Christians: Do you believe in evangelism? (Jesus Christ, ritual, testimony, reject)

[Tzeitel]

of course they don't think Christianity is fun- look at everything they have to give up that the flesh LOVES. The lost man is not a child of God- it is a child of the devil. The lost man does not see Christianity as fun- only as servitude and giving up the lusts of the flesh- they don't see it like Christians do, as us serving God because we love him. The lost only love themselves.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by Tzeitel

I really don't believe that's how Christ will have it- I believe that he will do the asking about "I told you to tell these people about me and you didn't and they didn't have an opportunity to know how to be saved and now they're going to go to hell."

Or, "Where did you show them My love and compassion?"

Authoritarian parents use fear and punishment.

Authoritative parents use love and guidance.

[Scuba Pete]

Yeah, I am not sure how else you could "interpret" I Peter 3:1???

Did you need more?

[keevelish]

Authoritarian parents use fear and punishment

hmm, the bible tells us to "not spare the rod" so, I'd guess that you don't believe in the Bible's way of punishment.. but that's a side issue.

I'd say that the most loving and compassionate thing a person could do is tell someone they need to be saved. I'm sure those people who are dead and going to hell would agree.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by keevelish

hmm, the bible tells us to "not spare the rod" so, I'd guess that you don't believe in the Bible's way of punishment.. but that's a side issue.

I'd say that the most loving and compassionate thing a person could do is tell someone they need to be saved. I'm sure those people who are dead and going to hell would agree.

It also tells us we can sell our children into slavery.

I'm not disagreeing with you about telling someone about salvation. I'm disagreeing with your methods.

[keevelish]

if you're talking about the selling in exodus- those were laws instituted because of the hardness of the hearts of the israelites- just like God allowed certain divorce laws- it does not mean that he condones it. However disciplining a child God's way insures that he grows up understanding authority.
Proverbs 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Notice the word hates.

I do not see a lot of love and compassion when Christians think that lost people will come to them instead of them going to them. That's just cowardi
You are disagreeing about telling someone about salvation. You think that lost people actually desire what you have without the convicting power of God's word. They really DON'T want to change the way they are. They think they're just fine and dandy.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by keevelish

if you're talking about the selling in exodus- those were laws instituted because of the hardness of the hearts of the israelites- just like God allowed certain divorce laws- it does not mean that he condones it. However disciplining a child God's way insures that he grows up understanding authority.
Proverbs 13:24 He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. Notice the word hates.

I do not see a lot of love and compassion when Christians think that lost people will come to them instead of them going to them. That's just cowardi
You are disagreeing about telling someone about salvation. You think that lost people actually desire what you have without the convicting power of God's word. They really DON'T want to change the way they are. They think they're just fine and dandy.

First, Proverbs has some really neat sayings, but last I heard they were not rules that God told us we had to live by. Violence begets violence. My husband's family never raised a hand to their children and we have never raised a hand to ours. I would guess that my sons will never raise a hand to their children. That does not mean we didn't discipline...just that we used nonviolent methods.

No I am not disagreeing about telling someone about salvation. I'm disagreeing with your method which appears to be that if you don't beat them into believing, then they won't believe.

Unless you have more to add, this will be my last post on the subject since we're just going in circles.

[Scuba Pete]

Hmnnn...

Check out

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

This is obviously ONE WAY to evangelize. Don't underestimate the attraction of living a FULL CHRISTIAN LIFE. That's how I was converted!

Not that this takes away from a more active evangelism, but your walk better match yout talk. Too many "evangelists" substitute intensity for love, brow beating for genuine concern and let their pride be their motivation rather than a true love for Jesus. In a perversion of grace, they are trying to "preach their way into heaven" and have turned evangelism into little more than a work of man.

[keevelish]

last I knew, a person only gets saved through conviction of the word of God.. not by beating- this is a totally different concept than disciplining your children. Getting saved has nothing to do with discipline. Asking someone if they are saved is in no way "beating" it into them. It's a simple question, like how are you today? If they say I'm not too well, you say, maybe you need more rest, or take an asprin. etc. or how can I help? If they say they're not saved, you say, well would you like me to show you in the Bible how you can be? If they don't want you to, you say, ok have a nice day. Simple conversation, not that scary.

[keevelish]

I don't have any pride in being saved because I know I am a sinner and I don't deserve it. I want others to receive this gift too, so I offer the means to receive it to them. I don't "brow beat" there is none of that railing that you think people do when we knock doors. And I'm not a hypocrite- I know I sin, and that I slip up- but I recognize that. I don't say that I'm better than someone and preach like that. There's no reason for that. That doesn't mean that I am not to have compassion for souls and have a desire to see people saved. I can't sit back like that and watch people go about their lives without knowing how to be saved. I see that as a total lack of love and compassion. Its almost like ignoring them.