How to Share Your Faith Using the Original Human Tetris
If you're having trouble linking the words 'human' and 'Tetris' in your mind, check out the quirky little You Tube video that has racked up three million views in the past month. Somehow the director for this "Original Human Tetris" video convinced who knows how many people attired in color-coordinated shirts to commit 4 to 6 hours moving from bench to bench in an auditorium while he took still photos of them. The photos were subsequently compiled into a video, with the result that millions of people are now reliving their childhood fascination with the addictive spatial game.
What's the appeal of games like Tetris? Trying to fit the pieces together? The satisfied feeling you get every time that filled line flashes and disappears off the screen forever? The never-ending opportunity to start over and try again with a new game?
If you've ever been a Tetris-type game fan, you have to admit that at least part of your attraction to this category of games is the ever-present chance to start over with a clean slate. When the "Game Over - You Lose" message flashes up on the screen, it's great to be able to choose 'Play Again' and take another shot at trying to do better. And don't you sometimes wish real life was like that? After all we all make less than perfect choices every day.
The good news is that in the spiritual realm of real life, we do get another shot and a clean slate. God offers every one of us a clean spiritual slate. Check out His promises from Psalm 103: 8-12:
God is sheer mercy and grace;
not easily angered, he's rich in love.
He doesn't endlessly nag and scold,
nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve,
nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
he has separated us from our sins.(The Message)
When we place our trust in Jesus and accept His gift of forgiveness and salvation, He promises to continually renew this offer! 1 John 1:9 tells us:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Odd as it may seem, maybe this quirky little Tetris video can serve to remind us that God is continually extending to us the offer of a new game and a clean slate. So try using Tetris as a springboard to having a conversation with your unreached friends about God. Here are some questions to help you get started:
- Many people enjoy Tetris-type games because they like solving things - whether it's figuring out puzzles or questions or problems. Do you like trying to figuring things? Why or why not?
- Ask your friends what some things are in life that they believe are critically important to figure out? Things like: What career to pursue? Who to marry? And the biggest question of all...who or what is going to be your God? Listen and share what's important to you. Share how you arrived at the decision to be a follower of Jesus.
- Starting over with a clean slate is a beautiful thing. Ask your friends if they understand that Jesus offers us a clean slate when it comes to spiritual things. Share with them God's gift of forgiveness through Jesus and His promise to remove our sins as far away as the 'sunrise is from the sunset' (Psalm 103:12).
If you've discovered Jesus, you know the power of starting over with a clean spiritual slate. Share that truth with your friends so they can start a new game too!
