Taking Risks

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus told his disciples to go make disciples of all nations. In Luke 10:1-12, he sent out 72 of his followers to prepare the way for him warning that they would face opposition from people who may not want anything to do with Jesus or his disciples. Following Jesus’s instructions required taking risks, and we only need to look at the book of Acts to see how dangerous it was to share the gospel after Jesus’s death and resurrection.

The risks I face aren’t nearly as scary. I will admit, though, that I tend to be introverted and worry about making a fool out of myself when I meet new people. This fear can sometimes be reinforced when I awkwardly introduce myself and stumble over my words like I did when I visited a new game store in my neighborhood.

There are a few game stores close-ish to where I live, but they’re in other cities (different suburbs) than the one where I’m based. Not long ago, though, a new store opened up about five minutes away. I dropped by shortly after they opened, chatted about coffee at their coffee shop, asked about games they planned on stocking (they’re still stocking up on new products), and after saying my goodbyes, I remembered I’d gone in to tell them about Disciple Gaming Ministry. It was busy, so I told them in about 20 seconds who I was and what DGM is all about. Our mission isn’t easy to condense into a 20 second on-my-way-out-the-door statement. It was awkward. But I took the risk, told them about my mission and desire to get gamers connected with God.

I wouldn’t say the risk paid off, but I took it and learned a few things about myself and how I need to be better prepared in the future. This is good news because I’ll be running a game at that store in May to introduce players to one of my favorite game systems in my favorite franchise universe. I’ve taken a risk, I’ve overcome the awkward feeling of fumbling my introduction, and now I have a plan to connect with gamers to share the gospel!

I am nervous to talk with them about God, but I’m always nervous to talk to people about topics in which they may not have any interest. As Paul told Timothy, though, “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (1 Timothy 1:7)1. I’m called to spread the gospel to gamers in the area, and that means 1) making time to be where gamers are, and 2) sharing the gospel. One is not a risk because I love gaming, but the other is because they could be mean, rude, or just reject God (and me, but that shouldn’t concern me even though it does at times).

Ministry is a risk. Obeying God is a risk. But it’s a risk worth taking because avoiding the potential dangers and rejecting God is a bigger risk with significantly more severe consequences. My challenge to you, reader, is to consider which risks God has called you to take, and go take them!

Sources and Notes

1 At Disciple Gaming Ministry, we encourage people to read the Bible using an accurate translation that is also easy to understand. With that being said, the translation we use is the ESV® Bible. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.