When it comes to sharing our faith with others, I think it's easy for Christians to forget that it is a "faith" we are sharing. On the April 12th, 2009 episode of the radio show This American Life, the story in the show's second act follows a woman's struggles with God and the hope she found in a coach at a Christian high school.

This coach told all of his own school's fans to cheer for the visiting team from a local youth penitentiary. These youths from the penitentiary didn't have family at the game and would be riding home on the bus in hand cuffs. The cheering crowd gave these visitors a memorable evening, and the story spread through a host of news organizations.

A woman, who had recently lost a dear friend, heard this story and wanted to believe in God, but her friend's death cast a shadow of unbelief that she couldn't overcome. In the midst of this despair she contacted the coach at the Christian school. In one sense, the coach reached out to her with compassion, but as he began to talk to her about his faith, he quickly turned the conversation into a lecture about philosophy, science, and moral values.

No matter how badly this woman wanted to believe or this coach wanted to share the Gospel, his message fell flat. It's hard to discern what each party was thinking at the time of their conversation, but I think we can draw a few conclusions from this story.

First of all, the woman contacted the coach because of the incredible love shown by the Christians at his school. While it's conceivable that someone outside of Christianity could have displayed love to the youths from the penitentiary, the coach and the crowd acted out of the love and acceptance they received from God. They passed on to these youths what God had given them. To do such a thing requires faith-faith that we're loved by God in the first place and the sharing it with others will make a difference.

Secondly, when the coach launched into refutations of evolution, proof for absolutes, and arguments for a certain kind of moral teaching, he was answering questions this woman wasn't asking. She was drawn by the faith of Christians that prompted them to show love, not by carefully drawn arguments.

It is ironic to see the people who believe the just shall live by faith turning to proofs to prompt others into belief in God. While Christianity has good evidence to back it up, the reason for our hope is the salvation offered by Christ, and we have received this salvation through faith.

Perhaps there will be times when someone demands to see the proofs for Christ or the evidence for a reliable Bible, but the call of God is to spread our faith by proclaiming the Good News that God has reconciled the world through Christ. It's as simple as, "The Kingdom of God has come, repent and believe the Good News."

The word "believe" in this passage could also be translated "have faith in." We're asking people to believe in a God who wants people to leave their old ways of living behind. Living day to day by faith in this God changes us into his kind of people. The kind of people who display God's love and grace. The kind of people who would cheer for a bunch of kids on the margins of society, letting them know they too can experience God's love and acceptance.

Ed Cyzewski blogs at www.inamirrordimly.com and at www.edcyz.com. He is the author of Coffeehouse Theology.