When you're to "real Christians" shouldn’t experience anxiety when talking to others about God.

Oh Wait. What about Paul, then?

There is one nasty phrase still going around, and I’m sure some of ya’ll have heard it or something similar at least once in your life.

If someone is a “real Christian,” they wouldn’t experience anxiety or nervousness when talking to others about God.

That is a sure-fire way to crush someone’s faith rather quickly. I’m still shocked when I see or hear this coming out of Christians’ mouths.

It’s become a weapon!

I have witnessed this and have been on the receiving end of it. It was always weaponized; never once was there a time this was meant as a “Godly” encouragement, and it sure as hell never will be.

But I want to show you something the next time you either hear this or see it happen. To give you some wisdom to pass along and reassurance. Paul shared something in 1 Corinthians that you’re going to find interesting and comforting.

First, we all know who Paul is; hands down one of the greatest missionaries in the Bible. He helped spread the gospel like gasoline being poured on a bonfire.

But, check out what he said here…..

“I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,” 1 Corinthians 2:3–4

Here, in black and white, we read that Paul struggled. If he had used just the words “weakness” and “trembling” we could have equated this to a possible illness or injury, but he did not. He also used the word “fear.”

Something caused anxiety during that time for Paul, as a person with anxiety, I felt those words. It was a great relief off my shoulders when I learned that even Paul had his moments.

Let me be clear on something. It is actually quite significant that Paul said this in the first place because he was a male leader. <gasp> Trust me, the people who spout that stupid crap don’t want you to know this about Paul.

They want to use their personal opinions on what they think is “best for you” and shame you, and again, no self-respecting Christian should be saying this to you or anybody else.

You can’t pick one person to look up to while simultaneously ignoring a piece of what they said and then flip that upside down and condemn another for the same reason. That goes beyond cherry-picking to cherry-pureeing.Your journey and calling are between you and God. Not you, man, and man’s timing.

By their standards, then Paul is not a “real Christian” either.

Think about that for a moment. According to their mindset, he is not considered a “real Christian” then. Trust me, they’ll argue with you, but does that even make sense when you think about it?

You can’t pick one person to look up to while simultaneously ignoring a piece of what they said and then flip that upside down and condemn another for the same reason. That goes beyond cherry-picking to cherry-pureeing.

Accepting Jesus does not automatically equate you to being the “perfect” evangelist or take away nerves or fear. We each have unique personalities and quirks. We will all struggle with talking about God to others, some more than others. But that does not mean you are not a “real Christian.” Anyone who says that to you, walk away.

Paul shared this experience with us for a reason. He knew that at some point, those of us today reading this would also experience weakness, fear, and trembling. It does not make you any less of a Christian than he was; just do what Paul did and trust God. He’s the only one that should be guiding your journey, no one else.

© Jane Isley

First Published in Never Stop Writing on Medium.

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