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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | Deacon Johnson | 199388 | ||
why is it difficult for the average christian to share his or faith with unbelievers. | ||||||
2 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | Jesusman | 199402 | ||
Greetings, It's ironic that someone posted this type of question. Cause I'm going to be giving a lesson on witnessing at a local Bible bookstore on friday. There are many mistakes that the average christian does while witnessing that will unknowingly push away a non-believer. The most common is simply not being able to answer their questions. I have come across alot of unbelievers who present these so called "contraditions", many of which can be explained by simply reading the context of the passage. The first thing every christian should learn to do, is not simply read the Bible, but to read and study in the context of scripture. Context is king. The second mistake often made is using what I call "churchese" language. The unbeliever won't understand "Take Jesus into your heart" or "Sinners will go to hell". Instead, try to filter out this form of speech and use secular terms where possible. The third common mistake is to assume that terms mean the same thing for everyone. Just because a person says they are a christian does not mean they have a saving faith in Christ, but rather they are not buddist, jewish, nor muslim. Going to a christian church no more makes you a christian than walking into a garage makes you a chevy. Finally, the average christian doesn't research biblical history. The Bible makes many bold claims of historical, and scientific importance that have been proven true over and over again. Knowing some of these will help shed doubt on the secular claims that the bible is nothing more than a book of myth. Supporting the idea that the Bible is true historically and scientifically will aid in supporting it spiritually. Jesusman |
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3 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | humbledbyhisgrace | 199409 | ||
Greetings Jman, On your point about "churchese" and secular terms I wanted to add something here. I would like to remind everyone of this. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB) For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Isaiah 55:11 (NASB) So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Romans 10:17 (NASB) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Personally, I have no faith in any secular argument! Witnessing is not about us being able to convince someone. It is not an intellectual understanding that will change the person. There is no secular argument that has the power to save! I was reading an article one time that was teaching the church how to speak to people on the abortion issue. Their approach was similar in that they were saying people may not believe in the bible and may not understand what you are saying. So, they recommended you study the secular arguments in favor of abortion and use their recommended secular arguments against abortion to discuss the issue with people. In other words, take your most powerful weapon and place it on the shelf! At this point it was obvious to me the enemy had already defeated them! If we are to be of any affect in our witnessing, it must be done by the power of God's word and the power of the Holy Spirit! This seems to me to be what we (Christians) must trust in, cling to, and understand if we are to witness affectively. Let's face it, there is already a great lack of understanding on the part of the one who is lost. Steve |
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4 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | Jesusman | 199418 | ||
I think you are misunderstanding what I'm trying to say. I'm not saying that you should put the Bible on the shelf and leave it alone, but rather use Secular terminology. Let me walk you through some examples where churchese language was used. One example is where a christian told a lawyer "You need to be born again". The lawyer replied, "How can I enter my mother's womb a second time when I'm an old man?" Another example is where a christian was speaking to a doctor. "You need to take Jesus into your heart." The Doctor replied, "is this an elective surgery or is it covered by my medical insurance." I'm not making these up, these are actual conversations. We, as christians, are going to be facing people who do NOT understand how on earth we could ... "believe in something so idiotic as an all powerful being. It's like thinking Yoda was a real person." Another quote from someone I witnessed to once. However, when I went through and actually answered his questions about the Bible, many of which were supposed contradictions and concerns about the inerancy of the Bible, and that I used actual things he could research on his own, he came back and we started talking about the Spiritual teachings of the Bible. Now, he's going to church in St. Louis, MO and last I knew, he was teaching a sunday school class at his church. No where did I or will I say that we should put the Bible on the shelf and ignore it. Rather we should support it. The Bible is a book of facts. Many facts are hard to accept. Some, many people believe these facts were added later than we say it was. Our credibility is on the line everytime we begin to witness. We are talking about something that modern science hasn't been able to prove exists. Why do you think we have a manual that has been proven 100 percent true time and time again? It's not only to guide us, but to help give us credibility. I'll close this with another question that was asked to me by someone I was witnessing to. "How can I put my faith in something totally rediculous and unprovable if the documents you support your faith with aren't true?" Having faith is a good thing. Its the most important thing. But it needs help sometimes. Using facts and evidence is not hindering Faith, but helping it along. Jesusman. |
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5 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | DocTrinsograce | 199430 | ||
Hi, Jesusman... On the other side of the spectrum, we don't want the language of the Word to be usurped and redefined by the world. For example, the psychiatric profession now diagnose children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). They define it as "an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures." As students of the Bible, we know that this is not a disorder, it is sin, deeply rooted in the heart of fallen humanity. I always teach that it is best to use the language of Scripture. God does a better job of providing labels than do we! If that takes more explaining, then let's shoulder the burden to explain. Calling the Bible a "manual" is fundamentally problematic. Last year, on the forum, I wrote to someone saying, "I'd advise caution not to fall into the habit of thinking that Scripture is a set of individual statements from which we pick and choose in order to refute those who disagree with us. While we have lots of people who regularly do that on the forum, I'd just like to remind you that the Bible is the revelation of Christ. Treating it as a kind of manual for life renders it into an entirely different book. It leaves people with the mistaken impression that they can pick out what they need and leave the rest. We look at the whole of Scripture to build our doctrine, and we live by every Word of God." In regard to the things said to you while witnessing: Such comments are easily answered by addressing each of these folks' presuppositions. However, people don't want to believe God. You can pile evidence upon evidence, and they still will not believe. "And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" (Luke 16:30-31 ESV) Your credibility is not on the line -- God is working in your life, and that work cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). Their incredulity in the face of all the things "clearly perceived" (Romans 1:20) is fundamentally a moral issue (John 3:19). Meanwhile, the gospel remains hidden from them by the "god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). So remember, "what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5a ESV). Pray for them, speak the truth to them, and God will deal with them as He sees fit. In Him, Doc |
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6 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | stjohn | 199433 | ||
God bless your heart Doc! Brother, you are soo much nicer then me! :-) |
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