Stepping Out of Our Comfort Zone
Confirmation bias. “The Algorithms.” Echo chambers. These are various descriptors of a common issue. As the news and feeds on our phones and computers cater more and more to us individually, we find the perceived divides between ourselves and “others” increasing rapidly. We read articles and watch videos from people who support our position. We get news and shorts that present the best of our view and the worst of other views—and both confirm our position as the correct one. We find that we tend to hang out and spend most of our time with those with whom we most agree. This is our natural tendency as people. But, as Christians, is this the best way forward? Do we find any examples or teachings in the Bible that can guide us? Thankfully, yes!
When we read the gospels, we find Jesus carried out his ministry in a consistent pattern. From his choosing of the twelve, to his encounters with the Samaritan woman and Zacchaeus, to hanging out with tax collectors and sinners—we find Jesus intentionally engaging with people that regular Jewish society tended to avoid. We also find Jesus confronting popular teachings, which often led to conflict with the religious leaders. When we move to the book of Acts, we find God using the apostles to take the gospel message far beyond their expectations. Jesus tells the apostles: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 and Cornelius’s family in Acts 10 are two examples of this. When we look closer at Acts 10, we find that Peter is initially unsure about taking the gospel to Gentiles. As he sees the vision of the sheet with the unclean animals, Peter steadfastly renounces eating anything unclean. (Acts 10:9-16) He obeys the Holy Spirit’s direction, but it is not until Peter meets Cornelius and hears his story that Peter understands God is also calling the Gentiles to salvation.
I want to focus on what Peter says in this encounter. “And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without objection.’” Imagine for a moment that Peter stayed in the comfortable echo chamber of traditional Jewish thought towards other nations. That he refused to go with the men because they were Gentiles. Not only would he have missed out on this amazing experience, but Cornelius and his family would not have heard the good news. This is the danger for us as Christians. If we are seeking comfort and confirmation from those around us, we will likely not engage with those who most need to hear the good news of Jesus.
Let’s look at three ways in which we can intentionally be uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God!
Talk to people, especially those who may hold different worldviews than yourself
This may seem rather obvious, but in today’s context, face-to-face communication is the exception rather than the rule. Most of us communicate through messaging apps like WhatsApp and other social media platforms. This often leads to us communicating with people we already know, but it tends to make it difficult to meet new people. We don’t know if the person we are talking to is truly representing themselves or if they are seeking to scam us in some way. The antidote to this is face-to-face interaction, which many of us find intimidating and uncomfortable. Yet, this is exactly the strategy we find repeatedly in the gospels and Acts. Christians were willing to be uncomfortable because they had a message that others needed to hear. Think of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch or Paul in Athens. It could not have been comfortable to approach an unknown person in a chariot or to stand in the middle of the marketplace preaching a message of one God to people who worshipped multiple gods. However, they believed the message was more important than the possibility of their temporary embarrassment. So, say hi to someone the next time you’re walking through campus and strike up a conversation with them. You never know what kind of interesting people you will meet!
Read books and articles that are contrary to your personal views
It is good to hear viewpoints that challenge our own. This forces us to consider what we believe and why we believe carefully. It is healthy to contemplate our views and those of others. This allows us to understand where we agree and disagree. And it should prevent us from the confirmation bias that creates an “Us against Them” mindset. A few words of caution here—we must remember to filter what we read against the Word of God. The truth of the Bible is not a personal view, and we must be careful not to treat it as such. Also, use wisdom in choosing what books and articles to read. Not all that is contrary to our personal views is worthwhile reading. Perhaps asking your new friends what books they recommend would be a good starting place!
Set down the phone and log off the computer
At least once a week, make time to be away from your phone and computer. Go to the beach (Durban has some pretty good ones), get coffee with a friend, go for a walk, write a letter to someone you love, meditate on God’s Word, or any other number of things. Putting our devices away for a while allows us to think clearly and process without the distractions and pull of instant gratification. It will be uncomfortable initially. But the benefits of unplugging from the incessant cycle of TikTok, X, Instagram, and all the other feeds are well worth it. Make a statement—show others that there are other options than to be controlled by technology!
Christians are salt and light in the world. Salt preserves. It creates thirst. It makes food palatable. Paul writes in Colossians: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (4:6) Even in uncomfortable moments, our words can cause others to begin seeking the one who gives living water. If we are being intentionally uncomfortable, we will often find that we have many opportunities to tell others of the good news of Jesus. Light shines brightly in the darkest spaces. It may be extremely uncomfortable to be the only one standing up for truth in an age of relativity—but your faithfulness can point people to the light of the world. What I’m getting at is this: being uncomfortable for the sake of being uncomfortable is not an example of Scripture. Rather, we are to be uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel. We want to have as many opportunities as possible to share the gospel with people who desperately need to hear the good news of Jesus. And while it may be awkward and make us uneasy to move outside our comfort zone, eternity is well worth the effort!
