Put In A Good Word For Jesus

By Elder Lionel Khoo

My whatsapp photo has stirred interesting reactions from people who saw it. It ranged from curious looks to spontaneous laughs. It did not help that the photo shows a martial art expert executing a kung fu move with a dragon flying from behind. It also has the caption “降龙十八掌” or “Slaying The Dragon With 18 Palms”. Some suspicious acquaintances shot me with authentication questions to verify if it was really me. Others asked me about the photo. This gave me the opportunity to offer the following explanation.

For those who are familiar with the legendary stories written by Jin Yong, the famous author of many popular Chinese novels, you will know that “Slaying The Dragon With 18 Palms” is the most powerful move that any pugilist can master. I tell them that while this move can slay many dragons in the pugilist world, it cannot conquer the dragon of a different kind and in another dimension - the evil one with ten horns and seven heads that stood on the shore of the sea (Rev 13:1). Only Jesus Christ can conquer the evil dragon in the ultimate battle and throw it into fiery lake of burning sulphur (Rev 19:21).

As you can see now, this often turns into an ice-breaker that I could use to start conversation with people that come my way.  Through storytelling of good and evil in a form that my friends and colleagues can perhaps relate to and subtly adding the word “God” into our conversations, it increases my chances of introducing the gospel in a friendly fashion, either at this point of time if the other party remains engaged, or sowing the seeds for a future opportunity. My recent work has also exposed me to new colleagues from China. Through common talking points such as these, one colleague became curious about our Christian faith. He asked me what is Good Friday and why we celebrate it. Another was receptive to me inviting him to a Stephen Tong gospel rally.  

Who are the people that we encounter every day? How can we “put in a good word” for Jesus in daily conversations?

“And I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. ~ Philemon 1:6 ~