Don’t Be Afraid to Publish What You Believe In

Back in the day of sharing my school work with my Junior High classmates, I was fearful of ridicule, disdain, using the wrong word, having something to say but doing it out of context. On one hand, I was shy, but on the other hand, I had something to say. Kids can be merciless when it comes to poking fun at each other. So. I kept pretty quiet about my thoughts. Afraid? Sure. Once you publish your work then it’s out there in the world for everyone to read. Yet, if it’s what I believe then why should I be afraid?

That’s the rub.

Fear of sharing is probably the fear of rejection. Without rhino skin to insulate you from reactions and rejections, most folks cannot withstand the withering barbs of condemnation.

Many of us worry about how we will be viewed by style, content, and perception. Critics abound! Editors cringe! Your world is a stage, the spotlights are glaring, and everyone wants to tell you how to do it better. Their way, as in, the right way.

For over 10 years I’ve been blogging public thoughts about various subjects, but for the most part, I want to write about how to interpret life through the lens of my Christian worldview. Hence, several thousand posts contain most of what I believe, how I look at life, and what I hope others will find. Truth. Fearlessness. Love. Concern. Christ.

Yesterday

I received an email from a “first” cousin. We’re near the same age, spent many hours together through our growing up years, and stay in pretty regular contact as we age into our retiring years. He shared an insightful experience of prayer and hearing from God. It’s the kind of thought that hits home at the right time, and I realized that his ministry (we all have one!) was all about giving these thought nuggets of experience to whoever will listen.

That’s one reason I had to learn to get past my inhibitions of sharing. I began teaching Toddler Sunday School classes when I was 14 years old. That was easy. Then, suddenly, the Teens show up, and then Young Adults, and finally those much older than I. Regardless of the audience, I strove to be prepared for the sharing moment. That preparation time improved me. In fact, this pretty much says it all:

When I teach, I learn twice.

You learn when you prepare and that’s generally in the trenches that include prayer, meditation, digging deep, looking wide, grabbing every nugget that applies, and storing it into yourself. Then, when you share, the lessons come back that you don’t know everything, but you keep learning as others question your presentation. Everyone sees the same set of facts from many different angles. I teach, “There are 40 sides to every story.”

Today

I woke this morning thinking about the news cycle. Everyone is still wondering how the election will end for every position we voted on. So, every spokesperson wants to get their moments of fame and share their viewpoint. But not everyone gets it right. History often tells a shaded story of the storyline, but even then, it’s often a perspective that comes from a worldview that just may not be able to paint the facts in living color.

From Yesterday’s ancient writings, I learn about sharing the Word of God to the world. Think about it, without the Bible we would only have “word of mouth” and we all know how we mess up stories with every telling! Jesus said the Gospel must be published among the nations (Mark 13:10). After a miracle, Jesus tells the recipient, “Go home and show that happened” and this man published it throughout the entire city! (Luke 8:39) Peter experienced all of this, and even talked about the forward sharing of the experiences beginning with John the Baptist. (Acts 10:37) And Paul, that apostle out of season, carried the Gospel farther than others, and wrote about his experiences in letters that survive to this day!

Yet, at the same time, I want to expand this truth to a new audience who discount the old. Think with me for a moment. Everything we believe is built on the backs of a belief system before us. Today’s facts come from yesterdays studies. Those with advanced degrees show they are capable of building on the shoulders of their predecessors.

You?

What about you? Me? Are we afraid to share what we know, or do we suspect the things we think we know are not the truth? Maybe our foundation of knowledge is shaky. Or, it’s complicated and we don’t think we have a handle on it.

Whatever the reason, I think we are all afraid of sharing our story. Our world. Beliefs. We are afraid of being cut down, knocked off the pedestal, or whittled away to nothing.

Think about those running for public office. Their entire life is opened to scorn and ridicule, yet, somewhere in their framework they believe in what they are aiming for. Are you any different?

When we identify our sphere, there will always be someone who will discount us for our stance. I’m okay with that. You keep buying your MAC computers and I’ll stay happy and content to be in control with my Windows PC…