Big Yes, Little Yes, Healthy MaybeSmakprov

The Healthy Maybe

When someone responds to an invitation by saying, ‘Maybe’, we tend to assume they’re copping out. What they really mean is, ‘No.’ But when it comes to someone’s faith journey, ‘Maybe’ could indicate healthy progress and honest consideration of the claims of Christ. What I like to call the Healthy Maybe is a crucial step in someone’s salvation experience, and we need to get better at facilitating moments that give people the freedom to be honest about their questions and beliefs. Sometimes the Healthy Maybe – becoming and remaining open-minded and being willing to overcome certain misconceptions about Christianity – can be the most significant part of someone’s journey.

In John 1:43-46, we see Philip inviting Nathanael to come and meet Jesus. Nathanael is skeptical, saying nothing good could possibly come out of the town of Nazareth. But Philip invites Nathanael to investigate, not even who Jesus is, but simply whether anything good could in fact come out of Nazareth. Nathanael’s objection isn’t even about Jesus; it’s about where He comes from. Sometimes, people’s objections are biased, unfair, and illogical. Generally, it’s not worth debating these matters. Just keep inviting them to come and meet Jesus.

In the past, I was so focused on who was saying a Big Yes to Jesus that I didn’t appreciate those saying a Little Yes, let alone a Healthy Maybe. Slowly, however, my understanding grew. God gave me language for the faith process people were going through. Talking about a Big Yes, Little Yes, and Healthy Maybe has influenced how I share the gospel, who I share it with, and my grasp of their journey.

Colossians 4:5-6 reminds us to be kind and gracious to unbelievers, so they’ll remain open-minded to Jesus – possibly giving Him a Healthy Maybe. Sadly, you can probably think of people who have been put off Jesus by a Christian’s bluntness, judgmentalism, or insensitivity. Hopefully, we also know Christians whose conversation is ‘full of grace’ – people we can emulate, remembering that the correlation between what we say and how we live gives our evangelism its sharp edge.

Jesus travelled through towns and villages, teaching in synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, and healing every illness – and yet still, not everyone was convinced of His divine credentials. It shouldn’t surprise us, then, that not everyone believes us when we tell them about Jesus. Still, we can look to the example of the apostle Paul, whose unflagging passion to see people come to know Jesus compelled him to travel thousands of miles in treacherous conditions, all for the spiritual well-being of others. Like Paul, let’s determine to be unashamed of the gospel and intent on advancing it wherever we are. Let’s do it with sensitivity and kindness in word and deed and by the power of the Spirit. Let’s pray that people find Jesus, whether it takes them a short time or a long time. And let’s praise God for every Big Yes, every Little Yes, and every Healthy Maybe.

This plan was adapted from the series, Big Yes, Little Yes, Healthy Maybe, on RightNow Media. To find out more, visit: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/uk/get-access