What was your take on the Da Vinci Code? Why couldn’t it have happened? Why aren’t woman allowed to be pastors? What is the difference between being Lutheran and Mormon? Why do the Catholics emphasize Mary so much?

We have all been there. Maybe we are talking to a friend who is not a Christian, maybe we are talking with a new believer, maybe we are talking with a good Christian friend and then one of those questions come up. It is one of those questions that causes us to really look at what we believe. It is also the type of question that helps to create an opportunity to talk with someone about Jesus. Often times when these questions come up we might get a little scared or a little nervous. We might think of a friend who is better equipped to answer something like this – the friend who is just so good at words and at answering those types of things. Maybe in some cases we are that friend to people. We are that person that people come to when questions like these arise, and then we are suppose to know the answer and say the right thing.

I have been at both ends of this. I have been in many positions where I have thought that I was not the best person to answer the opportune question. However, many times I have been alone and have realized that I was the one that was supposed to answer this question. I always want to be able to say the words just right and answer the question most effectively, so I take a breath and I say a short prayer, praying that the words will come out right. In the end I have always been given the right words to say and have been calmed by the assurance God has given me.

Those questions still come up in my life, but it is a little different now. Now I am an English teacher in Taiwan. Before arrival in Taiwan, I knew that I would have the opportunity to share my faith. A lot of people are interested in my beliefs and want to hear why I believe just what I believe. This is a really great opportunity for me to witness my faith, but there is just one little problem. I don’t speak Chinese, and the people that often talk to me do not speak too much English. The English that is spoken is often a little difficult to understand. It is hard to dive into a deep meaningful conversation with a very limited vocabulary.

Though I have only been here for two months, I have been asked all of the questions listed at the top of this article and a few more. I have already had many chances to be a witness. Many opportunities I have had were not only at class time but at other activities that we do with out students. Romans 12:13 says, “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Every week we invite any of our students to come to our apartment for a Monday night coffee time. Then once a month we try to plan an activity with anyone who wants to come. The activity for last month was hiking. Through the hike I had opportunities to talk to a few people about their beliefs.

The people here are very warm and friendly. They will give my roommate and I rides home from classes and take us to do many things around the city. They are also very attentive when we speak. They want to know what we believe. They will listen, but it is hard to know at times what they believe. Many of them have showed up for classes with little knowledge of the Bible, so we are very excited when they do ask questions and want to know more.

Every time I have been asked a deeper question I have still been able to give a response. Through the use of simple vocabulary the meanings of difficult concepts can be broken down. It is interesting to me to be able to explain these concepts without using an extensive vocabulary. I have never been the person to use flowery words in my speech. The average American could talk to me without feeling the need to look in a dictionary when the conversation ended. However, over here I have to be extra careful in how I say just what I say. Words that have multiple meanings, idioms, phrases that Americans have just made up are all out of the question when I communicate. It is back to basic vocabulary.

God does ask that we prepare ourselves for these types of questions. In First Peter it is written “…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…” 1Peter 3:15. This verse has given me a new focus now. I know that I can be prepared to do what the Lord wants me to in Taiwan when I am continually in his word. When we read the Bible daily we can share with someone that verse that we just read because it is fresh in our mind. God will help us to say the right thing.

So the next time you get asked on of these questions, take a breath and relax. God equips us all with his word to get through tough questions. When we are in his word daily we can be more comfortable and more relaxed at finding the right thing to say. God will give us the right things to say; even if we have to break it down a bit.

Christa Krause is a KW in Taiwan working with WELS mission family, Rev Kevin and Sarah Stellick