they help us understand what other people believe. When you understand a person you are in a better place to share the truth and challenge her false beliefs.
I shared with Mary that Jesus said He is God in human flesh, and that it’s really important to read God’s Word so we can know Him. As we talked, I also asked her, “If you died and faced God today and had to give an account for your life, would be you prepared for that?” She said, “No.”
I planned to share the gospel with her next, but she asked me a different question that turned the conversation in another direction. Then she told me she had to leave and walked away. Although this conversation didn’t end the way I wanted it to, I think it is really significant that I was able to ask her these important questions. She listened and took time to consider them.
This student’s ability to hear the gospel certainly does not rest on me, and I am confident that God will bring others into her life to finish what he allowed me to start that day on campus. We plant seeds, sometimes water the ones someone else panted, and we trust God to bring the growth in a person’s life in His time (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). No matter where we fit in the process, it’s an honor that God allows us to be ambassadors of His truth.