Evangelism: A Spiritual Ropes Course

This morning in Bible class I got a lesson through my job.


I work as a guide at a facility with several ropes courses. One in particular is around 60 feet in the air at one point. It can be scary. Taking that first step off the platform on to the element is the hardest part. When you step down onto the cable it can be scary, shaky, and seem too hard... but when you remember you're anchored above you to another cable by way of a trolley on a tether and that because of those pieces of equipment you can't fall. It might still be scary, and shaky, and seem to hard but it is possible and with practice it keeps getting easier and you'll get more stable and better balanced.

I thought of this as we were talking (in some form) about reaching out to others. We talked about always sticking to scripture and always going to older wiser Christians.

Reaching out to others is like doing a spiritual ropes course. If you're standing on the scriptures and you're anchored above you to God, then you can't fall. It might be scary. It might be shaky. It might seem too hard. But you can't fall.

An interesting thing about ropes courses: When you step on a cable, you might think that if you're unstable alone that you definitely don't want to be on the cable at the same time as anyone else. You'll want others to wait until you get off. However, if you have someone on that cable with you who has been there before and has had practice and has gotten to that point where they are balanced as they go through... with them on the cable with you that cable is held more taught and you'll be able to balance a little easier even in your inexperience.

Same holds true as when you're reaching out to others... If you've got someone with you who has had more practice and has gotten better and has the wisdom to be steady throughout the study process. OR even in faith in general if you take your questions to those who have "been there, done that" so to speak and have gained the wisdom through study to be steady in life... In either scenario, you're going to be more stable and it won't seem as scary or as hard because you'll have that extra hand that knows how to trust God and can help keep you spiritually anchored above and standing on the word of God.