I had several instances this weekend where I was asking myself this question. I am part of a men’s group with church and we had a discussion touching on this topic. I also heard it at Mass, through the reading from Ezekiel. Even before this weekend, I have struggled with this topic. How do I let others know about my faith and no seem conceited, judgmental, or pushy? Am I directly responsible for teaching them about Jesus or am I to demonstrate through my actions; like the song “…They will know we are Christians by our love.” On the other hand, I am called to love my brother as myself. It has been said love is willing the good of the other. Are we not responsible to help someone if we have the ability and by definition irresponsible if we look the other way and “mind our own business”?
I have wrestled with this for years and continue to. Even beyond my faith, I have had many instances where I feel obligated to help and I am conflicted. Sometimes, my help is not received as I intended or expected; maybe the person just wanted someone to listen and not actually help. Or wanted to complain and they weren’t looking for a solution. Likewise, in trying to learn from the previous scenario, I withhold my assistance and feel guilty for not being able to help. Returning to the faith piece, Ezekiel is placed in this predicament “I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, “O wicked one, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you warn the wicked, trying to turn him from his way, and he refuses to turn from his way, he shall die for his guilt, but you shall save yourself.” (Ezekiel 33: 7-9) What would you do?
It seems that in following the Golden Rule we learned early in life, treat others as you would be treated, we would have to introduce them to God and invite them to have a relationship with God. If we do not, we are responsible for their separation from God. Now for a connection to sowing seed. From a discussion I had with my men’s group, I interpreted the verse from Corinthians as God being the sower “ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10) Later, I understood this as us supplying ourselves and others to God, who multiplies what we provide. A possible connection is that when we guide others to Jesus, we not only give others the opportunity to make God the Lord of their life, but that God will multiply their harvest and ours. However, if we avoid this interaction, we not only condemn them, but we condemn ourselves, being guilty by association by keeping them from God.
I feel like there are many interpretations to this and I could keep going but I want to keep this concise. I continue to struggle with this teaching but I will continue to pray and mediate on it for guidance. I ask the same for you, knowing that God’s grace will abound.
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