Ray Comfort did a video series on ’sharing your faith’ awhile back called the Way of the Master. It usually involved confronting someone with “If you were to die tonight, why should you get into heaven?” The point was to get bystanders to admit that they have lied, cheated, stolen, then tell them that they’ve violated God’s laws and were therefore guilty and needed to get right with God. After all, God has a plan for their life, right?
Michael Spencer at internetmonk has an excellent piece on the problem with this approach. His point? Jesus never asked those kind of questions. In fact, he didn’t come asking questions at all. Michael says:
I think it’s telling that the two most prolific evangelism programs in evangelicalism both approach their audience with questions that Jesus never used.
“Do you know that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?”
“If you were to die tonight, and God were to asked you, why should I let you into my heaven, what would be your answer?”
According to Mark, Jesus did not approach his world with a question at all, but with a proclamation[:] Mark 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand [my emphasis]; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Christ spent a lot of time talking about ‘the kingdom of God’. He didn’t invite people to make a decision for him and He didn’t do altar calls. He showed that He was the son of God, He called sinners to turn from their lives of sin, and He died and rose that we might partake in the Kingdom of God.
Spencer is an amillenialist and I’m not. We have differing views of what heaven is or will be, but we agree that the result of a ’salvation experience’ is a turning away from sin toward a life that is a new creation. He says,
Inviting people to reserve a place in heaven is shortchanging the Gospel, and creates the problem of justifying the demands of the Kingdom of God in the interim. In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to evangelism that invites persons to become disciples, obeying all that he commanded. This is not a second level of “fine print.” It is the Kingdom of Heaven and Jesus the Messiah as they are to be presented to the world.
Where fundamentalists and evangelicals typically get into trouble is the “what happens next” when a wayward sinner repeats the sinners prayer. It’s more than getting them plugged into a bible church or having them read the Gospel of John, though those are arguably good things to do. I would contend that even more important is showing them what a Christ-like, Spirit-led life is really about. It’s showing them what it no-kidding means to be a part of the Kingdom of God. That’s a tall order and I’ve seen very few folks who can do it effectively.
April 24th, 2008 13:38 pm
I will never forget when I was “witnessed” to by a guy in the French Quarter when I was a freshman at Tulane. I tried to tell the guy I was a Christian, and sister in Christ, but he called me a liar and a harlot and told me that I was going to hell, probably because he found me on Bourbon Street. However, those who live in N.O. and who find themselves in the Quarter at night (which there are a lot of non-harloty nighttime activities one can do there, in addition to its more infamous ones) know that the safest place to walk is down the middle of Bourbon. It’s closed to car traffic, it’s highly populated and well-lit. ANYways, I was really traumitized by this experience and had to get some prayer ministry from folks in my church. It really, really, really made me think, think, and think again about effective ways of leading folks to Jesus. Telling them that they’re going to hell is not among the most effective, in my experience.
April 24th, 2008 13:53 pm
Karen:
I think the real sin is supporting the D-backs over more talented teams, but that’s another story… Seriously, I don’t know what the right answer is, but smacking folks over the head with ‘their sin’ isn’t it. How do you show grace and love and tell someone they’re going to hell if they don’t change their ways? Are we even supposed to call them on their sin, or do we leave that job to the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
April 28th, 2008 16:35 pm
Hello,
I’d have to say I disagree with some of what you said. Jesus reviewed the Ten Commandments with the rich young ruler (Luke 18:20). He revealed that he knew the woman at the well was an adulteress (John 4:17). He raised the bar on the Ten Commandments so the crowd listening to the Sermon on the Mount would be convicted of their sin (Matt 5:17-28).
The law shows us what sin is (Romans 7:7, 3:20), shows us how we are exceedingly sinful (Romans 7:13), stops us from justifying ourselves (Romans 3:19), and brings us to faith in Christ (Galatians 3:24).
I think it’s clear that the law is what God uses to grant us Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10), and shows us how kind God is to save us from our sins (Romans 2:4). I agree that the sinner’s prayer isn’t found in the Bible, and Way of the Master doesn’t encourage it. In fact, I’ve heard them tell people that they shouldn’t repent because they’re scared of hell, but because God has been so kind to save them.
The questions you refer to aren’t WOTM questions. The “God has a wonderful plan for your life” question is unbiblical, and the “how would you get to heaven” question is from Evangelism Explosion. They refer to that question as a diagnostic question. If someone doesn’t answer the question properly, you should witness to them, since you can’t tell who is a Christian by looking at them.
I agree that if you don’t like Ray Comfort’s series of questions, you shouldn’t use it. However, if you come up with your own way of witnessing, I would highly reccomend using the law as it seems to be what God uses to convict people of their sin. I have found intriguing questions to be a good way to start conversations, and keep people engaged in the conversation, but if you think you should just command people to repent, I think that’s great!
Thanks,
Bill
Bills last blog post..Planetary Evolution Miracles
April 29th, 2008 12:09 pm
Bill,
My only real beef with WOTM, EE, and other similar programs – and where are ‘programs’ defined in Scripture, by the way – is in the issue of follow-through. Obtaining a commitment or getting someone to pray the sinner’s prayer are meaningless without someone to model Christlike-ness.
but if you think you should just command people to repent, I think that’s great!
Now that is laughable. Smack someone on the head with your trusty dusty KJV-1611 and they’re saved? Not bloody likely.
April 29th, 2008 13:30 pm
Steve,
I can give more examples if you like, but I think it’s pretty clear that the biblical program is law to the proud, grace to the humble. No one said there is a defined set of questions.
I agree that obtaining a commitment or praying the sinner’s prayer is meaningless. However, what is not meaningless is when someone actually repents and puts their faith in Jesus. They are born again, and God will carry His good work in them through to completion. If they are born again, you generally don’t have to coerce them into coming to church, reading their Bible or living a Christian life.
What brings people to salvation? I have a list that probably isn’t complete, but it has all of the verses that I know of:
Godly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10).
God’s kindness (Romans 2:4).
The law (Galatians 3:24).
The gospel (Romans 1:16).
The message of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18 )
The LORD (2 Samuel 22:3).
The Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15).
The grace of God (Titus 2:11).
The Gospel is the message that saves. Hanging around with likable Christians, isn’t on the list. While you’re probably getting at something different than biblical evangelism with the crack about hitting someone on the head with the KJV, it’s obviously closer to the truth than you think.
Thanks,
Bill
Bills last blog post..Did John the Baptist Go to Heaven?
April 29th, 2008 13:43 pm
Bill:
Hanging around with likable Christians, isn’t on the list. While you’re probably getting at something different than biblical evangelism with the crack about hitting someone on the head with the KJV, it’s obviously closer to the truth than you think.
It’s not a question of ‘hanging with likeable Christians’. It’s about being willing to give of our time to pour into a new believer. The programs don’t necessarily provide for this, and ‘KJV smackers’ could care less about it. You can throw all the verses you want at an unbeliever, but it’s going to be foolishness to them. Salvation is a mystical act involving the individual and the Holy Spirit. We can nudge them, but it’s the work of the Holy Spirit to convict them, not us.
April 29th, 2008 14:16 pm
Steve,
If they’re new believers, it’s no longer evangelism, and we’re talking about two different things. We’re commanded to treat all Christians with love, not just new believers.
Who are these ‘KJV smackers’ you’re referring to? I don’t know of any KJV onlyists that are great evangelists. Maybe you’re not referring to KJV onlyists?
I agree that salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit, and throwing verses at them will seem foolish to them. Nevertheless, it’s what we’re commanded to do. A sword will cut someone even if they don’t believe in swords (Hebrews 4:12). We also can’t convict anyone of their sin, but we’re commanded to preach the Gospel (Romans 10:14). Are you a hyper-Calvinist–one who thinks God will save who He’s going to save, and we don’t have to preach the Gospel? Are you saying that because the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts people and saves them, we can be disobedient to the great commission? I guess I don’t understand what you’re getting at.
Thanks,
Bill
Bills last blog post..Did John the Baptist Go to Heaven?
April 29th, 2008 14:58 pm
Bill,
I probably haven’t explained my point well. The post was intended as critique of evangelism styles that emphasize “making a decision for Christ” at the expense of building the Kingdom. Read Michael’s post at internetmonk for the context.
I digressed a bit in the comments with regard to the Fundamentalist “You’re gonna burn in hell” style of evangelism. I spent eight+ years in a Fundamentalist church which taught that society was evil and that we needed to protect ourselves from it. That’s exactly the opposite of what Christ did. He didn’t wallow in it, but He definitely went to meet people at their need, eating with sinners, and dealing with the unclean in ways that distressed the religious leaders of the day. At the same time, He didn’t shrink from calling people on their sin (e.g., healing and then saying ‘Go and sin no more’).
April 29th, 2008 15:27 pm
I think there may be some misunderstanding based upon terminology here. Perhaps the differing of opinion boils down to what Jesus meant as the “Kingdom of God.” Is the Kingdom of God, which Jesus incessantly taught, just heaven? Or, is the Kingdom of God wider: wherever God has His rule and reign, including here in earth, in each believer, and in the collective Body of Christ?
Personally, I believe more along the lines of the second, and I think Steve does, too. But, perhaps, Bill, your beliefs are more closely aligned with Kingdom = heaven? It’s my observation that those who are of the “Kingdom = heaven” understanding of are of the conviction that it’s most important to just get people into heaven, not necessarily build the wider Kingdom here on earth.
I know that, according to my understanding of “Kingdom,” when Jesus speaks of building the Kingdom, I’m not simply thinking of converts; I’m thinking of disciples, and disciple-making is a longer-term (here on earth, anyways), more-involved commitment than simply getting someone to make a decision for Christ.
BOTH are important, IMO. We need folks to turn to Christ and be converted, but we also need to build the Kingdom, here on earth, although it’s not the perfect, New Jerusalem, heavenly Kingdom; it’s more the Kingdom of the “now and the not yet.”
And, I think that the way a person is led to Christ influences whether or not they will be a long-term, Kingdom-building disciple for Christ.
Karen Joys last blog post..Woo-hoo! A hiking trip!
April 29th, 2008 15:38 pm
Yeah, what she said…
April 29th, 2008 15:59 pm
Steve and Karen,
I agree that the Kingdom of God is wherever God has chosen, including earth, today.
One thing is that I believe there is no difference between a disciple and a convert. Is a convert born again? Is a convert someone who has died to themselves, and is living for Jesus? I think there are tons of false converts. People who say they’re Christians, or think they’re Christians, but really aren’t. Mark 4:1-20 talks about true and false conversions. People are either dead in their sins or born again (Ephesians 2:1). There’s not anything in between dead and alive. You’re either one or the other. If you’re a false convert, you’re still dead in your sin. If you’re a true convert/disciple, you’re born again.
I think God makes disciples. Our job is to preach the Gospel. If you suspect someone is a false convert, the way to fix that is to make sure they understand the Gospel. I talk to plenty of people who say they’re Christians, but think they’re going to heaven because they’re good people.
Thanks for the conversation.
Bill
Bills last blog post..Did John the Baptist Go to Heaven?
April 29th, 2008 16:19 pm
Bill:
I don’t disagree, but who makes the call about whether a Christian is a “false convert” or not? Is someone a false convert because he disagrees with you? I’ve had that one used against me, and, by the way, see Karen’s first comment above for her experience in that particular arena.
And that raises the salvation issue again. What does it mean to be saved? A good friend went forward at a church camp when he was sixteen and prayed the sinner’s prayer because he deeply and sincerely believed he was a sinner in need of God’s grace and forgiveness. The problem is that the fruit of the Spirit was never particularly visible in his life. He exemplified the parable of the seed on rocky soil. He died several years ago, so is he in heaven because he accepted Christ, or in hell because he wasn’t – to my knowledge – living in the Spirit? I’m thankful that it’s God’s call and not mine. God knew his heart, I didn’t.
Bottom line – I think you’re right, but I would be cautious about calling someone a false convert.
May 2nd, 2008 11:37 am
Have you watched the Way of the Master t.v. show? Have you listened to Way of the Master radio? Have you listened to any of Ray’s messages?
May 2nd, 2008 12:17 pm
Bret:
I haven’t seen the tv show, but we went through of the WotM video series in a Sunday School class. I have nothing against Ray Comfort or Kirk Cameron, I just think their method is flawed.
July 4th, 2008 20:33 pm
I have used the WOTM ‘method’ for a long time and many people that I talk to when including a message about the law, sin, heaven and hell, repentance, and the grace of God, have said thank-you as many Christians have been crazy enough to tell them that they ‘just need to say a little prayer and ask Jesus into your heart’ to be saved. I carried out the evangelism training online course that Ray and Kirk ran, and have to say that they encourage discipling an individual, but also prioritise that ‘chasing them up’ was the job of the holy spirit.
In regards to one-on-one evangelism, Paul himself spoke to Felix on a number of occasions about righteousness, temperance and the judgement to come, and the result was that ‘Felix trembled’ (obviously in fear). Ray and Kirk also encourage serious thought to the gospel and generally dont always push for an answer there and then as to salvation but encourage them to go away and think about it. Ray even himself said that he used to ‘jump in and scatter some seeds and then find another crowd to do the same thing (obviously not quoted exactly), but he realised the importance of spending time with the individual trying to answer questions and giving words that will actually sit with the individual past the conversation.
While it is the holy spirits job to convict, notice that in the bible the ‘cutting to the heart’ (ie conviction) came about when the disciples SPOKE out the gospel, and it was the ONLY time the spirit of God convicted. Paul said in 2nd Thessalonians 2 v 13-14 ‘ We are thankful that God chose you to be among the first to experience salvation, a salvation that came through the spirit who makes you hold and by your belief in the truth. HE called you to salvation when WE told you the good news…’. I think the important thing that WOTM master teaches that is line with the word of God, is that the concept of ‘inviting Jesus into your heart’ is a load of rubbish. Like Christ and the disciples, WOTM encourages repentence from sins, and turning to God and putting ones trust in him. So as far as I am concerned, the WOTM method is not flawed at all, as WOTM encourages also reliance on the holy spirit when you bring the gospel.
July 4th, 2008 21:53 pm
Ryan,
On the one hand, I am leery of methods and formulas in presenting the Gospel, because they can quickly become the end rather than the means. We get so focused on the WOTM, or Romans Road, or any number of other techniques, that we forget be Christ-like, which is prehaps the best Gospel to share.
On the other hand, it would be a pretty sorry carpenter who said, “I’m only going to use a hammer to do my job, because I’m a hammer guy and my dad used a hammer, and his dad before him.” These are all just tools to be used (or not) in sharing Christlikeness.
The most effective tool I’ve ever seen is lifestyle evangelism, which is simply modeling Christ in one’s daily life. That witness, combined with genuine discipleship can have phenomenal effect, and all without thumping someone on the head with the 4 Spiritual Laws.
I’ve recently come out of eight years in a fundamentalist church. Fundies and very conservative evangelicals have no concept of modeling Christlikeness. They have programs by the score and are great at trying to limit uncomfortable behavior, but I think Christ would not recognize them if He were to walk in the front door.
July 4th, 2008 22:50 pm
Even though WOTM are seen to offer a gospel ‘formula’, they are actually giving a gospel ‘framework’. Just like Christ gave us a prayer ‘framework’ with the Lords prayer. WOTM know that its important to present all parts of the gospel when you share your faith, so offer a simple way to do this as human beings are not very clever at grasping simple truths. I dont know of many evangelists who stick strictly to the WOTM ’script’, but I know many of us have simply used what they have brought to light through the gospels, to share our faith. I do not belong to a fundamentalist or strictly conservative church (Mosaic might be said by many to be too far the opposite), but the difference to the way that we preach, is that it is not done in a condemning manner, but in a manner of love, or Christlikeness. I have never been angry at anyone when sharing my faith and I know people appreciate it when I tell them the gospel (using the framework that WOTM teaches). You need to understand Steve, that ‘modeling Christ in ones daily life’ is doing exactly what Christ commanded, ie ‘go out into all the world…’. Christ on a daily basis spoke in parables so that the truth would be hidden from most that were listening, but explained to the disciples later on (lets see you try that one:)’). Christ spoke many times on heaven and hell, sin and repentance, loving ones neighbour, and the depravity of sin. WOTM has never ‘thumped people on the head with the 4 spiritual laws’ (thats campus crusade evangelism). The most amazing thing about Christs time on earth, is that he did not just ‘walk the walk’ but he ‘talked the talk’. So a question for you Steve is, ‘are you both walking and talking Christ’, because if you are only walking Christ (lifestyle evangelism), then your fruit is going to be hardly recognisable, but if you walk AND talk Christ, then you are going to truly bear a crop that is 30, 60 or 100 times that which was planted.
July 5th, 2008 06:07 am
if you are only walking Christ (lifestyle evangelism), then your fruit is going to be hardly recognisable, but if you walk AND talk Christ, then you are going to truly bear a crop that is 30, 60 or 100 times that which was planted.
Ryan:
Augustine said, “Preach the gospel, and if you must, use words.” Evangelicalism today is famous for ‘do as I say, not as I do.’ If Christ is not apparent in your life, your words will be meaningless. The one bit of advice I would give Christians is to get out of the pews and into the streets. Why have we left outreach to the liberal churches who preach a watered-down, barely present gospel? Street-corner preaching is interesting as entertainment, but not very effective in bringing the lost to Christ. Feed the hungy, comfort the afflicted and when they ask why you do it – and they will – say it’s because Christ is alive within you.
I’m not saying we should never preach. We should always stand read to give reason for the hope that lies within, but we get it backwards and throw bibles at people and then wonder why they don’t come to church.
July 21st, 2008 08:43 am
Did Augustine actually say that? I do know that it is attributed to St. Francis of Assissi … but maybe he was quoting Augustine?
I am following this post with interest, because I too, have some problems with the WOTM ‘program’. Good discussion here.
July 21st, 2008 09:20 am
Jonathan:
Good catch – that should have been attributed to Francis of Assisi.
April 30th, 2009 13:42 pm
Steve,
I think you’ve made a hasty judgement call on Ray and Kirk’s approach which sounds like it comes out of your bad experiences of 8 years of being in a church which sounds like it may have been legalistic and lacking in the love department. Sorry to hear about your bad experiences, but using of the law to bring the knowledge of sin is very biblical, though it must be applied with an attitude of love for one’s neighbour. If people are just applying it blindly without interacting with people’s own concerns and issues, then that is not necessarily showing a person true love for them in meeting them where they are at. But that doesn’t mean that using the law to bring the knowledge of sin and therefore need for a savior is “wrong” as you suggest. Questions are also a great way of finding out what is in a person’s heart so that you can address their specific stumbling block(s), and it can come across as much less offensive than just speaking without listening.
Further, the quote from Assisi: “Preach the gospel, and if you must, use words” looks, at least on the surface, like it is directly opposed to what the Apostle Paul said in Rom 10:14: “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” Good works and our behaviour should follow our words, but words are necessary because it is the words that contain the content of the gospel message which must be believed to be effective. Other religious people do good works too… even Atheists do good works, and some that look pretty unselfish. That being the case, speaking and using words to communicate the message is clearly required because good deeds don’t speak about God becoming flesh and dying on a cross for sinners that all who put their trust in Him and repent will be saved.
October 9th, 2009 09:23 am
I am not a fan of WOTM. They are claiming that it is the method used that has caused so many to back slide. This is not true. The Word goes forth, that’s our commission what happeneds after is God’s doing. This is what Scripture says, read the parable of the sower MT13: 3-9. First of all, it is not us who does the saving this is God’s territory. We are to proclaim, lift Jesus up so all men will be drawn unto Him. Christ centered evangelism is necessary for a proper explanation of the gospel. Inviting someone to put their faith in Christ (who is God) and not their works is what will turn them to Him if in fact they are ready. I don’t like WOTM because these guys are making it out to be that their method is the only true method. The EE Evangelism Explosion method is the clearest most accurate view of all of what Scripture is telling us about God-Christ-Man-Sin-Faith. It covers it all. Look at WOTM it has some of EE phrases, because they thought they could come up with a better method, but a famous person’s endorsement or notoriety doesn’t make it a perfect method. WOTM is good for starting arguments, confronting Atheist, but not a good method of Evangelism. However, some may actually come to Christ because God’s Word doesn’t return void. We need to stay Christ centered in our evangelism not law centered and legalistic. In defense of EE! By Far a better method.
October 10th, 2009 11:09 am
Hi Peter,
WOTM and EE aren’t all that much different. WOTM isn’t a defined set of questions, but “law to the proud, grace to the humble.” Jesus used the law repeatedly (Luke 18–rich young ruler, John 4–woman at the well, Matt 5–sermon on the mount, etc.). James Kennedy wrote books and sermons about the Ten Commandments and endorsed Way of the Master.
- The law is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ (Gal. 3:24).
- The law convicts us of our sin (Romans 3:20).
- The law stops us from justifying ourselves (Romans 3:19).
- The law shows us the exceeding sinfulness of our sin (Romans 7:13).
If someone is humble and ready for the gospel, they have no need of the law. However, if someone doesn’t think they’re deserving of hell, the law was made for them.
How often would you say you witness to someone?
Thanks,
Bill
October 10th, 2009 21:21 pm
I go out witnessing at least twice a week and have had many opportunities to lead many to the Lord. My witnessing is very focused on Christ. My worry is that there are many who go out witnessing looking to see how they could debunk those in darkness. If it were not for God’s grace there go I. My belief is not to judge people, but to lead them to the light (Jesus) and let Him do the rest.
Blessings,
Peter
October 10th, 2009 21:28 pm
I don’t agree with all you are saying. WOTM claims their method bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart. How ridiculous! Our mind is what engages any type of words someone is speaking. If it only goes to the heart and never goes through to the mind then we are robots. Yaba daba do! Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. This means all of you. EE has been around for many years and it is well balanced just like systematican D J Kennedy was, a well balanced Scholar. Thank God for men like him who preached and teached all of what Scripture taught. This is why he would speak of the 10 commandments because of his view of all of Scripture, not because he believed this was a good way of witnessing. He knew Christ was the most important part of winning the lost. After all a Savior means a Savior and Christ was the fulfillment of the law. We need a savior to be saved from our sins.
October 11th, 2009 21:23 pm
Peter,
You didn’t respond to any of the verses I cited. Do you disagree with my interpretation? Do you care to provide an alternative exegesis?
Do you think Ray Comfort came up with this all by himself? No. All he did was copy Jesus and the apostles (which I’ve already pointed out), and quote great Christians of the past like Martin Luther, George Whitfield, Charles Spurgeon and many others (I’d be happy to provide you a list of quotes if you like). If you don’t like “law to the proud, grace to the humble” your quarrel is not with Comfort and Cameron, but with Jesus Himself.
Why do they say the law bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart?
Romans 2:15 says the law is written on our hearts. The verses I already quoted show that the law stops the mouth, shutting them up intellectually.
Matt 16:17 says, “Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.’”
Peter wasn’t saved by the intellectual, apologetic arguments, but he came to know who Jesus was because God revealed it to him. The same is true of the rest of us:
John 6:44 says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
The Holy Spirit who will draw us to Christ, doesn’t use arguments about the existence of God or the deity of Jesus.
John 16:8 says, “When he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment…”
We know what brings men to Christ, that is the gospel, and the law helps the gospel make sense. No one will seek the Savior unless they realize they’re in need of saving.
In fact, the cross doesn’t even make sense without the law or some understanding of sin. The cross is a symbol of God’s mercy and it is also a symbol of God’s wrath and justice.
Thanks,
Bill
Bill´s last blog ..Paris Reidhead on humanism in the church.
January 7th, 2010 13:27 pm
Bill,
I agree with you. I took an evangelism course at Liberty University and learned of WOTM as part of an assignment. I believe that they have a good method to introducing people to Jesus Christ and the salvation that He brings. I have learned a lot from that ministry.
I hav a problem when Christians come across as know-it-alls. (Not saying that you are.) But those who have all these superb opinions about who is doing right and who is doing wrong… I say this to you, ” What are YOU doing to reach the world?” If you are sitting at home criticizing everyone your opinion is null/ void. Everyone has something to say about everyone else. It’s such a turn off. If it wasn’t for Jesus and the Holy Spirit being so amazing I would want nothing to do with God. So many Christians are such a horrible example of Jesus that I can see why many don’t want to be Christians and convert. THANK GOODNESS that I can see beyond that and love being a daughter of the Most High.
Some who have made comments on this page might think it’s a healthy discussion. A non-believer reading this will justify not wanting in because of what appears to be bickering and silliness. It doesn’t matter what method is used to introduce someone to God. JUST DO IT! Plant a seed and let God worry about the rest.
When I was 17 I was in a class with a Born-Again “believer” who I asked about his faith and he turned me away like I was a disease. I was Catholic and wanted to know more about God. The following year I was in class with another Born-Again Christian and she pursued me and talked to me about true salvation through Jesus. If my only chance to be save was through the male- I WOULD BE IN HELL!!! Years later I started a ministry and saw this male running a youth group. SHOCKING! For those of you who enjoy the comfort zone of being around “safe” people and not wanting to make mistakes because of backsliding it is a sad excuse! But do me a favor and stop criticizing others who are going out and doing something about the un-saved world. And I say SHUT UP! Enough with the healthy discussions and go out there and do something about a dying world! Don’t be afraid to make a mistake in your “method” of introducing Jesus to people and JUST GO DO IT!!!!!!!
January 8th, 2010 07:54 am
Hi Beth,
I agree that if I was sitting here debating this issue, and never going out and witnessing, that would be the height of hypocrisy. I appreciate your pointing that out.
You said, “What are YOU doing to reach the world?” If you are sitting at home criticizing everyone your opinion is null/ void.” Rest assured that I do go out witnessing every week.
It seems as though you’re exempting yourself from your own advice. You’re sitting at home criticizing someone (I’m not sure if it’s me or not). By your own principle, that makes your opinion null and void.
I’m always amazed when someone says they hate to argue, and blame the other person for arguing with them. It takes two to tango.
Furthermore, I didn’t start this debate. I only responded to the author’s blog post.
The Christian world has been filled with debate. Even Paul “opposed Peter to his face.” The key is that we do it in the proper manner. Some things are worth debating, and some aren’t. Evangelism is one thing that is worth debating.
I agree with you, that we should just go do it, but as we are doing it, our methods should become more and more biblical.
Thanks,
Bill
Bill´s last blog ..Dying to ‘Self’