(Note: I promised some practical input on talking to others about Jesus, but as I was praying, God directed me to begin with this practical advice.)
Humanity was created with a sense of adventure. Since the dawn of civilization we have wondered what was over the next hill or across the ocean. We have dreamed of strange new people, exotic animals, and giant carnivorous plants (they always seem to show up in stories of exploration). We have dared to dream of and seek out new adventure, experience, and understanding. To boldly go... We seek to discover a universe large enough for our imagination. And if you don't like adventure and are content with this side of the hill, then you're not going to like Jesus very much.
There is a reason that Star Trek, Star Wars, and Doctor Who resonate so deeply with so many. They all reflect that desire to discover and explore the world around us. We intrinsically realize that we grow larger as our world grows larger. The fact that Doctor Who values the discovery of a new person as much as the discovery of a new planet has made him, perhaps the most popular fictional character in modern history (You don't have to like any of these shows to be a Christian. Insert your favorite explorer, but if you don't have a favorite explorer or innovator... Well?).
As we share our faith, we need to be sure it's a living faith that people can get excited about. There are many religious systems, including Christian religious systems, that try to tame God and make him manageable. Religion is used to control the lives of those around us so no one will rock our boat.
These systems create deep, safe, predictable ruts that are presented to others as the will of God, but really these ruts are there to make us evade the challenges God brings to our lives. That means that even Jesus must be kept at arms length because he's all about rocking our boat. It is easier to try to make Jesus into a self-help guru or a political pundant, than embrace him as the Lord of life who is making us into a new creation.
We should be hungry for the mysteries of God, looking forward with expectation for God's next surprise, looking forward to see what new thing he is building in us. We should have a holy discontent as we strain ahead to see what Jesus will reveal through us, to see the wonders he will preform through us as he touches others through us. That is the adventure of the gospel.
Jesus is not boring, comfortable, safe, a proponent of the status quo, an American, a conservative, or a liberal. He is Jesus. The most creative being in the universe, full of love, mercy, justice... And most of all wild love. Intentional love. Faithful love. Trustworthy love. Serving love. But wild love.
Jesus invites us on an adventure to change the world by sharing in his quest to bring his wild (intentional, faithful, trustworthy, serving) love into the lives of those around us.
Jesus thoughts are not our thoughts. They are wiser, grander, and larger. So much so that they seem like foolishness to those who have not given their hearts, minds, and strength to God. It's scary to think Jesus' thoughts also seem foolish to those who hide behind religion that keeps our boats from being rocked, who dislike adventure, and aren't sure they are willing to go where Jesus leads. That kind of religion makes cowards of us all and looks to the world like the limp, dead thing it is.
This may seem harsh, but our gospel needs to be authentic if we expect people to be intrigued by it. Religious conservatives hated, literally hated, Jesus in his day. Jesus calls to obedience rather than chaos and self-indulgence, but I choose to be Biblical in my obedience rather than to attach myself to the manmade systems that are labeled conservative or liberal. Instead, I am hungry to know what I don't know and to experience in Christ what I haven't yet experienced.
Life is motion and change. I want that change to be directed and empowered by God. I don't want to find a comfortable place and just sit. That only brings the disease of nostalgia, and nostalgia is no gospel.
If you want others to consider your witness then it needs to be a witness to a living gospel, a gospel worthy of an explorer.
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