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Hi Emmalea :)
I can relate to what you're saying. I had a pretty hard time at first, telling my friends at work or even some of my regular day-to-day friends, but now I feel it as a duty - especially when asked upon my religion and my belief - because God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit has touched me deeply and repeatedly.. I take the words from a man who once walked this earth and spread them like He did because, it is all good.. No harm can come from the Lord and when I express my feelings towards Christ I feel people listening. Maybe because I talk alot and I'm pretty good with words (..I speak very figuratively) but nonetheless the words that spring from my mouth springs from goodness and everybody has the right and almost everybody needs to hear words of goodness and kindness in this world.. and yes, I too feel privileged to share the love of Christ.
Take care Emmalea.. Hope you'll get your courage :)
Thomas / Denmark
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Posted 12/04/2006 12:05pm
Author: hotdogger
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You definitely should not be ashamed of sharing your faith. How else are people going to know about the amazing relationship we can have with Christ?
-Elizabeth :)
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Posted 12/04/2006 02:54pm
Author: elizabeth
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Many of us when we become Christians want everyone to know. How we do that may bring some to Christ or it may push them away. For many reasons, people will shun away from Christ, although you may not understand it. You've got to remember, you came to know Him by His grace, through faith.
Let me share some things with you that may help you to understand (please, please, read past the points, however, the points are also very important):
1. Who comes to God?
"As it is written:
' There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.'" (Romans 3:10-11 NKJV)
2. Why don't people come to God?
a. The devil blinds them: 2 Cor 4:3-4
b. They are not chosen: John 10:25-26
c. Sinful nature and shame: *!* John 3:19-20 *!*
d. Pride which leads to ignorance and bitterness: Ephesians 4:18
e. They don't understand it: 1:Cor 2:14
f. God designed it that way: 1 Cor 1:18-31
3. So then, how does one come to God?
a. God draws them through Christ: John 6:44; 1 Cor 1:9; 1 Cor 1:30; Acts 1:24;
Acts 2:38-39; Acts 2:47
b. With love: Jeremiah 31:3
c. By God's grace, through faith: Ephesians 2:8-9
4. So, who gets chosen?
They are predestined by God: Rom 8:30
I shared the above with you for one main reason. When you try to bring someone to Christ and you fail, don't think you did anything wrong.
However, all that having been said, you might push one away trying to evengelize them, or "proselytizing," as my older brother whom I love, yet won't give me one minute to talk to him about Christ, called it when I tried to share about Christ,
At one of my previous jobs, I tried to tell a few people about Christ, after a while no one would talk to me. I was like a leper to them. So, you see, there's ways to do it and there's ways to do it.
Do you remember how you came to Christ? Did someone shove it down your throat and force you to swallow. Well, you wouldn't want to do it to them either. One of the saddest pains for a Christian is to walk around in this world seeing all the people who don't know Christ, especially family and coworkers or fellow students and close friends.
So, then, what is the best way? How should we do it?
First, looking back at your statement where you say, "I argued," I'd have to say arguing isn't the best way to win an argument, especially this one. Remember, you're trying to show them Christ, who is God, who is love. Arguing is not the way. Remember how God did it? "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness." Jeremiah 31:3
Also, Jesus said, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
So, definitely, arguing is not the way.
Let's think about it a moment...
Knowing who God is and what He can do, after all, He created our world, our solar system, the universe, couldn't if God wanted to, just write "I am God!" across the sky with stars? But He chooses not to do that.
What's His plan?
The bible says, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16
Do you see it? That's God's plan. Do you get it yet? Do you see God's plan for evangelism?
Finally, do you really want to know the best "way" to evangelize, that is, to bring people to know God?
Jesus answered it, He said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Do you see it? Do you get it yet? Do you see God's plan for evangelism?
First, the "way" is not a set of steps or some program, the "way" is a person-- the person of Jesus Christ.
Do you want to evangelize? Then you must die, and let Christ live His life through you so that others may see the light of Christ shining through you.
Remember, "no one comes to the Father, except through [Him!]" John 14:6
I hope this helps,
HectorC
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Posted 12/04/2006 08:05pm
Author: hectorc
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