All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
HOW DO I SHARE MY FAITH WITHOUT AN ARGUMENT?
At Bible study tonight I was asked: "How do we share our faith without an argument"
This question is extremely important, in that, it is difficult to approach people, hoping to create a discussion that may lead to their salvation, yet steer clear of confrontation.
Some Christians have an ability to open this form of discussion without raising tempers or objections. If there are some who find this to be a natural course during any discussion, then
this would be an opportunity to share with many here on AAG who find this difficult or even embarrasing. So come on guys, let's share this vital information.
Ron.
Views: 353
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CESAR HUSMILLO on
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Thank you for sharing your wisdom, David. God Bless.
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Permalink Reply by David Velasquez on
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I cannot remember where I read this, so I will paraphrase it the best I remember.
It is said that Spurgeon was giving a course on evangelism to Seminary students, which he asked to go out and put to practice the commandment to go and make disciples. ******Spurgeon noticed a particular young man who was getting rather discouraged by the experience and approached him and asks him what was causing his sadness.
The young man told him that he had not been able to even get 1 person to want to listen to the Gospel much less accept Christ. Spurgeon then asked the young man, if he expected everyone to want to listen and accept Christ as Lord? To which the young man replied by saying, I guess is arrogant of me to think that some will listen and accept Christ and to expect that all will listen is much more arrogant of me.
Spurgeon said, there lays your problem lad, you do not expect success! You should go out expecting God to work miracles for we are out there doing His will. EOQ
So although we are aware that rejection is a real possibility we do not approach evangelism with a defeated attitude, but instead approach it with great expectancy of success for we know God's word is powerful. Do not down play the word of God.
This will help you keep things in perpective and not be offensive or angry through such a beautiful experiance and privialage.
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Permalink Reply by Theresa on
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Ron,
I do my best to keep Jesus in the picture and to keep the conversation going around Him as the Star, not you and not the person who is giving you grief because of his or her unbelief, talk about Who Jesus is and what He did. Keep your focus on the source, on the One Who matters, Christ Jesus our Lord and not the person you are talking with and conversations should be pleasant and it will yield good fruit, if the focus is on Jesus.
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Permalink Reply by Carla on
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You and me both Bev... God is taming me and has been for 3 years now....:) I am looking forward to learning in this discussion.
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Permalink Reply by Leonard T on
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Ron,
I will give a brief overview of “Share Jesus Without Fear.” By Bill Faye
It is non-confrontational and relies on the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. It is divided into three segments. Step 1 is to engage the person with the intent of getting to God’s Word. God’s Word is step 2. Step 3 is the point where they either are or are not ready to surrender their life to Jesus.
Step One: Questions
There are five questions to ask the individual. Regardless of their answer, we are not going to argue or debate their answer. The whole idea is to get them to step 2.
The questions are:
1. Do you have any spiritual beliefs?
2. To you, who is Jesus?
3. Do you believe in heaven and hell?
4. If you were to die today, where would you go?
5. If what you believe were wrong, would you want to know it?
Everyone has some form of spiritual beliefs. They may believe in crystals or whatever. We are not to argue with them, but simply acknowledge their belief. The goal is to get to God’s Word and let the Spirit of God and the Word of God work on them. They may believe that Jesus was a good man or even a myth. Whether we like their response or not, it is what they believe at this point. Arguing with them will close the door. The last question is the one to get them thinking. Almost everyone I know of has responded with “yes.” If they were to say “no” then they are free to do so and we move on. Arguing with them will not win them in most cases. When they say “yes”, you move to step 2.
Step Two: The Word of God
You ask them if you can show them something from God’s Word. The Bible you choose for witnessing will be marked and highlighted in various places starting with Romans 3:23. You hand them the Bible and ask them to read the highlighted portion aloud (most people could not find Romans 3:23 on their own). The spoken Word of God has value and I have yet to have anyone refuse to read aloud. After they have read it aloud, you ask them “What does that verse say to you?” Notice that you are not telling them what it says, because if you do it becomes your opinion versus their opinion. If they answer incorrectly, you ask them to read it again aloud. Again, you ask them what it says to them. I have yet to find someone who does not recognize that God’s Word says we all fall short. When they respond with the correct answer, you have them turn to the next verse. There are 6 verses used in all. All but one follow the same step mentioned above. In each case, you have allowed the word of God and the Spirit of God to guide them. In no case did you argue or present your opinion or view. They engaged the Word of God and responded according to what God’s Word says.
I have used this method numerous times and rarely have I gotten to the sixth verse. Somewhere along the path they fall under conviction and are ready to repent and receive Jesus. There is no need to go further, just need to go to step 3.
Step 3: Clarification
You want to be sure as possible that they know what they are doing. There are several follow-up questions to ask in order to be sure.
If you get to the end and they say they do not want to receive Jesus that is their right. You simply ask a few more questions telling them that you want to be sure that you were clear. At that point you ask if according to the Bible they are a sinner? Notice I did not say that they are a sinner, but according to the Bible. According to the Bible, will you be separated from God for eternity because of your sin? If after the follow-up questions they still reject Jesus you let them go. They are not ready.
Nowhere did you argue with them or engage in confrontation. There is much more to it, but very difficult to cover it all here in this brief response on this forum.
Lord Bless,
LT
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Permalink Reply by Ron Payne on
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Great LT,
Because the Bible is God's word, the message comes directly from God Himself. I find that even in a heavy discussion with sectarians, if I quote a verse that denies what they are saying, it is, as if I have slapped them in the face... Their shock is quite visible, yet some are still inclinde to retaliate. But when they read it for themselves, it really sinks deep into their hearts. Seldom do they retaliate. Something deep down tells them: "You can't argue against the Bible."
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12
Thank you to all, especially Dave as well, who submitted their thoughts, there is no reason why we should not allow this discussion continue to run.
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Permalink Reply by Rory Roybal on
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"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" (I Peter 3:15).
Firstly, note we are to give an answer for our hope to those who are open to it, not trying to force feed the message to people who are not yet receptive (even if well intentioned). I increasingly find praying in advance helps when possible, sanctifying the Lord God in our hearts. It's not about us, but about God's glory and edification of others.
The time to prepare for war is not when one is on the battlefield, but one must be prepared in advance with the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11-20)! We are told to always be ready, and to share our faith based on reason, with meekness and fear before Christ. The enemy would have us do the exact opposite, to be focused on ourselves instead of God, to not be ready, to share our faith without basing it on reason, and to be focused on and filled with pride in ourselves to make our role as Christ's ambassadors as ineffective as possible.
Many Christians are generally taught that sharing their faith is a good thing, but if one is not ready according to the factors mentioned in Scripture, sharing one's faith may actually be doing a disservice for Christ, and unnecessarily push people further away from Him. Many people today are trying to do the work of the Spirit in the power of the flesh. When we don't humbly sanctify God, share our faith in the wrong spirit (such as getting baited and distracted into an emotional argument), or only know enough to be dangerous but not enough to be effective to reasonably answer objections or skeptics (see Titus 1:9-11), we are deceiving ourselves if we think we are serving God or others effectively.
We need to be humbly honest with ourselves before God, and pray for His will and leading in His work, "for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23b). We will never be of perfect spirit and have every answer, but should strive to become as ready and effective as possible by His Spirit and Word, and to His glory alone. Even if and when we are ready, sometimes others are not. I have found that when God is leading people to Himself, He is often orchestrating many factors and people to accomplish this, so we always need to be sensitive to discern our Lord's leading and timing, praying, awaiting and obeying our Master's call.
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Dear Rory,
Thank you.. This is very helpful.
Welcome to AAG! I look forward to readying more of your posts.
Blessings dear brother...
In Him, Carla
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Hi Rory,
What you said: "I have found that when God is leading people to Himself, He is often orchestrating many factors and people to accomplish this, so we always need to be sensitive to discern our Lord's leading and timing, praying, awaiting and obeying our Master's call." is of major importance, a fault normal to those who have recently experienced the New Birth and can't wait to spread it around.
We need to be humbly honest with ourselves before God, and pray for His will and leading in His work, Wise words indeed.
Thank you my brother,
Ron
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I'm very thankful I was led into this discussion. I'm renewed and so excited to share Christ to other people. Now I know I need more time praying, learning the scripture, and humbling myself before Him.
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Cesar -
Amen beloved, but do not hesitate to share Christ as He leads you to do so even now. :)
We have wonderful examples in the bible of people who shared Christ immediately after their born again experience and brought much glory to our Lord for doing so.
Remember the blind man the Pharisees were drilling with questions in John 9:18-29 ....
24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
God will not leave you nor forsake you in those moments, nor is He asking you to give an eloquent discourse brother. Simply speak of what He has done for you.
Remember the Samaritan woman John 4: 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 And many more believed because of His own word. 42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ,[a] the Savior of the world.”
Our brother Rory brought words of wisdom with his reminder to us, to be humbly honest with ourselves before God, and pray for His will and leading in His work. Yet I do not believe he meant that we should wait to share Christ until we have a deep grasp of theological matters.
I started preaching soon after my conversation and at times I would go back and tell the brothers the next service to excuse my previous teaching for I had kept reading and found that I had misunderstood some things hahahah and now after examine the word some more, had come to a better understanding of what God was teaching.
We step out in obedience and as we do, we keep humbly honest about our ability in this endeavourer and our Lord does the rest.
Blessing beloved and go and make disciples.... :)
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We will always be works in progress while in the flesh.
"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
Lord Bless,
LT
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