Does our faith work?

Malcolm Duncan tells the story of an unexpected meeting – which reminded him why we do what we do

I’m hopeless at directions. So it was no surprise when I recently got lost on my way to a meeting in Glasgow, where I was due to discuss ways that Faithworks could help churches engage with the poor in their communities in Scotland. I phoned Martin, who would be meeting me on arrival, and he assured me that I was only about five minutes from where I should be.

Those five minutes really challenged me.

As I hung up my mobile, I noticed a man approaching me out of a side street. He looked as if he had been sleeping rough. He walked straight up to me – I assumed he would ask for money. I was so focused on the fact that I was already late that I decided I would explain to him that I would not give him money, that I would normally buy him something to eat and that I would do that if he didn’t mind walking with me. I reeled it off and he looked at me disappointedly. ‘I don’t want your money – or a sandwich,’ he said. ‘I want to talk to you about God.’

I was embarrassed and angry with myself. Obsessed with helping others to help the poor or excluded, I had almost walked past someone who really needed my help! How could I be so preoccupied with what was coming next that I could miss what was right in front of me? I spent a few minutes talking with him and then continued on my way.

A few metres down the road, someone had written in large black letters across the pavement: ‘I miss being close to God’. Twice in the space of ten minutes I was confronted with the challenge of connecting with people who needed to connect with God. It was a powerful challenge: had I become so ‘project’ focused or professional in my approach that I was missing day-to-day opportunities to love God and my neighbour?

Beyond projects and professionalism
In the last few years I have been privileged to meet thousands of people across the UK who are quietly and powerfully living out their faith each day. Whether they are doctors, mechanics or magistrates, their faith works. So as much as we should sing and shout about the projects that local churches run and the work that is done by groups of Christians, it is important that we also remember that our faith works in everything we do. We can think that because we are not involved in direct ‘project delivery work’ that our impact for the kingdom of God is less significant – but the reality is our whole lives are shaped and influenced by our faith – or at least they should be. Through His people, God is constantly reaching out to those who ‘miss being close to Him’. If we only love others when we are in ‘project mode’ then somehow we have professionalised our callings at the expense of the personal impact of our faith and our love for others. You may not be confronted by someone on the street who says ‘I want to talk to you about God’ – or by words, scrawled across the pavement, that scream of broken relationship with Him – but many of the people around you in your neighbourhood, family, community and workplace are crying out for someone to show them God’s love, acceptance and grace. They need you to show that your faith works.

Daily opportunities
Faithworks is launching a major campaign at our conference this Autumn to encouraging Christians to recognise the connection between our faith and everyday life. The campaign will run for the next 18 months and through it we hope to encourage Christians to remember that their faith in the Lord Jesus is as much a motivation in the office as it is in the church playgroup. We don’t need to apologise for our faith – we need to celebrate it. We can’t pretend that faith in God motivates us in one area of our lives, but not in another. Funding should not be at the expense of our allegiance. Our Christian faith does work all the time – wherever we are and whatever we do.

If we want to measure the impact of Christian faith in the UK, then consider this – what would happen if every follower of Christ stopped what they did for a month? Not just the stuff we do in the name of local churches and projects, but everything. No talking to our neighbours. No supporting our congregations. No going to work.

Of course, we wouldn’t dream of stopping, because we are called to be Christ’s hands, feet and voice to those around us. God is at work through us – which is both an immense privilege and an immense responsibility. Your faith works. My faith works. Our faith works.

Malcolm Duncan leads the Faithworks Movement and a local church on the Berkshire/ Hampshire border. He regularly writes, teaches and broadcasts on integral mission.