Results 1 - 4 of 4
|
|
|||||
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 | 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. |
||||||
2 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | humbledbyhisgrace | 199443 | ||
Greetings Brother, No, I would have to disagree. There is a fundamental fallacy to believe the bible needs our support or that we can or should witness with secular (worldly) arguments. Who are we to prop up God? How can darkness illuminate light? What do we have that could possibly add to the gospel? As a reminder... 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NASB) 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 15:4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, It is profound that Paul points out, "according to the Scriptures"!!! It is Christ that is spoken of. Not Paul's credibility. No sir, he preaches the gospel! He knows the truth and there he stands! What need is there for anything else? And boldly with pride! Romans 1:16-17 (NASB) 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." By faith! Faith that man himself cannot muster on his own. Faith that never has or never will come from worldly arguments or views! Faith that God says comes through hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). It is His truth, the message of Christ which is revealed throughout the old testament and new that one must hear and that we must share with the lost! Here we must stand and never be lead away to believe His word is only valuable once we in our own power have convinced someone of anything. I leave you with this... John 17:14-21 (NASB) 17:14 "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:15 "I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. 17:16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 17:18 "As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 17:19 "For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. 17:20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 17:21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. Steve |
||||||
3 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | Jesusman | 199448 | ||
With out the overwhelming historical, scientific, and archeological evidence to support the Bible's claims, we might as well tell the unbelieving to believe in Santa Claus, Roudolph, and the Easter Bunny. On top of that, I point you to the Great Commission and ask you a similar question that you asked me. Who are we to speak for God? Why does God need our help in revealing himself? Apparently there is something we contribute when witnessing to an unbeliever because we are commanded to "Go" and "Teach". Now, in the sources your mentioned, it is a communication between Christians. But look at Paul's message on Mar's hill. Where does he begin? He begins with using a altar attributed to "An unknown god" as his starting point. He used a secular religious Icon to witness. In every instance of the Bible where a believer is witnessing, the Believer begins and often uses terms and phrases the person being witnessed to will understand. I am not saying we should shelve the Bible, and ignore God. I'm saying that those we witness to will need proof. Turning to history, science, archeology helps provide that proof. Look at many of the experiences in the Bible and what do you see? Proof being given. Pentacost? Everyone of different languages heard the message in their native language. The Jailor? An earthquake that freed the Apostles but they remained. Who are the ones speaking in those instances? Eyewitesses to the events of Jesus's life. They were proof in and of themselves. We don't have that luxury. 2000 years have passed, long enough for such things to be counted as myth. In the secular world, the Bible is little more than myth. What do you suggest that we do? Tell the unbelievers to have faith in what they think is a myth, and give them a book they might think of as no more credible than an edition of Snow White? How about we tell them that Jesus was a real person? That people other than the Biblical Writers told his story? How about we even go so far as point them in the direction where they can look at the proof for themselves? I have never said and will never say that we should take God out of the equasion. I am saying that we reinforce our claims with the proof and evidence that God has provided. We have this evidence. What is the huge sin in using it? Jesusman |
||||||
4 | sharing our faith to unbelievers so hard | 1 Cor 1:18 | azurelaw | 199449 | ||
Oh, dear Jesusman, I must strongly disagree with your statement: " Tell the unbelievers to have faith in what they think is a myth, and give them a book they might think of as no more credible than an edition of Snow White?" A sister of mine in a cell group was just given a bible in the Mainland China when she was young and she read it and believed. This testimony is only the tip of an ice-berg so to see in many places. Shalom Azure |
||||||