Introduction
When I was about 19, I began a job as an emergency responder. I can vividly recall one of my first calls because it started me on the journey I’m still on today.
When we arrived on the scene, the first thing I heard was a little toddler crying. He was sitting in the middle of the highway, surrounded by broken glass and wearing only a diaper. A crowd had gathered, but no one dared touch him since he had been thrown from the vehicle on impact. Not far from him lay a baby with a fractured skull who was beyond help and the mother of both children, barely hanging on to life. The father and another man lay beyond them—one already dead and the other badly hurt.
It hit me hard later that day to find that both parents didn’t make it. As I continued to encounter situations like this one, my heart broke for people. Most of all, I wondered why the church seemed so irrelevant to this pain-filled world.
When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (MSG)
I believed in miracles and had witnessed several at church, but I wanted to see them in hospitals and in ditches at 3:00 AM when I was up to my ankles in water and blood. After all, Jesus healed people wherever He went. I also wondered why Christians seemed unable to share about Jesus in ways that really worked in the real world.
What I wanted was a Spirit Contemporary approach.
Being Spirit Contemporary simply means you're full of Holy Spirit's power—and at the same time, you share Jesus with others in a way that's contemporary and relevant. In this eBook, I’m going to share a bit more about this approach because it has the potential to change everything you thought you knew about being a Christian.
Represent God Outside the Four Walls of Church
I grew up in a great church where both my mom and dad pastored. Near the end of our services, we often played soft organ music before inviting people to come to the front for prayer. Miracles were a regular occurrence, and as a little boy I was excited to go to church to see what God would do.
But when I became an emergency responder, I wasn’t surrounded by soft organ music when people needed prayer—only the screams and moans of the sick.
Some nights I could not get the smell of blood or thoughts of being with a child when they died out of my mind. These experiences caused me to ask some tough questions. I believed strongly in Holy Spirit’s incredible power, but how could I let Him work through me in the real world? God started me on a new journey at that time—to becoming Spirit Contemporary.
“You are the light of the world...let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14–16 (NLT)
You see, church is real and beautiful, but you and I both know that church is not the only place God wants to work through us. There are hurting people you encounter at your job, school, grocery store and gym, and this is what being Spirit Contemporary is all about. It's learning to show people God’s love and power in ways that attract people to want to get to know Him and check out church.
Re-examine the way you speak, act and think as a Christian. Holy Spirit can work through you just as powerfully in a restaurant or boardroom as He can at church. You just may need to challenge a few preconceived notions first.
Look for Common Ground
In emergency rescue, I encountered horrific situations—spousal abuse, neglected children, cancer, heart attacks, accidents and suicides—and I knew God was longing to bring healing, peace and miracles to people’s lives.
I was also angry and frustrated because it seemed as though most Christians were oblivious. It was great that we were praying for miracles for our fellow believers in church, and we should never stop doing that. But I kept wondering, “Where does this fit in a world filled with such suffering and pain?”
Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 1 Corinthians 9:22 (NLT)
I wanted to see God touch the lives of moms who had lost their babies and children who had witnessed their dad commit suicide…but I needed to know how to transition to walking in His power and presence beyond the four walls of the church building.
You see, there’s no recipe for getting Holy Spirit to show up. Some say you have to do this or feel that, but I don’t think the disciples limited Him this way. They prayed for people wherever they went, and they must not have seemed strange when they did it, because thousands followed and came to know Christ as a result.
We need to get rid of our preconceived notions about how Holy Spirit shows up in our world, because He would not want to make people who don’t know Him confused or uncomfortable.
When you feel like Holy Spirit is leading you, how do you respond? You can connect with people and make them comfortable as Holy Spirit leads you to help them. Like Paul, you can find that common ground, doing everything you can to reach them.
Show Love and Respect
A woman once asked me to pray for her dad who was in a coma in the hospital and had been given only days to live. As I asked for the details, she told me sheepishly that her family didn’t really want me to come, admitting that she had been a little too “out there.” She had great intentions I’m sure, but something about her approach had rubbed her family the wrong way.
I agreed to pray for the woman’s father, but I wasn’t about to force my way past the family. I thought about the pain they were in, and tried my best to look at the situation through their eyes. When I came to the hospital room, I spoke gently.
I didn’t say, “Step aside. God is going to heal your father.” I just offered to pray a 30-second blessing, and I guess my heart came through because their faces softened and I was invited in. I showed compassion. I offered to leave immediately if they wanted me to. I kept their feelings in mind. Often people get so excited to share about Jesus that they forget to think about their approach.
Show respect for all men [treat them [honourably]. 1 Peter 2:17 (AMP)
I laid my hand on the man’s leg and prayed a simple prayer of blessing over him, asking God to strengthen the family, fill the room with His presence and give them peace. After that short prayer, I made my way back over to the family to thank them. But before I had a chance to say more than two words, the man sat straight up in bed and said in a loud voice, “This is a man of God. I want you to listen to him.” Needless to say, the family was in shock!
As is always His desire, God wanted to touch this man, but it was simple compassion, love, respect and acceptance that opened the door. And because of this amazing miracle, hearts were opened. I was able to spend almost an hour sharing how much Jesus loves and cares for that family.
All you need to do is follow Holy Spirit’s lead while you respect and love people where they are. From there you can find ways to pray and share your faith that are non-offensive but still carry all the power Holy Spirit makes available to us.
Use Everyday Language
Often Christians seem to speak a language that non-Christians don’t understand. Using words like righteousness, grace and salvation or talking about the blood of the Lamb is fine when we’re with others who understand these things. But when you speak this way to someone who has never heard of them, it’s like you’re speaking another language.
We do not need to use Christian jargon to teach people about Jesus.
I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 1 Corinthians 10:33 (NLT)
A while ago, I was having lunch with a man I know in a city I frequently visit. At one point he asked me hesitantly, “Do you speak in tongues?”
When I said, “No, not in the way that you think,” I saw him visibly relax. I went on, “But there’s something pretty special I should tell you about. You know how some people meditate or use words to calm the mind? Well, there’s a lot more to Christianity than this, but there is a special language that some Christians use to calm the mind and help them experience God.”
“That sounds really interesting!” he said. Then we went on with our conversation.
My approach to his question may offend some because it is not how a Bible theologian would explain it. But I wasn’t speaking to a theologian. I was speaking to someone who had been turned off. My Spirit Contemporary approach caused him to be intrigued.
Losing the Christian jargon helps people understand, and isn’t that more important? So, if you use any words that don’t make sense to people who don’t go to church, can you replace them?
Keep It Simple
When I worked in a hospital, one day I ran into a family I knew in the hallway. Their grandma had suffered an incident and they wanted me to pray for her.
Hesitantly I agreed, but explained that we had to be sneaky about it. Because I had been reprimanded for praying with people, I wanted them to sneak her into the chapel so I could quickly slip out after praying.
When they wheeled Grandma in, I thought, Oh boy. What did I agree to? She had suffered a massive stroke and was slumped awkwardly in the wheelchair. Nevertheless, I laid my hands on her and prayed a very simple prayer.
Immediately she let out an ear-piercing scream at the top of her lungs. I did the only thing I could think to do—I bolted out the door and started to whistle down the hallway as if nothing had happened!
When I checked on her later, she was up and packing her bags. You see, the moment I had laid hands on her, the numb side began to tingle like mad just as your foot does after it’s been asleep, which was why she screamed. She was completely healed, even though the doctors had said she would be paralyzed for life!
“When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself.” Matthew 6:2 (MSG)
Here’s the takeaway: many make it seem like we need to put on a big Hollywood show for Holy Spirit’s power to work in the situation. But as you can see, we don’t need to draw attention to ourselves. So, as you go about your week, be Spirit Contemporary. Reach out to people in normal, natural ways and let Holy Spirit go to work in His incredible way!
Change How You Share the Message
According to North American statistics, about 3,000 churches permanently close their doors each year.
Why? Well, the problem is not our message. Our message is Jesus. You cannot improve on the message of what Jesus has done for us. That message is beautiful and it sets people free.
So if the problem isn’t our message, why aren’t people embracing it? Why are so many turned off by Christianity, and why do many young people fall away from God? Since we know that the message about Jesus is perfect, the problem has to lie with the messengers. It has to be us.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men…and not according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)
Jesus gave us the job of sharing the news about Him. But if people don’t want to hear what we have to say because of how we are saying it, they won’t come to know Christ. If our behaviour and church services are completely foreign compared to everything else they encounter in their lives, we chase them away from knowing Jesus. In that case, the message we’re sending is, “You’re not like us. You don’t know our rituals. You don’t dress or speak like us. You don’t belong.”
People need to feel welcomed and accepted before they will be open to Jesus. But this is impossible if we’re hanging on to empty ‘traditions of men’ and preconceived notions about what church and Christianity has to be like.
If we are to engage the next generation, we cannot sit back and say, “But we’ve always done it this way.” So…are you willing adapt yourself to reach those who don’t know Jesus? Will you be Spirit Contemporary?
Stay Open
Working with Holy Spirit isn’t complicated. It’s often as simple as pausing to notice the hurting, lonely people around you. Like it says in the following verse, Holy Spirit works with what you have to give.
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6 (NKJV)
A guy I used to work with in the hospital is a great example. As he was walking through the hospital one day, an elderly man caught his attention and asked him for a blanket. As my friend covered him, the man quietly whispered, “They tell me I’m going to die tonight.”
My friend’s heart went out to this man who seemed so alone in his last days, so he sat by him for a while. Soon the conversation moved to what would happen when he died. As my friend talked about Jesus, the man said, “I don’t know if Jesus could ever accept me after everything I’ve done.”
My friend explained to him that because of Jesus, God would forgive him no matter what he had done. He shared the very basics of what Jesus offers us, and the man gave his life to Christ.
A look of peace washed over the man’s face, and he slowly reached his hand toward my friend as he whispered, “Would you hold my hand?”
My friend sat quietly at his bedside, listening to his laboured breathing. He held the man's rough, wrinkled hand for about 45 minutes, and then the man peacefully slipped away.
You don’t have to follow a recipe or work up something unusual to be Spirit Contemporary. Just stay open to Holy Spirit while continuing to love, accept and forgive the people you meet.
Conclusion
I once read a statistic that claimed the majority of Christians invite more people to church and lead more people to Jesus in the first year of becoming a Christian than they do for the rest of their lives.
Why is year one more productive than the next fifty? I think Christians often become something different as time goes on. They become religious, spooky, weird or complacent, which is not who God is.
God wants us to be transformed into His image, reflecting His glory. But there’s a problem. If you have an inaccurate picture of God, you’ll become more like that incorrect picture.
But all of us who are Christians have no veils on our faces, but reflect like mirrors the glory of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (PHILLIPS)
If you see God as judgmental, stern and unsympathetic, you’ll become more like that picture. You might become a church cop—someone who goes around looking for sin to confront. Or if you think that God’s glory is something that comes over you and makes you do all sorts of strange things, you’ll begin to act in a way that doesn’t make sense to those who aren’t part of your church circle.
The problem is: the more religious or strange we become, the more of a turn-off we are. In the Western world, thousands of churches close their doors each year, and I believe this could be avoided if we all had a more accurate picture of God.
Jesus wasn’t religious or judgmental. He didn’t behave strangely. When you read the Bible, read it with new eyes. Ask yourself, “What was Jesus like?”
As you get to know Him better, you’ll become more like this Jesus—whose radical acceptance changes lives forever—and you’ll continue to introduce people to Him your entire life.
