Witnessing to those of Non Christian Faith

[Particular Baptist]

Dear Brother dirtfarmer, I'd like the opportunity to answer this also with my reasoning.
2 Thessalonians 3:17-18 says, "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (18) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

This is the way Paul signed off in his letters to these different churches, and Hebrews 13:25 closes with "Grace be with you all. Amen."

Hebrews 10:34 says "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds." To me and others, this indicates Paul authored Hebrews.

This is off topic and my only post on the matter from my friend and to-be pastor Chad Wagner. Paul indeed penned the epistle general to the scattered Hebrews. Lastly, see John 18.35-6 or Luke 17 and 20.

 

[dirtfarmer]

Dear Brother dirtfarmer, I'd like the opportunity to answer this also with my reasoning.
2 Thessalonians 3:17-18 says, "The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (18) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."

This is the way Paul signed off in his letters to these different churches, and Hebrews 13:25 closes with "Grace be with you all. Amen."

Hebrews 10:34 says "For ye had compassion of me in my bonds." To me and others, this indicates Paul authored Hebrews.

hello Eugene, dirtfarmer here

Thanks for the reply. That is evidence for Paul. Paul would have had knowledge of the
"Hebrewisms"( if that is a good word; anyway you know what I mean) and would have been probably the best one to prove that Christ was superior to Moses and the law.

 

[dirtfarmer]

This is off topic and my only post on the matter from my friend and to-be pastor Chad Wagner. Paul indeed penned the epistle general to the scattered Hebrews. Lastly, see John 18.35-6 or Luke 17 and 20.

hello Particular Baptist, dirtfarmer here

I watched your friend Chad Wagner and he has some convincing evidence that Paul wrote Hebrews, which would explain 2 Peter 3:15 " And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you"

 

[Christ_empowered]

I think witnessing is important, but not all of us are one man (or woman) evangelizing machines. In my life, there are very few people I could witness to...my life is my witness, especially the change from who I was to who I am and (praying...) who I will become, in Christ.

I will also say that The Good News is often, at best, foolishness to those who are still in and of the world. There have been times when I simply mentioned my (fairly standard) Christian beliefs and received some seriously hostile feedback. With some of my friendly acquaintances, Christianity is OK if its "progressive"...gay-affirming, "tolerant," all that stuff...and not OK if you have more traditional beliefs. So, when I said something along the lines of "well, I'm gay, but I believe I'm called to celibacy because I'm a Christian," I got some bad reactions. Similarly, when I said that I thought women probably shouldn't be ministers, I got some hostility on the other end. This happend within a fairly normal conversation that began in a civil tone and ended rather abruptly.

Another time...a friend was talking about how her fancy, trendy new therapy had taught her that if you're judgmental towards others, you'll be the same way to yourself. So, I said "oh, yeah, judge not lest ye yourselves be judged," and she stopped a second and said "well, its true from a psychological angle, too" and I said "the two aren't mutually exclusive."

See what I mean? Even friendly, seemingly "tolerant" unbelievers have their own worldviews and more traditional forms of Christianity aren't OK with them. Just throwing out a well-known Bible verse makes people uncomfortable and they act like I'm some sort of semi-illiterate simpleton.

 

[turnorburn]

CE you said: "Just throwing out a well-known Bible verse makes people uncomfortable and they act like I'm some sort of semi-illiterate simpleton."

Of course they feel uncomfortable everyone does when they are being convicted of sin..

 

[Christ_empowered]

valid point. I hadn't thought of that...

 

[abide]

Today many Christians do not want to call sin by its rightful name. They have accepted most of the modern theology where no one is to make a judgement on sin. A Christian must judge what is right and wrong which is the act the person commits.
John the Baptist made a judgement call. He told Herod that he was wrong to marry his brother's wife. He was killed as a result of calling sin what it was. When a person becomes uncomfortable with what the bible says, it should cause guilt and then if the person becomes convicted they will repent. A person can never repent if they do no feel that what they are
doing is evil.

The preaching today in many churches is to make individuals comfortable. Tickling the ears of people. The bible cannot be sanitise to suit people. When witnessing we cannot try to tell people that right is wrong.

 

[Wrg1405]

I think when Jesus came he came for those of the faith as such. He came to Israel first and foremost. Israel had a concept of the true God. It was perverted though. The Pharisees and Saducees on one side and the downtrodden as a result on the other side. So they knew the true God.

So when John the Baptist came on the scene and Jesus did they were in a sense not preaching to non believers.

Jesus rebuked the religious and loved the marginalised as a result of the religious.

However Jesus did meet with those who were not Jews.

Jesus meets the woman at the well. He meets the adulteress woman who was meant to be stoned under the law of Moses and sends the conemners away with their tails between their legs and does not condemn the woman. He commends a centurion for his faith.

Jesus witnessed the heart of the Father to every one he met.

To me I think we witness to non Christians/believers like Jesus did.
Love them where they are at, do not comdmen them, take the plank out of our own eye. Remember we were where they are. I don't come in like a bull in a China shop as such. Just listen, love, pray and ask for the opportunity to reveal the Father.

 

[Jesus_Is_His_Name]

I have friends who converted from Islam to Christianity and one is even a Pastor. He would witness to those who are still associated with Islam and those who are truly hungry to hear the Gospel.

 

[abide]

I have friends who converted from Islam to Christianity and one is even a Pastor. He would witness to those who are still associated with Islam and those who are truly hungry to hear the Gospel.

This is wonderful.

 

[Jesus_Is_His_Name]

Thank you Abide.