Love Your Neighborਨਮੂਨਾ

Identifying Barriers

For each of us, barriers can stand in the way of loving our neighbors. Some believers haven’t always represented and shared Christ well. What you observed from other Christians might have seemed awkward, pushy, or even damaging. Maybe you’ve even encountered a situation in which someone’s attempts to share their faith felt more like a debate than an invitation, more like pressure than genuine care.

An additional barrier is the tendency for many believers to stay within their Christian circles, rarely engaging with non-Christians in meaningful ways. It’s easy to feel comfortable around those who share your beliefs, and stepping outside that familiarity can feel intimidating or uncertain. You may fear rejection, worry about others’ judgments, or assume you need to have all the right answers before you can start conversations about faith.

A few years ago, we conducted a study with Barna Group that identified some of the most common barriers Christians face in sharing their faith. In this survey, 85% of pro-evangelism Christians reported that they let barriers prevent them from sharing their faith. Some of the most frequent reasons included:

● Don’t want to be pushy

● Prefer instead to live out the gospel through my actions

● Not sure I’ll be able to answer their questions

● Don’t know many non-Christians

● Don’t feel qualified

● I’m not good at it

● Don’t want to risk damaging a relationship

Loving our neighbors and sharing our faith can feel intimidating, but God never calls us to do this alone—he equips and strengthens us through his Spirit. Fear is normal, but it doesn’t have to control us. Instead of focusing on what could go wrong, we can shift our perspective:

• What if this small act of love plants a seed?
• What if a simple conversation allows someone to experience God’s grace?

Loving others can be challenging, especially when we don’t see immediate fruit. But God encourages us to stay faithful, even when it’s hard.

It’s important to remember that loving our neighbors isn’t about having a perfect strategy or formula. It isn’t about speed or “getting it right.” Instead, we can focus on being authentic and vulnerable and building trust in our relationships.

We don’t need to feel pressure to convert others. When we reach out to love others and share what Christ has done for us, the Holy Spirit brings growth.

Consider a time when you shared your faith, or someone shared theirs with you. What was that like? How did it unfold?

How anxious do you feel when you consider engaging your neighbor? Why do you feel anxious or comfortable?

Lord, show me what’s holding me back from stepping out in love. I pray that I would feel your presence with me throughout my day, encouraging me to step out in faith. Grant me wisdom and help me to be authentic as I love those around me. Amen.