Getting Outside Our Christian Bubbles

When the Bubble is Big

If you’ve been a believer in Jesus for a long time, it can be easy to find yourself in a "Christian bubble." If going to church has been part of your life for a long time, it makes sense that most of your friendships would be with fellow believers. And now it’s easier than ever to find Christian alternatives to most “secular” music, TV shows, and movies. While this can be a good thing, it can also make it hard to step out of our comfort zones and connect with those who might never walk through a church door.

Why We Love Bubbles

Sometimes, we find ourselves in a bubble because of our circumstances. We go to church multiple times a week, we work at a Christian company, and ever our neighbors are Christians. The challenge for people like us is busyness! Our lives are so full of good things that it can be hard to carve out time or make relational space for people far from God.

But sometimes, we find ourselves in a bubble because it’s the easier thing to do. The world can be a dark place, full of influences, agendas, and ideologies we don’t want to expose ourselves or our families to. It’s far easier to create a bubble than to riskily involve ourselves in the lives of those far from God and deal with the complex conversations that might bring.

Jesus’s Posture To Those Far From God

Thankfully, Jesus gives us a good example to follow. For a time, Jesus lived in a perfect bubble. He lived with God in heaven! But in love for people far from him, God sent Jesus from his perfect home into a dangerous world that would eventually kill him (Philippians 2:5-8). But it was only by taking these risks that people far from God could be saved (John 3:16)! One example of this is found in John 4. Jesus crosses cultural and societal boundaries to engage in a meaningful conversation with a Samaritan woman. And because Jesus did this, this woman was saved from her idolatry, and soon, her whole town believed that Jesus was God! This isn’t just a nice story about Jesus’ life but an encouragement for people like us. When we get outside outside our bubbles, people’s lives are changed!

Practical Steps to Move Forward

1. Make Margin: If your life is full of events and relationships that only include other Christians, you will need to make margin for new relationships. Consider one activity you can cut from your schedule and begin prayerfully asking God how to leverage that time.

2. Pick Three: No matter how big our bubble is, it's unlikely that you don’t know anyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus. Pick three people with whom you already have a relationship and begin praying for them every day. Ask God for new opportunities to talk with them about Jesus.

3. Be Bold: If you are afraid of our culture, remind yourself of the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us that he who is in us is greater than the powers in this world (1 John 4:4). Ask God to give you confidence in his power that is greater than the powers in the world. 

How Spoken Gospel Can Help

We understand that taking the first step in sharing your faith can be intimidating. That’s why we create thought-provoking videos, Bible reading plans, and podcasts designed to help you know your Bible better and have conversations about Jesus more confidently.

At Spoken Gospel, we share the Gospel every day with people around the world. You can start sharing the Gospel by helping us fulfill our mission. By becoming a monthly or one-time donor, you become a partner and fellow worker with us in sharing the good news of Jesus (3 John 8). Consider becoming a fellow worker with us by giving today.