Leadership Journal

One way to foster spiritual growth is to spend time around people who aren't Christians. I like to hang out in bars and clubs, just listening to bands and chatting with people. That may sound like an odd way to grow spiritually, but let me explain.

When I'm around non-Christians, it ignites within me a strong motivation to practice the disciplines of the faith. The conversations I have with people outside the church open my eyes to their needs and often break my heart. It stirs a deep longing for them to know Jesus and his saving grace. It makes me desperate to see them follow him. It also breaks me out of complacency and the numbness that often results from being immersed in the Christian subculture.

Being outside a church context reminds me of the urgency of our mission, which in turn causes me to want to pursue God all the more so that I'm pursuing that mission in a healthy, Spiritfilled way. I'm also motivated to be in Scripture. When I have discussions with friends outside the faith, questions naturally come up. I want to be sharp, able to give reasons for the hope I have in Christ. It causes me to pray more as well, since ultimately no human argument leads someone to Jesus, but only God's Spirit. And it drives me to seek community with other Christians. I need their support and prayer as I pursue relationships beyond the church walls.

I'm guessing I'm not the only one whose spiritual life is enlivened by spending time with unbelievers. As we seek to foster spiritual growth in those we lead, let's not miss this crucial ingredient. Yes, growth happens in the context of Christian fellowship, but getting Christians outside the Christian bubble is essential—both for them and the people they encounter.

-Dan Kimball, pastor at Vintage Faith Church, Santa Cruz, California.

Copyright © 2012 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal.
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