Like telling people about Jesus, or even inviting them to church. We invite people to other things without any problem, but the difference is that the other things are not usually so emotionally charged. Christianity tends to divide people, we think. Well, it does of course.
On the other hand it also attracts lots of people. It answers the longings of many who don’t know how to pose the question. Who don’t know how to put into words what it is they really need. We, on the inside, are able to help people both to pose the question and to find the answer to it.
But fear is real and it is good not to deny it. But having admitted it, what to do? Clarify who is being rejected? At one level we feel we are, but it is Christ who is issuing the invitation through us. He has lots of experience with rejection. But he is also the Lord of all. Peter, quoting the Old Testament, said we should not fear their fear but regard Christ as Lord.
We can also take a more positive approach. It can be a bit like physical training. After a while experiencing ‘nos’ is like no longer taking any notice of the sore muscles. And remember that no no is final. Assume it means ‘not yet’.
Dale