Photoshop & Faith
Pastoral | July 25, 2026 | By: Noah Jaeger
Photoshop changed everything for me. In high school, I took Graphic Design and learned everything from designing websites to swapping my friends’ faces with celebrities. However, one skill rose to superiority for me—the blemish tool.
As a vain 16-year-old, I became obsessed with using Photoshop to cure me of my acne. I would take our Christmas photos and make us look like celebrities. I would find photos with friends and hide aspects of myself I found displeasing. Photoshop gave me the power to say, “I’m only going to display what I want people to see.”
We live in an age of Photoshop and Instagram filters. The unspoken motto of our culture is: “If you don’t like, hide it!” Unfortunately, Christians have fallen prey to this deception as well. Not only is this dangerous to our faith, but to our lost friends and family as well.
Let me ask you a question: Do the people you associate with (coworkers, neighbors, friends, waiters, hair stylists, deli guy) know that you love Jesus? Do they at least know you are a Christian? If the answer is no, then, with a spirit of curiosity, ask yourself, “Why don't they know?”
Most of the time, it’s for one simple reason: we have photoshopped our faith out of our conversations.
When people ask us about our weekend activity, we often respond with “nothing really,” despite going to church, praising our King, hearing from God’s very Word, and communicating with Him through prayer. What right do we have to say “nothing really” in response to that.
Why do we photoshop our faith out of our conversations? Oftentimes, we believe one of several lies the enemy whispers to us. These can include: “your weekly experiences with your Creator are private, unimportant, and only of interest to you; telling people about your faith is awkward and will only push them away from Christ; you would probably say the wrong thing resulting in more harm than good.” There are more, but we will focus on these three beliefs.
No One Cares
"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
– Early church father, Augustine
Think for a moment. If you find it so easy to hide your relationship with God from others, how much more likely are people to hide their need for God from you? You are not the only one using Photoshop in your conversations. People may look like they have it altogether or are uninterested in spiritual matters, but in reality, your friends and family are restless without knowing their Creator. They just hide it really well. If the lost are deceived into hiding their deepest yearning, and the Christians are deceived into hiding their solution to the deepest yearning, then the truth remains hidden until someone speaks up.
It’s Not Worth the Risk
“Awkward conversations change lives.”
– Co-author of The Fuel and the Flame, Paul Worcester
Consider for a few minutes, “What are the most important conversations you have taken part in?” A proposal? A job interview? A talk with your parent or child? A serious chat with a friend?
Once you have those conversations in mind, let me ask you another question: “Would you describe those conversations as smooth and easy, or awkward and challenging? My bet is on the latter. Oftentimes, the most worthwhile conversations are awkward and could be taken the wrong way. You could be denied at a job interview; you could be rejected when asking someone on a date; your friend could resent you speaking your mind. These are all possibilities, but avoiding these situations also hinders us from experiencing the fullness of life. Talking about our faith in Christ is no different. The conversation could be uncomfortable, and could be taken the wrong way, but those are the very conversations that change people’s lives forever.
More Harm than Good
He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” – John 9:25
Risking a friendship over the truth is one thing, but risking a friendship over saying something false is another. If you are afraid of spewing heresy, then just share from your experience. Follow the example of the blind man Jesus heals. He does not pretend to understand who Jesus is, he simply states, “I was blind, now I see.” In a similar way, consider what God has done in your life, and then share a detail from that experience. People can argue against your beliefs, but they can’t refute your experiences.
Some Tips:
Let’s get practical. Evangelism is not about winning arguments but exposing your faith more. So here are a few tips to help you.
First, find an opportunity to identify with Christ. Recently someone asked me, “Do you have any Father’s Day plans?” I responded by telling them we plan to attend church that day and are excited about the Tempe campus opening. They were intrigued and asked me questions about our church. Identifying with Christ allows people to recognize, at the very least, “Oh, they’re a Christian.” This is huge. If people know you are a Christian, then they know who to turn to when they have questions.
Second, think about something God is already doing in your life, and then ask about their story. Perhaps you are growing in patience or working on trust. Whatever God is teaching you, have that ready as something you could share in a conversation. Then, ask them about their spiritual background.
Third, invite them to Alpha. Imagine a space where your lost friend learns about Jesus in an engaging, fun, and truthful way. That place exists at Scottsdale Bible, and it’s called Alpha. For 10 weeks, guests experience delicious meals, excellent hospitality, and interesting dialogue over various topics about the Christian faith. Alpha runs on Thursday nights from 6:30 to 8:30pm, starting September 10. Invite someone this fall!
Noah Jaeger
Tempe Groups & Enrichment Pastor
Wish you felt more comfortable talking about your faith with others? At How to Talk About Jesus, you’ll learn how to have conversations that feel approachable, not forced. RSVP today.
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