How do you witness (share the gospel)?

[Sold Out]

I know a lot of people that actively witness, and what is amazing is that they seem to always have the right approach when presenting the Gospel to someone. I usually use the 3 points of the bad news, 3 points of the good news (gospel), but other times I have used the 10 commandments approach (like Kirk Cameron on Way of the Master). I just wanted to see what you guys are doing to find out more interesting ways to share the Gospel.

[Jefferson]

Kirk Cameron's (actually it's Ray Comfort's; Kirk is just one of Ray's disciples but an awesome one) Way of the Master (http://www.wayofthemaster.com/) approach is the best out there.

It produces genuine conviction of sin, therefore it produces a fruitful Christian life afterwards because Christ said whoever is forgiven much loves much.

Many Christians who have come to the faith via the "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life" method tend to have the attitude of, "What has God done for me lately."

But Ray Comfort's method produces Christians with a thankful, grateful attitude of, "What can I do to glorify God today?"

[Zakath]

Originally posted by Sold Out

I know a lot of people that actively witness, and what is amazing is that they seem to always have the right approach when presenting the Gospel to someone.I bet they wouldn't have "the right approach" with me. :D

[Jefferson]

Originally posted by Zakath

I bet they wouldn't have "the right approach" with me. :D I'll bet they would. It's called not casting your pearls before swine.

[Granite]

In other words, infect somebody else; this one's not buying.:chuckle:

[godrulz]

Using the Law to convict of sin and act as a schoolmaster to bring people to Christ is essential. Charles Finney was a master of this and had fruit that remained (unlike modern evangelism, 'easy believism' with high attrition rates). Repentance and faith lead to transformation. Tacking Jesus on the periphery of one's life leads to still births and selfish 'converts' without transformation.

Jesus did not use '4 spiritual laws' with every person. He told one to be born again. He told another to sell their riches. Another had to cease the sin of adultery. Others were told to get out of the tree, leave their nets, etc. He went after the false god in their lives (varies for each person), smashed it, and them replaced it with the true God, Himself.

Paramount is contrasting the character and attributes of God with the sinfulness and rebellion of man. His holiness will crush pride and opposition leading to receiving the Lord and Savior of mankind, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.

[Rolf Ernst]

Sold Out--How are we to witness to others about Christ? Excellent question. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "When He has come, He will bear witness of me." Jesus testified of the Father, and now the Holy Spirit testifies concerning Christ. His witness to the hearts of men concerns Christ; and the gospel, which Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world to preach, ALSO testifies about Jesus. That is our mission, and when we faithfully declare the truths about Christ, our witness is in line with what the Holy Spirit is also testifying at the same time.

We can be certain that the Holy Spirit is, without fail, faithful. The same faithfulness which enabled Jesus to say, as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "Father, I have glorified thee upon the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."--that very same faithfulness is in the Blessed Holy Spirit. His work, as Jesus said of Himself, is to do the will of the Father and finish His work--the work of testifying about Jesus.

Therefore, Sold Out, we can rest our confidence in the Holy Spirit that IF WE ARE SPEAKING THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS TO SOMEONE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE FAITHFULLY BEARING WITNESS ALSO,
but we can have that confidence only when we are speaking to others the truth concerning Christ. The Holy Spirit is faithful to bear witness concerning Christ AND if we want Him to bless our witness, we MUST ALIGN OUR WITNESS WITH HIS. It would be the ultimate arrogance for us to think that we can draw the Holy Spirit away from His mission to follow us as we take some path that He Himself is not on. Having this frame of heart as we witness has salutary effects--

(1.) We do not become "in your face" personal with them. Their inner hearts and their personal faults are not our business, but the business of the Holy Spirit. We have our own faults to be concerned about; but for right now, we are just two people considering the wonders of Christ together; and they are in no greater need of Christ than are we. As the song says, "I need thee every hour."

(2.) Our mission is nothing more than the joyful declaration of Jesus Christ to others and we are free from the responsibility of "making them" react to our message concerning Christ in a certain way. We DON'T WANT TO GO THERE!! That is when it becomes a personal matter between them and us. As soon as we go beyond declaring to others the truth concerning Christ, we enter into an area of confrontation.

(3.) Focusing ONLY ON CHRIST allows them to focus on Him also. If in any way we engage them "in your face" personal as "person to person" rather than with a spirit of "Here is Christ to you (and to me also)", we distract them from Christ, who is to be the topic, and the exchange between them and us becomes the issue.

(4.) Simply bearing witness to them the truths of Christ keeps the stress of "personal" engagement between us from being a noise in the ears of their heart that drowns out the "still quiet voice" of the Holy Spirit as He does His work of "repoving the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement."

(5.) Staying away from "in your face" with them allows us to cover more ground in speaking to them the things of Christ, AND WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER the words of the Psalmist, "Those who know your name will put their trust in you." The more they know about Christ, the more inclined they will be to truly trust in Him because He is ever faithful and worthy of all confidence.

Therefore, don't come at them with any pressure. Just joyfully testify the truths of Christ to them, and when they "know His name" they will truly put their trust in Him.

[Zakath]

Originally posted by Jefferson

I'll bet they would. It's called not casting your pearls before swine. Well... you're not an oyster, and I'm not a pig. So poor choice of metaphor, Jefferson. :chuckle:

[godrulz]

Originally posted by Rolf Ernst

Sold Out--How are we to witness to others about Christ? Excellent question. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, "When He has come, He will bear witness of me." Jesus testified of the Father, and now the Holy Spirit testifies concerning Christ. His witness to the hearts of men concerns Christ; and the gospel, which Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world to preach, ALSO testifies about Jesus. That is our mission, and when we faithfully declare the truths about Christ, our witness is in line with what the Holy Spirit is also testifying at the same time.

We can be certain that the Holy Spirit is, without fail, faithful. The same faithfulness which enabled Jesus to say, as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, "Father, I have glorified thee upon the earth. I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."--that very same faithfulness is in the Blessed Holy Spirit. His work, as Jesus said of Himself, is to do the will of the Father and finish His work--the work of testifying about Jesus.

Therefore, Sold Out, we can rest our confidence in the Holy Spirit that IF WE ARE SPEAKING THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS TO SOMEONE, THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL BE FAITHFULLY BEARING WITNESS ALSO,
but we can have that confidence only when we are speaking to others the truth concerning Christ. The Holy Spirit is faithful to bear witness concerning Christ AND if we want Him to bless our witness, we MUST ALIGN OUR WITNESS WITH HIS. It would be the ultimate arrogance for us to think that we can draw the Holy Spirit away from His mission to follow us as we take some path that He Himself is not on. Having this frame of heart as we witness has salutary effects--

(1.) We do not become "in your face" personal with them. Their inner hearts and their personal faults are not our business, but the business of the Holy Spirit. We have our own faults to be concerned about; but for right now, we are just two people considering the wonders of Christ together; and they are in no greater need of Christ than are we. As the song says, "I need thee every hour."

(2.) Our mission is nothing more than the joyful declaration of Jesus Christ to others and we are free from the responsibility of "making them" react to our message concerning Christ in a certain way. We DON'T WANT TO GO THERE!! That is when it becomes a personal matter between them and us. As soon as we go beyond declaring to others the truth concerning Christ, we enter into an area of confrontation.

(3.) Focusing ONLY ON CHRIST allows them to focus on Him also. If in any way we engage them "in your face" personal as "person to person" rather than with a spirit of "Here is Christ to you (and to me also)", we distract them from Christ, who is to be the topic, and the exchange between them and us becomes the issue.

(4.) Simply bearing witness to them the truths of Christ keeps the stress of "personal" engagement between us from being a noise in the ears of their heart that drowns out the "still quiet voice" of the Holy Spirit as He does His work of "repoving the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgement."

(5.) Staying away from "in your face" with them allows us to cover more ground in speaking to them the things of Christ, AND WE MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER the words of the Psalmist, "Those who know your name will put their trust in you." The more they know about Christ, the more inclined they will be to truly trust in Him because He is ever faithful and worthy of all confidence.

Therefore, don't come at them with any pressure. Just joyfully testify the truths of Christ to them, and when they "know His name" they will truly put their trust in Him.

The Gospel was preached persuasively. Do you believe all who believe and respond will be saved? Can any man be saved in response to truth, or will only the elect vs non-elect be able to respond (based on the decree and will of God rather than individual response)? Is the atonement unlimited or limited? Is the Gospel for the whole world or only the so-called elect foreknown or decreed from all eternity?

[Sold Out]

Originally posted by godrulz

The Gospel was preached persuasively.

Absolutely. There was no 'relationship evangelism' in the NT church recorded for us in the scriptures. Almost everyone in the early church was martyred for preaching the Gospel, or shall I say, 'getting in their faces' with the truth.

I don't know if any of you listen to Jonah33...they are a Christian rock band. Anyway, there is this song called 'Watching You Die' and it pretty much sums up the lax attitude of Christians these days in regards to witnessing:



Smell the despair in the air tonight
Filling up your lungs as you cry for help
It's like guns in the middle of streets
Pointing at your head, I don't care to speak
Won't you understand my apathy, my insanity

CHORUS:
Watching you die, watching you die
Your blood is on me, I'm
Watching you die, watching you die
Your blood is on me, I'm watching you die

Watch as your life fades away
Your pain is masked by your decay
It's like acid dripping in, I see it burn but don't wipe the skin
It's not my fault once again...but there's blood on my hands

CHORUS

I see the faces in my head
I hear the screams from the walking dead
Do you know about true regret
To know you lived your life for self
To think of all the chances I let go...I let go...I let go

[Granite]

If we're gonna do song lyrics, here's some Metallica as a rejoinder:

You just stood there screaming
Afraid no one was listening to you
They say the empty can rattles the most
The sound of your own voice must soothe you...

:devil:

[Dave Miller]

Originally posted by Sold Out

I know a lot of people that actively witness, and what is amazing is that they seem to always have the right approach when presenting the Gospel to someone. I usually use the 3 points of the bad news, 3 points of the good news (gospel), but other times I have used the 10 commandments approach (like Kirk Cameron on Way of the Master). I just wanted to see what you guys are doing to find out more interesting ways to share the Gospel.

I generally say that God loves everyone, and here is the
proof, in Scripture, He became flesh, dwelt among us,
lived with us, loved us, even the sinners among us,
died for us, and was Resurrected for us
as well.


Dave

[Sold Out]

Originally posted by Dave Miller

I generally say that God loves everyone, and here is the
proof, in Scripture, He became flesh, dwelt among us,
lived with us, loved us, even the sinners among us,
died for us, and was Resurrected for us
as well.


Dave

God does love everyone, and it is God's will that none should perish, but sin separates us from God and the only way a person can be declared not guilty (justified) before God is to accept what Christ did for them at Calvary.

There is no 'all inclusive' salvation that bridges the gaps between the various religions.

[Dave Miller]

Originally posted by Sold Out

God does love everyone, and it is God's will that none should perish, but sin separates us from God and the only way a person can be declared not guilty (justified) before God is to accept what Christ did for them at Calvary.

There is no 'all inclusive' salvation that bridges the gaps between the various religions.

I never said there was. Salvation comes through
recognizing and accepting the Grace of God as offerred
through Christ.

Dave

[Sold Out]

ok...cool

[godrulz]

Relational evangelism/friendship/servant has its place in our culture. Jesus was relational. However, once bridges are built, there must be a clear presentation of the Gospel at some point.

[Lighthouse]

Sold Out-
Dave Miller is not to be trusted. He doesn't know what sin is.

[Nineveh]

Sold Out-
Dave Miller is not to be trusted. He doesn't know what sin is.

I'll second that witness.

[Chileice]

I bet they wouldn't have "the right approach" with me. :D

I think Zakath makes a point (probably tongue in cheek) but a point none-the -less. Witnessing involves our whole being. Some people always seem to have "the right approach" because they don't have a set approach. First we must be ourselves. We have to be comfortable with Jesus. If we aren't we won't introduce him to anyone. I have used many "approaches" but those are always in the context of relationship.

The worst thing we can do is just throw a tract at someone. Such impersonal efforts are seldom successful. If you use a tract, or the evangecube or the Jesus film or whatever, you need to truly listen to the other person, truly hear what they are saying. Often God will give you the right approach by hearing what their needs and concerns are. If they are telling you about how much pain they have from the loss of their mother, you might not want to jump into a Chick tract on hell.

You need to respond as the Holy Spirit gives you direction. And if the door is open to use a certain "approach" ... fine... use it. But if not, don't contrive some situation so that you can use your favorite tool. Often the very best "tool" is a good ear and a good knowledge of Scriptures that can be used in a variety of situations. Acts 8 gives a great exaple of that. Philip shared with the Ethiopian by sharing Christ starting with the Bible passage the man was reading.

Make sure that you are introducing people to Jesus, not trying to go through a canned plan.

[Granite]

The best form of "witness" is just living what you claim to believe.

The best example of a well-rounded Christian witness I've ever really seen is from one of the Mormons I work with. The guy is simply the best professed "Christian" I've met in terms of his witness: his witness at work, at home, his entire life and being.

[godrulz]

The best form of "witness" is just living what you claim to believe.

The best example of a well-rounded Christian witness I've ever really seen is from one of the Mormons I work with. The guy is simply the best professed "Christian" I've met in terms of his witness: his witness at work, at home, his entire life and being.

Many religions have behavioral truth in common with Christianity. Only biblical Christianity has redemptive truth (leads to eternal life). Mormons are polytheistic and are not true Christians. The man can be commended for living his faith outwardly, but it is in vain if the content of his beliefs is false. Many evangelical Christians would also be able to demonstrate genuine Christian consistency AND proclamation of truth that leads to a relationship with the Living God.

[Granite]

Many religions have behavioral truth in common with Christianity. Only biblical Christianity has redemptive truth (leads to eternal life). Mormons are polytheistic and are not true Christians. The man can be commended for living his faith outwardly, but it is in vain if the content of his beliefs is false. Many evangelical Christians would also be able to demonstrate genuine Christian consistency AND proclamation of truth that leads to a relationship with the Living God.

I'm well aware of what mainstream Christianity thinks of Mormonism and that's not the point. The point was the example this guy lives, every single day. And he acts more Christlike than a lot of fundies I've encountered in my time. Just an observation.

[Zakath]

For those of you who are in the "witnessing" end of this discussion, I'd like your impression of the following "method" espoused by Ray Comfort on his show "The Way of the Master"...
Comfort explains that in each episode, "We give a teaching and talk about how the conscience can be pricked by the use of the Commandments. Then we take it to the streets and show how you can talk to an atheist and how you can circumnavigate the intellect and go directly for the conscience." - source (http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/3/182005e.asp)

As one of the atheists he refers to, I think I would find a technique that "circumnavigated" my intellect to be ineffective and overly emotional. What do you think?

[Granite]

I think this approach is all too typical, deceptive, deliberately misleading, and pretty sleazy. That's just my two cents.

[Sold Out]

The best form of "witness" is just living what you claim to believe.

The best example of a well-rounded Christian witness I've ever really seen is from one of the Mormons I work with. The guy is simply the best professed "Christian" I've met in terms of his witness: his witness at work, at home, his entire life and being.

You are absolutely right, and true born again believers give Jesus a black-eye on a daily basis. The Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses are to be commended for the fact that they live what they believe (even though it's wrong) and they actively try to bring others to their religion. I mean honestly, when was the last time someone tried to witness to you?

In my entire life, I've only been witnessed to TWO TIMES. The first time was when I heard the Gospel and was saved, and the second time was in high school at a mall. That should tell you something about Christians these days. Nobody cares that there is a world full of lost people headed for hell.

[Sold Out]

For those of you who are in the "witnessing" end of this discussion, I'd like your impression of the following "method" espoused by Ray Comfort on his show "The Way of the Master"...


As one of the atheists he refers to, I think I would find a technique that "circumnavigated" my intellect to be ineffective and overly emotional. What do you think?

So you've seen the show? awww..... :D Zakath is watching shows on witnessing!

I agree with his approach, but it is not for everyone. There are tons of 'false converts' out there who at some time in their lives 'said a prayer and asked Jesus to come into their hearts' and they had no idea what they were doing.

Case in point - last night at our bible study, my pastor was telling us about a young lady who got saved on Wed night after church. Her boyfriend knew she wasn't saved (no evidence of salvation in her life), even though she had been attending a baptist church for the last 5 mos. So, my pastor gives her his testimony, then asks her if she is 100% sure she is going to heaven. She says, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure..", all the while her boyfriend is behind her shaking his head 'NOOO!'. So then he asks her, "Ok, if you were to stand before the Lord and He asked you why you should be allowed into heaven, what would you say?", and she replied, "Wow, I don't know....", and then a few seconds later she says, "Oh oh oh, I know what I'd say - I'd tell Jesus that I turned over a new leaf." Uh oh....another false convert. Apparently she had 'said a prayer to ask Jesus into her heart' at the baptist church (no offense) and thought she was saved. So my pastor takes her thru the bad news (you're a sinner, can't be good enough, sin is bad enough to send you to hell), then the good news (Gospel), that Jesus died to pay her sin debt so she can be free of guilt and go to heaven. Well, she starts crying and said that no one had ever explained that to her before. She said the nice people at the baptist church told her to say a prayer so she could turn her life around. So she ends up getting truly saved that night.

So I say all that to say this - it is SOOOO important that a person understand they have to repent in order to be saved, otherwise, they have no idea why they need to be saved! I think the Ray Comfort/10 Commandments approach does effectively convict a person of their sin, because most people (when you ask them) will say they are a good person, and the 10 Commandments show us we are NOT good, only God is good (Luke 18:19)

Now about the athiests....I do think it is an effective way to convict of sin. We are all given a conscience (the word conscience means with [con] knowledge [science}), and an athiest cannot say where that comes from and why it speaks to them so powerfully.

[wholearmor]

I'm well aware of what mainstream Christianity thinks of Mormonism and that's not the point. The point was the example this guy lives, every single day. And he acts more Christlike than a lot of fundies I've encountered in my time. Just an observation.

One example. Big deal. If one example means enough to you to use as an example, I know a Mormon family that are absolute slobs. They were evicted from one rental home because the problem was so bad. Now they own their own home and they can get away with it. Their place is an unbelieveable, absolute disaster to any reasonable person.

Their oldest daughter is a big, fat slob and has given one out-of-wedlock baby up for adoption, has an out-of-wedlock child from a different man in her posession currently, and is pregnant with an out-of-wedlock child from a third loser as we speak.

Their son has been in prison in Wyoming for I don't know how long, and their 2 yournger daughters appear to be following in their older sister's footsteps.

Of all the professing Christian families I know, not one comes close to being as disgusting as this Mormon family.

[Agape4Robin]

As one of the atheists he refers to, I think I would find a technique that "circumnavigated" my intellect to be ineffective and overly emotional. What do you think?[/QUOTE]

:confused: Not sure I understand your question, Zak.....please clarify. :sozo: :dizzy:

[godrulz]

Any Mormons in my workplace are now ex-Mormons due to drugs, fornicating, etc.

Utah is at least 70% Mormon. It also leads the nation in many bad stats. Their public image is glossy, but does not match up to the reality. They are no better or no worse than any other person or 'Christian'.

[Jefferson]

As one of the atheists he refers to, I think I would find a technique that "circumnavigated" my intellect to be ineffective and overly emotional. What do you think?I think it's biblical. Paul said in I Corinthians 2:2, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

[wholearmor]

Any Mormons in my workplace are now ex-Mormons due to drugs, fornicating, etc.

Utah is at least 70% Mormon. It also leads the nation in many bad stats. Their public image is glossy, but does not match up to the reality. They are no better or no worse than any other person or 'Christian'.

I was in line waiting to get into a restaurant in Salt Lake City several years ago when a woman came in and told a hostess that she had left her pocketbook in the booth she had been sitting in. This woman was obviously very nervous, anxious, afraid, and practically wringing her hands. She appeared to be almost at her wit's end. When the hostess looked behind the counter, she asked the woman to describe it. When the woman described it accurately, the hostess handed it to her.

What the woman said next floored me. She uttered, "Only in Utah." :liberals:

[Mr. 5020]

I was in line waiting to get into a restaurant in Salt Lake City several years ago when a woman came in and told a hostess that she had left her pocketbook in the booth she had been sitting in. This woman was obviously very nervous, anxious, afraid, and practically wringing her hands. She appeared to be almost at her wit's end. When the hostess looked behind the counter, she asked the woman to describe it. When the woman described it accurately, the hostess handed it to her.

What the woman said next floored me. She uttered, "Only in Utah." :liberals::confused:

[wholearmor]

When her pocketbook was located and given back to her, she said, "Only in Utah," like everyone in Utah is so honest and of course someone would turn it in and not steal it. Just 30 seconds before she was scared to death she'd never see it again. What a hypocrite.

[julie21]

Sold Out: Nobody cares that there is a world full of lost people headed for hell.
I think that's such a huge statement that is erroneous in it's use of the word ;nobody'. You only have to look at posts on TOL in various threads to see the mistake of using that word.
I am sure that there are 'PLENTY' who care about the world full of lost people...count me for one!

[Frank Ernest]

Matthew 13:1-23.

[Zakath]

So you've seen the show? awww..... :D Zakath is watching shows on witnessing!Sorry to disappoint, but I merely read an article. Don't do much TV these days... :)

I agree with his approach, but it is not for everyone. There are tons of 'false converts' out there who at some time in their lives 'said a prayer and asked Jesus to come into their hearts' and they had no idea what they were doing.So you're saying that there's some sort of knowledge and [/i]experience[/i] required to "believe in Jesus"? Sounds like your leaning towards Gnosticism, there. ;)

Case in point - last night at our bible study, my pastor was telling us about a young lady who got saved on Wed night after church. Her boyfriend knew she wasn't saved (no evidence of salvation in her life), even though she had been attending a baptist church for the last 5 mos. So, my pastor gives her his testimony, then asks her if she is 100% sure she is going to heaven. She says, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure..", all the while her boyfriend is behind her shaking his head 'NOOO!'. So then he asks her, "Ok, if you were to stand before the Lord and He asked you why you should be allowed into heaven, what would you say?", and she replied, "Wow, I don't know....", and then a few seconds later she says, "Oh oh oh, I know what I'd say - I'd tell Jesus that I turned over a new leaf." Uh oh....another false convert. Apparently she had 'said a prayer to ask Jesus into her heart' at the baptist church (no offense) and thought she was saved. So my pastor takes her thru the bad news (you're a sinner, can't be good enough, sin is bad enough to send you to hell), then the good news (Gospel), that Jesus died to pay her sin debt so she can be free of guilt and go to heaven. Well, she starts crying and said that no one had ever explained that to her before. She said the nice people at the baptist church told her to say a prayer so she could turn her life around. So she ends up getting truly saved that night.I recognize D. James Kennedy's Evangelism Explosion methodology there... used it myself for years.

Apparently the young woman hadn't been properly coached to regurgitate the "correct" answers. To demonstrate her "assurance"...

So I say all that to say this - it is SOOOO important that a person understand they have to repent in order to be saved, otherwise, they have no idea why they need to be saved! I think the Ray Comfort/10 Commandments approach does effectively convict a person of their sin, because most people (when you ask them) will say they are a good person, and the 10 Commandments show us we are NOT good, only God is good (Luke 18:19)OK, if you believe that...

Now about the athiests....I do think it is an effective way to convict of sin. We are all given a conscience (the word conscience means with [con] knowledge [science}), and an athiest cannot say where that comes from and why it speaks to them so powerfully.Since you are not, so far as I know, an atheist, what experience do you draw on to speak for what "speaks to them so powerfully"?

Have you ever "shared the gospel" and "the Law" with an atheist and watched them convert?

I've certainly never seen such a thing and I preached for over ten years...

[Zakath]

"As one of the atheists he refers to, I think I would find a technique that "circumnavigated" my intellect to be ineffective and overly emotional. What do you think?" - Zakath

:confused: Not sure I understand your question, Zak.....please clarify. :sozo: :dizzy:It sounds like merely making an emotional appeal rather than a balanced one. Personally, I would find such an experience somewhere between mildly distasteful to outright repugnant.

I've never actually heard or seen Ray Comfort's program in action, I'm merely responding to what was written about it.

[Zakath]

I think it's biblical. Paul said in I Corinthians 2:2, "For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."
If you read the citation you'll see that Comfort's method is not described as following what you listed above.

Additionally, my comment wasn't directed at content so much as delivery method.

[God_Is_Truth]

It sounds like merely making an emotional appeal rather than a balanced one. Personally, I would find such an experience somewhere between mildly distasteful to outright repugnant.

I've never actually heard or seen Ray Comfort's program in action, I'm merely responding to what was written about it.

from what i've seen it's not really an emotional thing at all, nor is it strictly intellectual. he uses the law to show those people who think they are "pretty good" to show them that they don't keep the law at all and are not "pretty good" in the least. thus, he gets around the "intellectual" lie that people think they are "pretty good" and goes straight to their heart (lust, pride, coveting, hate etc.) to show them they are not.

to say he is avoiding the intellectual of a person is misleading i think. he gets the person to actually see how "not good" they really are, so he's actually using the intellect to do this. he's not just saying "you are bad", but he gets them to think about and see exactly where they have failed to keep the law. this requires intellect.

[Lighthouse]

I'm well aware of what mainstream Christianity thinks of Mormonism and that's not the point. The point was the example this guy lives, every single day. And he acts more Christlike than a lot of fundies I've encountered in my time. Just an observation.
None of us believe that you have any clue what "Christlike" means.

[godrulz]

None of us believe that you have any clue what "Christlike" means.

I suggested he confuses behavioral truth with redemptive truth, and religion with relationship/reality. Good works in the flesh are not the same as righteousness from Christ.

[Lighthouse]

So you've seen the show? awww..... :D Zakath is watching shows on witnessing!

I agree with his approach, but it is not for everyone. There are tons of 'false converts' out there who at some time in their lives 'said a prayer and asked Jesus to come into their hearts' and they had no idea what they were doing.

Case in point - last night at our bible study, my pastor was telling us about a young lady who got saved on Wed night after church. Her boyfriend knew she wasn't saved (no evidence of salvation in her life), even though she had been attending a baptist church for the last 5 mos. So, my pastor gives her his testimony, then asks her if she is 100% sure she is going to heaven. She says, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure..", all the while her boyfriend is behind her shaking his head 'NOOO!'. So then he asks her, "Ok, if you were to stand before the Lord and He asked you why you should be allowed into heaven, what would you say?", and she replied, "Wow, I don't know....", and then a few seconds later she says, "Oh oh oh, I know what I'd say - I'd tell Jesus that I turned over a new leaf." Uh oh....another false convert. Apparently she had 'said a prayer to ask Jesus into her heart' at the baptist church (no offense) and thought she was saved. So my pastor takes her thru the bad news (you're a sinner, can't be good enough, sin is bad enough to send you to hell), then the good news (Gospel), that Jesus died to pay her sin debt so she can be free of guilt and go to heaven. Well, she starts crying and said that no one had ever explained that to her before. She said the nice people at the baptist church told her to say a prayer so she could turn her life around. So she ends up getting truly saved that night.

So I say all that to say this - it is SOOOO important that a person understand they have to repent in order to be saved, otherwise, they have no idea why they need to be saved! I think the Ray Comfort/10 Commandments approach does effectively convict a person of their sin, because most people (when you ask them) will say they are a good person, and the 10 Commandments show us we are NOT good, only God is good (Luke 18:19)

Now about the athiests....I do think it is an effective way to convict of sin. We are all given a conscience (the word conscience means with [con] knowledge [science}), and an athiest cannot say where that comes from and why it speaks to them so powerfully.
We must repent? Where is that in the Bible?

[godrulz]

We must repent? Where is that in the Bible?

OT, Gospels, Acts, letters...


Acts 20:21 (even past Mid-Acts if you insist)

"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."

I once wrote a term paper on repentance in the Bible. As you walk through the numerous verses using the word and its derivatives from Genesis to Revelation, you will see that repentant faith (or repentance and faith...like 2 wings of a bird or 2 sides of a coin) is in the Bible, and a condition of salvation.

"Unless you repent, you too will perish." principle taught by Jesus in Luke

[Lighthouse]

Wait, wait... hold on. "...turn to God in repentance..?" That is what I've been saying. You don't repent from sin, you repent to God!

[Sold Out]

We must repent? Where is that in the Bible?

Mark 1:15, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

Matt 9:13, "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 24:47, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

II Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

The word REPENT is used 66 times in the NT. It means 'after mind' or to 'change one's mind'. Change your mind about what? Who you are (sinner in need of a Savior) and who Christ is (THE Savior; God in flesh). In order to be saved, you have to recognize who you are and who Christ is (repentance).

Now that's one thing I do disagree with Ray Comfort on. If you've seen his show, he defines the word 'repent' to mean 'turn away from sin'. If you examine the word in the original Greek, it does not mean this. What he tells people is that they have to 'turn from their sin once for all' before they trust Christ. I sent him an email about this and he ADMITTED he was wrong, but tried to say that the way he defines it helps his way of witnessing. I thought it was very dishonest of him, but I guess God can use dishonest sinners to further his kingdom.

[Granite]

One example. Big deal. If one example means enough to you to use as an example, I know a Mormon family that are absolute slobs. They were evicted from one rental home because the problem was so bad. Now they own their own home and they can get away with it. Their place is an unbelieveable, absolute disaster to any reasonable person.

Their oldest daughter is a big, fat slob and has given one out-of-wedlock baby up for adoption, has an out-of-wedlock child from a different man in her posession currently, and is pregnant with an out-of-wedlock child from a third loser as we speak.

Their son has been in prison in Wyoming for I don't know how long, and their 2 yournger daughters appear to be following in their older sister's footsteps.

Of all the professing Christian families I know, not one comes close to being as disgusting as this Mormon family.

Two words, my man: big whoop.

If you people can't appreciate anecdotal information, it's not my problem. Do you want to start trading information on the mainstream fundies I know who've been involved with drug dealing, affairs, tax evasion, and assault and battery? Let's not go there.

[On Fire]

Talk about interesting statistics....look who's at the top of the posting list for a thread about sharing the gospel. Why don't :zakath: and :granite: start their own threads like "when the going gets tough, the pansies head for the hills" or "I looked in the mirror and Christ wasn't looking back"?

Who Posted?
godrulz 7
Sold Out 7
Zakath 6
granite1010 6
lighthouse 4
Jefferson 3
wholearmor 3
Dave Miller 2
Nineveh 1
Agape4Robin 1
Mr. 5020 1
Frank Ernest 1
God_Is_Truth 1
Chileice 1
Rolf Ernst 1
julie21 1

[Zakath]

Talk about interesting statistics....look who's at the top of the posting list for a thread about sharing the gospel...

Jealousy will get you nowhere, OF. :D

Since people like us are the primary consumers of the product you refer to as "sharing the gospel", we're likely candidates to post here, don't you think? :think:

[Turbo]

Jealousy will get you nowhere, OF. :D

Since people like us are the primary consumers of the product you refer to as "sharing the gospel", we're likely candidates to post here, don't you think? :think:
Considering the forum in which Sold Out chose to place her thread, I'd say, "I don't think so, Zakath."

[godrulz]

Talk about interesting statistics....look who's at the top of the posting list for a thread about sharing the gospel. Why don't :zakath: and :granite: start their own threads like "when the going gets tough, the pansies head for the hills" or "I looked in the mirror and Christ wasn't looking back"?

Who Posted?
godrulz 7
Sold Out 7
Zakath 6
granite1010 6
lighthouse 4
Jefferson 3
wholearmor 3
Dave Miller 2
Nineveh 1
Agape4Robin 1
Mr. 5020 1
Frank Ernest 1
God_Is_Truth 1
Chileice 1
Rolf Ernst 1
julie21 1

Are you referring to our resident atheists? I am missing your point.

[Turbo]

Yeah, he's talking about Zakath and granite1010. (Note the smileys.)

[Zakath]

Considering the forum in which Sold Out chose to place her thread, I'd say, "I don't think so, Zakath."
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.

BTW, I like your "Al" avatar. ;)

[Crow]

Back to the original question, how do you share the gospel, I share it with those interested enough to pursue a dialogue about it. I don't beat the uninterested over the head with it. (to the best of my ability) I don't feel that browbeating the uninterested is productive, and in fact I consider it counterproductive--it makes them that much more resistive.

I make myself available.

[On Fire]

Since people like us are the primary consumers of the product you refer to as "sharing the gospel", we're likely candidates to post here, don't you think? :think:

The thread title is "How do you witness (share the gospel)?"

In case you haven't noticed, you are a witness for Satan now. So how do you share Satan's gospel?

[Zakath]

The thread title is "How do you witness (share the gospel)?"Thank you for informing us of the obvious, Smolder. :D

In case you haven't noticed, you are a witness for Satan now. So how do you share Satan's gospel?:kookoo:
In case you haven't run across it yet, in my more than 12,000 posts here, I do not believe in the existence of any supernatural beings - gods, angels, demons, fairies, ghouls, ghosties, or anything else that might go bump in the night.

So far as I am concerned I'm sharing the good news of the possibility of freedom from the bondage of religion, for those who want it...

Sounds like you've been a slave for so long that you have difficulty comprehending such a thing as freedom could even exist... :think:

[Granite]

Talk about interesting statistics....look who's at the top of the posting list for a thread about sharing the gospel. Why don't :zakath: and :granite: start their own threads like "when the going gets tough, the pansies head for the hills" or "I looked in the mirror and Christ wasn't looking back"?

Who Posted?
godrulz 7
Sold Out 7
Zakath 6
granite1010 6
lighthouse 4
Jefferson 3
wholearmor 3
Dave Miller 2
Nineveh 1
Agape4Robin 1
Mr. 5020 1
Frank Ernest 1
God_Is_Truth 1
Chileice 1
Rolf Ernst 1
julie21 1

:yawn:

So much for the ceasefire...

[beanieboy]

The best form of "witness" is just living what you claim to believe.

The best example of a well-rounded Christian witness I've ever really seen is from one of the Mormons I work with. The guy is simply the best professed "Christian" I've met in terms of his witness: his witness at work, at home, his entire life and being.

As a person who was raised Christian, and gone more toward Buddhism, I can say that this is what I look for.

If one claims the joy of Christ, but uses fear tactics (if you die tonight, you will burn in hell!), they present Christian God as a bully. If one bemoans how awful the world is, and not able to see any of the good, they present being a Christian as being fearful and a pessimist. If they give you a checklist (Accept Jesus? Check. Baptized? Check. Believe/Not Believe in the deity of Mary? Check. ...) you make the process sound complicated. Claim that everyone should leave their sin to follow Christ, and you are suggesting that we change ourselves and not God. Get in people's faces, and you present God as being rude, arrogant, and harassing.

There is a fable about a contest to get a man to remove his coat. The wind blows, but the more he does, the harder the man wraps it aorund himself. The sun, however, calmly shines, and the man grows hot, and removes his jacket.

One was trying to do so against the man's will. The other got the man to do it on his own.

So often, christians take the role of the Holy Spirit, or Christ himself, in trying to save people.

People are vessels, not the contents of the vessel, nor should ever try to take on that role.

But as for me, I watch people. Those who go to church, yet have a lot of strife, anger and grief in their life are clearly blind guides. Those who show love, kindness, generosity, and have a balanced joy in their lives attract others. Those who do not repel others.

Jesus attracted a lot of people, according to the bible. But it had very little to do with getting in people's faces and forcing them to believe. When he did get in people's faces, (like the Pharisees), while justified, didn't change their minds.

[Sold Out]

[QUOTE=beanieboy]
But as for me, I watch people. Those who go to church, yet have a lot of strife, anger and grief in their life are clearly blind guides. Those who show love, kindness, generosity, and have a balanced joy in their lives attract others. Those who do not repel others.
QUOTE]

Boy, I hope I'm in the last group! Thanks for that beanieboy - wake up call.

[beanieboy]

There are a lot of Christians who are. There are many people that turn the other cheek, for example. I see that. There are people that spend a lot of time at food shelves, or teaching people to read, and do it secretly, as one should. But they have a very different energy. You just feeled compelled not only to be around them, but also to emulate them, the same way a child wants to emulate a parent that he respects, more than a parent that is simply authoritarian.

[The Berean]

Have I missed something here? I thought only "believers" can post in this forum? Just curious why Zakath and Granite1010 are posting here?

Therefore...
The new standard for the "Exclusively Christian Theology" is to allow anyone to post here who considers themselves to be Christian and considers the Bible to be inspired by God.

Yes that creates a much bigger tent, but that's a good thing for healthy debate!

So... if you consider yourself a Christian and you consider the Bible to be the inspired word of God then you are welcome to post in the "Exclusively Christian Theology" forum.


Anyway, back to the original question. I'll give an example of “sharing the Gospel”. I worked for an aerospace company for almost five years. I met this fellow engineer named “V”. She was a funny, bright, and an interesting person. We hit it off right away. We sat next to each other for almost five years. I became a Christian about the same time she started working at our company (I started a month before she did). One time I was speaking in the manufacturing assembly array near her workstation with another co-worker (a fellow Christian). I notice that she became very quiet when the subject of “religion” came up in our conversation. I sensed the topic made her feel uncomfortable. I wanted to share the Gospel with her but I prayed about it for first. I sensed God telling me to NOT to share the Gospel with her! HE “told” me to just be her friend. A time will come when she will want to hear the Gospel. So I completely forgot about sharing the gospel. So we became really good friends. She’d invite me over to her house whenever she had parties. I met her husband, a very nice guy. After a few years from time to time she would share little private things about her life. She eventually started asking me about my faith. So I casually shared what I believe it. I didn’t push it any further than that. She went on travel on time and I gave a Bible and she took. She really liked. She shared with me that she does read the Bible from time to time but doesn’t necessarily believe everything it says. “But hey it’s start!” I thought to myself. I would pray for her from time to time. She got divorced a few years ago and she went through a lot of pain. I prayed for constantly. She even asked my pray for her one time. Another time she shares that she “wanted “ believe but that she needs to know that God is “real” and not just have faith in some amorphous concept. SO I shared a bit more of the Gospel On Jan 11, 2003 I was laid off from my job. When she found out she came into my cube and just looked at me. My happened next she completely blew me away. She started crying. I had never in over four years seen her cry before. She was just standing there sobbing in my cube. Then I started crying too. For a long time I asked myself why she cried. She has a reputation of being a harda$$ at work. Then I realized that God somehow has touched her life though me without her really know it.

So sharing the gospel is not really about make a “good” argument. You can’t argue some one into accepting Jesus Christ. It’s about “talkin’ the talk and walkin’ the walk” as a Christian. My friend told me once that she really admired my faith because I just didn’t talk the talk but I lived my life by the words I believed . She is still not a Christian but her ex-husband is. He came to Christ late last year,,,

So this is my $.02 about “Sharing the Gospel”.

[beanieboy]

Have I missed something here? I thought only "believers" can post in this forum? Just curious why Zakath and Granite1010 are posting here?

.

Doh!
Sorry. I didn't even see that.
I was just giving you an outsider's view, because I thought it would be helpful.

[The Berean]

Doh!
Sorry. I didn't even see that.
I was just giving you an outsider's view, because I thought it would be helpful.
No problem... ;)

[Sold Out]

She is still not a Christian but her ex-husband is. He came to Christ late last year,,,
So this is my $.02 about “Sharing the Gospel”.

Good story Berean - Anybody else have any?

Here's one - I had a college kid knock on my door about a year ago. He was selling magazines (I'm sure you know what I'm talking aboutt). I normally just blow these guys off, but something told me to just listen to his sales pitch. I shewed my kids away, and ended up buying a magazine I didn't need. After the transaction was done, I said to him, "Now that I've given you some of my time, may I have a few minutes of yours?" and he said, "Sure." So I stepped outside and shut the door, and I said, "XXX, if you were to die tonight, are you 100% sure you would go to heaven?" and he said, "No ma'am, I'm not." While he was doing his sales pitch, I had asked him questions about himself, like where he went to college, church etc, so I had gotten some info from him. Anyway, I went thru the gospel with him, and he said he had never had anyone explain it to him before. Then I asked him, "Now that I've shared this with you, would you like to ask Jesus to save you?", and he said, "Yes ma'am, I would." (by this time he's making me feel real old by calling me ma'am!) So I led him in prayer and he got saved right there on my doorstep. It was amazing. I don't think he blinked an eye the whole time I was giving him the gospel. The Holy Spirit was working so powerfully that it was so visible in his face. I knew I'd probably never see him again, so I just told him to find a good bible-believing church and read his bible every day. He promised he would. But I know when I get to heaven someday, my spiritual child-in-the-Lord will thank me for taking the time to settle eternity with him that night on my doorstep.

[Lighthouse]

Mark 1:15, "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

Matt 9:13, "But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Luke 24:47, "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."

II Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

The word REPENT is used 66 times in the NT. It means 'after mind' or to 'change one's mind'. Change your mind about what? Who you are (sinner in need of a Savior) and who Christ is (THE Savior; God in flesh). In order to be saved, you have to recognize who you are and who Christ is (repentance).

Now that's one thing I do disagree with Ray Comfort on. If you've seen his show, he defines the word 'repent' to mean 'turn away from sin'. If you examine the word in the original Greek, it does not mean this. What he tells people is that they have to 'turn from their sin once for all' before they trust Christ. I sent him an email about this and he ADMITTED he was wrong, but tried to say that the way he defines it helps his way of witnessing. I thought it was very dishonest of him, but I guess God can use dishonest sinners to further his kingdom.
Who changedyour mind? You, or God? God changed my mind, not me. Turning to God, because we can't turn from our sin is the only repentance that will work. And it is the only thing that leads to salvation.

[Lighthouse]

So far as I am concerned I'm sharing the good news of the possibility of freedom from the bondage of religion, for those who want it...
I preach freedom from religion, too. What's your point?

[SOTK]

I know a lot of people that actively witness, and what is amazing is that they seem to always have the right approach when presenting the Gospel to someone. I usually use the 3 points of the bad news, 3 points of the good news (gospel), but other times I have used the 10 commandments approach (like Kirk Cameron on Way of the Master). I just wanted to see what you guys are doing to find out more interesting ways to share the Gospel.

I witness a lot! :bannana: My job is always great for that. God places me in positions quite a bit to witness. I don't have an approach or system to witnessing. I can see how that may work for some, but it doesn't for me. I actively pray while the witnessing opportunity is going on and custom tailor how I witness for each individual.

[Zakath]

Have I missed something here? I thought only "believers" can post in this forum? Just curious why Zakath and Granite1010 are posting here?Yes, you appear to have missed something.

Perhaps Knight's post on the subject (http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=435816&postcount=1) will explain what's happening.

:thumb:

[SOTK]

Furthermore...
We are also willing to let any other unbeliever or follower of another religion post here if they are honestly seeking an answer to a question or have constructive input to the discussion. In other words... if an atheist has a question about God and he asks it in an honest, upfront way we will gladly deal with that question without booting him out of the forum.

So, you are honestly seeking an answer to a question or have constructive input to the discussion, huh? Yeah, that'll be the day! :rolleyes: You and granite are two of the more dishonest people I know at TOL when it comes to "honestly seeking a question".

Also, Turbo, it seems to me, already gave you the hint in post #49 to leave. You obviously missed that in your excitement to get "a question answered" and to "contribute" your wonderful intellect and opinions to the thread.

[On Fire]

Have I missed something here? I thought only "believers" can post in this forum? Just curious why Zakath and Granite1010 are posting here?

As the clown has pointed out, this forum is not restricted to only Christians. As evidenced by :zakath: and :granite:'s posts, atheists like to come here and be disruptive.

[Turbo]

Yes, you appear to have missed something.

Perhaps Knight's post on the subject (http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=435816&postcount=1) will explain what's happening.

:thumb:
You might want to read that post again yourself, Zakath. SOTK is right. Please do not post on this thread again. (That goes for you too, granite1010.) And before you protest, remember:
And unlike morality the above rules and guidelines are very SUBJECTIVE so we ask that you honor our moderators requests if your input is out of line for this particular forum.

[Granite]

You might want to read that post again yourself, Zakath. SOTK is right. Please do not post on this thread again. (That goes for you too, granite1010.) And before you protest, remember:

All right, my bad. Later!

[The Berean]

Yes, you appear to have missed something.

Perhaps Knight's post on the subject (http://www.theologyonline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=435816&postcount=1) will explain what's happening.

:thumb:

Hmmm....

Furthermore...
We are also willing to let any other unbeliever or follower of another religion post here if they are honestly seeking an answer to a question or have constructive input to the discussion. In other words... if an atheist has a question about God and he asks it in an honest, upfront way we will gladly deal with that question without booting him out of the forum.

Hmmm...Zakath are you honestly seeking answers? Given you many post and your tone in your posts, I highly doubt that... :rolleyes:

[beanieboy]

Can I get some Christian opinions on Jack Chick Tracts?

[The Berean]

Can I get some Christian opinions on Jack Chick Tracts?

I think either:

1) He is crazy :kookoo:

2) He doesn't exist

I far as I know there is only one known "photo" of Jack Chick. If you go to his place of business you won't be able to see him. Several reporters have tried. Has anyone here at TOL ever actually seen Jack Chick in person? As for his tracts, I have no use for them...

[SOTK]

. As evidenced by :zakath: and :granite:'s posts, atheists like to come here and be disruptive.

Yep! That's all they do! :down: I have more respect for Gerald than I do those guys!

[Frank Ernest]

Back to the original question, how do you share the gospel, I share it with those interested enough to pursue a dialogue about it. I don't beat the uninterested over the head with it. (to the best of my ability) I don't feel that browbeating the uninterested is productive, and in fact I consider it counterproductive--it makes them that much more resistive.

I make myself available.

Yeah! I'll go with that.

[Frank Ernest]

I don't know who Jack Chick is. Please don't tell me!

Since this is Fellowship Week, let me take this opportunity to Praise the Lord. He is risen and we with Him.

[Berean Todd]

On the subject of the OP, there are many good methods of Gospel presentation, of late I have been using the "Share Jesus Without Fear" outline, which is really very, very good, and effective for starting up the conversations as well. I highly recomend it.

Can I get some Christian opinions on Jack Chick Tracts?

I have no problem with tracts in general, and in fact use them at times, but Jack Chick is a fool who is in a great many cases very counterproductive. I know that he drives many people AWAY from Christ, he did with me for many years. He either produces vast materials without ever bothering to really look into the subject matter at hand (totally inexcuseable) and thus inadvertantly promoting blatant false-hoods and misrepresentations, or else he prints that trash on purpose and is even more culpable for the trash produced.