So we're Christians, right? We believe in Christ, and now we know our next job: to spread the word. Spread the word of Christ to all the nonbelievers.
And that's hard.
But it also doesn't work.
I only say this because it is the title of my blog entry. But let me explain how I came to this opinion.
Today after school I was talking to a very good friend of mine who happened to be carrying around a book about Wicca. A christian guy at my school that I know asked her if she was Wiccan. She said no. He asked her if she believed in Heaven and Hell. She said that she believed in Heaven, not so much Hell. He asked her that if she died tomorrow, where would she go, heaven or hell. She said she didn't know.
And here's the thing. She was appalled by his behaviour! I think she saw it as a personal attack on her. I have another good friend that was trying to tell her that she had to pray a special prayer to get into heaven. I think she misunderstood this as well. She thought that we were trying to force weird beliefs on her.
I didn't know what to say. I could've used this as an opportunity to try to witness to her, or see where she stands with the whole religion thing, but after hearing her tell about those two experiences with christians that I know, I had no idea how to approach it.
Now I have questions for you, reader. And by that I mean Patrick. I'm not trying to make a point or looking for a specific answer. I just don't know.
-What's more important about witnessing: that you are preaching the word of God to them whether they accept it or not, or that you are listening to them and trying to make sense out of their beliefs, even if it means not saying everything that you want to drive your own point home?
-Did you think that that was a really long confusing question?
-How would you, readers, talk to my friend in this situation (assuming that all my readers are chistian)?
-Is there a point when you decide to stop driving your point and just decide to let it go?
In my opinion, witnessing is the hardest part of Christianity. The hardest part is when you're so emotionally attached to one of you're friends and they can't understand the very most important part of your life.
Monday, October 1, 2007
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4 comments:
Very difficult questions.
I've found that most people don't like it when other people suggest that they're going to Hell. In people's minds, Hell is the place for "bad people," and nobody wants to think of him or herself as a bad person.
So witnessing is much easier when the witnessee doesn't feel attacked. A lot of Christians think that "Turn or Burn" is a perfectly logical approach, but it doesn't work.
Witnessing is also better for everybody involved if nobodys personal value is at stake. It's important to remember that we are called to love everybody, not just people who think the same way we do. Make sure that others know that you won't think any less of them if they aren't Christian.
As for your last question, that's more difficult.
It's tough to have friends who aren't Christian. It's tough to have friends who haven't experienced the love of Christ, and might not end up in Heaven. That's hard.
But it isn't your fault.
It isn't your responsibility to make sure that everybody goes to Heaven. That's between them and God. All you can do is talk to them about your faith.
Does that make any sense?
I'm going to comment even though my name isn't Patrick.
Let me tell you a story from when I was in high school. I have a friend named Pat, no relation to the other Pat we all know and love. Pat is gay and because of that, a lot of probably well-meaning Christians have done their best to assure him that he has a one-way ticket to hell. Not surprisingly, he found this a bit offensive. But there was one occasion I remember where another friend of mine shared her faith with him and it was not offensive, and the reason was that she didn't try to accuse him of anything. Didn't try to tell him about her opinions on homosexuality or anything else, just wanted to talk about how her relationship with God has affected her life. And though he didn't become a Christian, he was impressed by her lack of judgementalism, and left me with the message that if you want to share your faith, share your faith and not your judgements. That was really long mayhaps, but that is what I think about witnessing.
k
great questions...i think you have to pick your spots and know your audience -- some respond well to the 'do you know where you'll go...' type of evangelism; many don't. i think witness is best done in steps -- live it out, love them as they are. by having genuine relationships with people and showing that you care beyond just trying to get them to confess faith, i think some authenticity is lent both to faith and the conversation that will eventually happen about why you care so much for them...make sense? i've seen lots of christians look at evangelism like a game -- trying to win souls and moving on to the next one. i think Jesus intends us to have relationships with people, to walk with them before and after they jump on the J-train, and to be there thick and thin to help them understand. so the point is that you've got know your friend well enough to know when the time is right to have the conversation, and to do it out of genuine love for them and Christ.
Asking someone holding a book about Wicca if they think they're going to hell is always a great way to start a short conversation.
I recommend finding similarities between the two religions which will make them curious and more interested in what you have to say. Watch out for asking them questions that may make them feel cornered.
Then when they least expect it! Bop them on the head and drag them to church!
But seriously. Make them curious so they search for God and Jesus themselves.
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