Christian by Association

“Therefore bring forth fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” Luke 3:8, NASB.

I am Batak. Both sides of my family are Christian going back several generations. My mother was the only person in my family who faithfully attended church worship. All through school I thought I was Christian by association. I never received clear teaching about Jesus in my family. It wasn’t until I left my village that I heard about a personal, faith relationship with Christ.

I moved to the Riau area to look for work. Being away from family I decided to go to church. My pastor and two other mature followers of Jesus befriended me. They never pushed, but they kept showing me that salvation is not something we are born into without choice, like a family. Salvation comes from a personal relationship with Jesus.

For the first time in my life the Bible started making sense to me. I was hungry to learn more and to share what I learned with others. God began to show me that my habits of drunkenness and fighting did not please Him. I slowly began to change. At the age of 26 I entered a personal relationship with Jesus!

I was so excited to share what I had discovered with my family. I remember visiting my village and wanting to talk about spiritual things. Every time I’d begin all the men in my family would get up and leave the room. This made me sad. I so wanted them to see that you are never Christian just by association; you are only Christian through a personal relationship with Christ.

Pray that:

This Batak Christian’s hunger to grow and teach others will continue to deepen and mature, and that he will have a long and fruitful ministry.

All his family will become Christian in deed and truth, and not just in name.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.