Why are you qualified to talk about God?: 7 legitimate responses you can give
Do you ever feel like you’re not qualified to talk about God? Do you feel like you don’t have enough experience or understanding, that others are so much better prepared? You might even think explaining principles of Christianity are simply out of your league. I’ve thought this.
What would make you qualified? God gives only one necessary qualification for talking about Him. Back when Moses felt unqualified to speak about God, God said:
“Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” – Exodus 4:12
If God wants you to talk about Him, He’ll give you the words to say. The only qualification God needs is your obedience. All born-again believes in Christ then can easily qualify to talk about God.
But what about the critics?
Critic: “I don’t believe what God said so that verse doesn’t make you qualified.”
It’s like we need to be qualified in the eyes of others to have any authority on the subject. A lesser, mischievous god might have left us with nothing. Our God, however, gave us some responses to help convince others.
Here are 7 of my favorites:
1) I know Him
Think of all the so-called experts out there who have never met their subject matter. For some reason, David McCullough who wrote the popular biography on John Adams comes to mind. Mr. McCullough never met President Adams but still he is considered an expert on the life of John Adams.
Now consider the Christian’s position. As a Christian, you know God. That by itself is enough to make you more qualified that most to talk about God.
2) I’ve studied his books
If you’ve carefully studied every book an author has written, you’d certainly be considered qualified to talk about the author according to the world’s standards.
By reading and studying the Bible, which is God Word, you are doing just that.
3) I’ve researched His masterpieces
Like the one above, God has given us His work to study. He shows us His creation, plants and animals, galaxies and molecules, logic and freedom. By observing God’s handy-work, you can gain knowledge of the Creator that any investigator would call evidence for qualification.
In comparison, how many art aficionados have spent their entire lives looking at the master pieces of one artist the way you have looked at God’s art your entire life?
4) I know his history
How many professionals have such a long and detailed history of their fields of study?
Through the Bible and other writers, you can learn the history of the world and humans in the world. This is a story of death requiring a sacrifice to lead to redemption. This is God’s story. If you understand this, you know something of God’s history.
5) I’m a friend of the family
We already established that you know God, but further, you are in contact with God’s family on a regular basis. Church, the believer’s meeting, is made for this. You are friends with potentially hundreds or in some cases thousands of God’s relatives each week.
Many fans would be ecstatic to know just one person related to a famous movie star or super model. You know many of God’s relatives.
6) I use his products
Considering that God is in the sales business, it’s a qualification to be using His products, even more so when you realize that God’s products are too expensive for anyone to buy so you can only get them as personal gifts. The gift of salvation is such a gift.
The arrangement is a little like a celebrity who receives a complimentary bottle of perfume from a boutique designer. God gave you the celebrity position so you could go out and recommend His perfume. Meanwhile, everyone is smelling the lovely fragrance and wondering where to get some.
Clearly you’re qualified to talk about the product, at least more than your average shmo. You’re using it. You could even be writing reviews on it.
And finally, the killer qualification that any expert would die to have (almost literally)…
7) I can ask Him if I don’t know an answer
Sure, this might seem to take away from your vast quantities of knowledge on your subject but think of the pressure it takes off of you. Whenever something goes wrong or you find yourself in a difficult situation trying to explain something, all you have to do is call your Supervisor.
“God, I don’t know what I’m doing. Can you help me with this customer here?”
And bam. You’re set.
It’s the kill switch. You can go boldly into any (and I do mean ANY) situation knowing that whenever it gets too difficult for you, you have this massive, infinite lifeline waiting to pounce on anything that stands in your way.
Amazing, right?
But the critic persists…
You will usually encounter the skeptic who, after hearing you explain all your qualifications, will dare say:
“Well, you say that you know God, that you use His products or whatever, even that you can talk to God, but that doesn’t fool me. How is it possible for someone to actually know God or be saved and talk to Him?”
“Ah,” you answer, “those are some good questions. And they are exactly the reason I want to talk to you about God.”
In a way, you want the doubters to question why you are qualified. See, as soon as you are questioned, you are in a position to explain exactly why the qualifications work. The person who asks why you are qualified is in a way asking you to talk about God.
Bingo.
Serving Suggestions:
(1) After reading these answers, maybe you don’t feel qualified because you can’t all these truthfully. If so, your first step is to meet God. Ask God to come into your heart. Read the Bible. Get into fellowship at a local church.
(2) If you can already truthfully use the above answers (particularly #1), then you’re qualified. Now go talk about Him. Try just coming out and saying it: “I’m qualified to talk about God. Do ya wanna know why?”