I found this quote in my journal from Fr. William Shannon, a Roman Catholic priest and professor. “Dialogue has as its goal a sharing of the truth. It is not just that I want to share my truth with another. It is also that I want to share the truth the other has that I do not have.”*

That matches my experience. I often find others have insight that I am utterly lacking. That’s particularly true in matters of the Christian faith. Other people understand things I don’t, and sometimes I know a thing or two someone else doesn’t. It is in dialogue that these truths are shared. Both people in dialogue with each other come away richer.

That being true, I am amazed at how hard it is to get people to talk about their faith even one Christian to another. As a pastor, I found it very difficult to get people to talk about their faith. Almost always the conversation quickly became about being part of a church. That’s important, but it’s not the same thing as talking about one’s faith. I know I’m not the only one who thinks something is missing. In our Spiritual Gifts Discovery one of the needs expressed was for discussion about what people believe.

So I have this suggestion. Next time you’re sitting with a friend at fellowship, ask them if you can talk together about your faith. It takes some courage to do that, but I think we’d all be better off if we tried. Anyone willing?

Read Colossians 4:6 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

*Silence on Fire, p. 64