Win Some
Dan Kunz
A dear, sainted friend of mine once said, “Old men die a little bit at a time. It’s too bad the kind and gentle part dies first!” Unfortunately, that perception of a lot of older guys is all too true, all too often. There’s a reason “Grumpy Old Men” and “Grumpier Old Men” were so popular. Just ask my wife about the truth of that statement! Actually, the truth is, a lot of people can be grumpy at times. At the very least, it’s fair to say that most people certainly aren’t always as kind and gentle as they could be. Nowadays that might be even more true.
As a former English teacher, I’m very much aware that the English language is constantly changing. The useage of words, the definition of words, and even punctuation tends to evolve (or devolve) over time. Of course, texting and social media have a huge influence on what happens with language, too. One of the changes that dismays me (as an English teacher) is how words may fall out of use altogether. Just as new words are “invented” every year, some words disappear from common use. One of those words is “winsome”.
According to Miriam-Webster, being winsome is “generally pleasing and engaging, often because of a childlike charm and innocence”. The Oxford English dictionary defines winsome as “attractive or appealing in appearance or character”. As an adjective, the word isn’t heard much anymore and that’s a shame. It’s a wonderful way of describing the way all people should be, especially Christians. When Christians are generally pleasing and engaging, when they are attractive or appealing in character, people will tend to like them and want to be friends with them - others like to be around winsome people. What an opportunity!
Today’s church is learning that the very best way to share Jesus and the message of salvation is by being friendly and kind. That includes being good listeners. If Christians are winsome, they will have more opportunities to get to know people. When you get to know people, they’re more willing to share their concerns and challenges. That, in turn, gives you the opportunity to tell them about your best friend, your constant companion, your Savior. Some call it “friendship ministry”. It’s important to realize that although living a sanctified life and serving as a good example of how a Christian deals with both the positive and negative elements of life, it’s also really important to actually talk about your faith.
You don’t need a degree in theology. You don’t need to explain every aspect of God. You don’t need to answer every question they may have. All you need to do is tell them of your shortcomings, your needs, and God’s love in Christ Jesus. Share your fears and your concerns. Share the impact God has on your life. Share your firm faith in the eternal future God has in store for you. A lot of people don’t have what you have, but they want to know more about it and how to get it! If Christians simply do those things, God will bless that witness. If you are winsome, you will win some for Jesus! Welcome