"A non-Christian who believes that all Christians are phony, pushy, manipulative, and intolerant will have a hard time ever hearing the gospel," writes Tim Downs in Finding Common Ground. "Who would he listen to?"

Good point. So we face the double task of breaking stereotypes so that our acquaintances will be able to listen, and then making sure they have an opportunity to really hear. In his two letters to the church in Corinth, the apostle Paul has a good deal to say on this subject. Here's one section.

2 Corinthians 5:18—6:4a

Ask God to make you an ambassador who's well connected with the people to whom you've been sent, but also dependable as His spokesman.

2 Corinthians 5:18—6:4a

18All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. 19For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message he has given us to tell others. 20We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, "Be reconciled to God!" 21For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

1As God's partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God's great kindness. 2For God says,

"At just the right time, I heard you.
& On the day of salvation, I helped you."
Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation.

3We try to live in such a way that no one will be hindered from finding the Lord by the way we act, and so no one can find fault with our ministry. 4In everything we do we try to show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.