Bible Question:

I have recently become a Christian. I am 13 years old and none of my friends at school are Christians. I need some advice on how to tell them that I am a Christian without them rejecting me.

Bible Answer:

Praise the Lord that you are a Christian! I became a Christian at about 17 years of age. This is a wonderful age to discover the Lord. You ask a question that cannot be answered as you are hoping because Jesus has told us that some people will reject us.

And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (NASB) 2 Timothy 3:12

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that we will receive a great reward in heaven when we are persecuted.

Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (NASB) Matthew 5:10-12

All Christians struggle in this area, even the early Christians. The early Christians were under attack. They had been told not to tell others about Jesus. So they prayed for boldness. They asked God to give them boldness, and God answered by filling them with the Holy Spirit. Here is a portion of their prayer,

And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Thy bond-servants may speak Thy word with all confidence. (NASB) Acts 4:29

On the occassions our friends reject us, we must remember they are really rejecting Jesus.

But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. (NASB) Luke 21:12

Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (NASB) John 15:20

God’s message of truth is offensive. It says we are sinners and need God. The Holy Spirit has told us the message about Jesus seems like foolishness to the world (1 Corinthians 1:18).

The wonderful facts about Jesus can be offensive, and our behavior can make the gospel unnecessarily offensive in the way we treat others. Here are some practical suggestions that can us help minimize our rejection: speak kindly to others (Col. 4:6), live a holy life (1 Peter 2:20), show them Jesus’ love (Gal. 6:9-10).

Conclusion:

Some years ago I asked a group of adults at my church, “What would you tell someone to do in order to become a Christian?” The first answer I received was, “Tell them to ask Jesus into their heart!” Another person said, “Tell them to read the Bible!” I was not surprised. Many Christians do not know what to tell someone about Jesus. The key words for an adult are not “ask Jesus to come into your heart,” “God will heal your marriage,” or “try God.” The good news about Jesus is 1) you are a sinner, 2) you are God’s enemy because of your sin, 3) Jesus died for your sins and returned to life so that He can forgive your sins, and 4) all you have to do is believe or trust Him to forgive your sins. In order to answer some questions that might come up, you may want to read the page Searching for God and answer the studies on foundational truth.