1/19/14 Matt about 22
Want
to have a Gospel conversation, but don’t know how to start one? Just ask!
“Excuse me, I’m wondering if you have time for an interesting question” is
how I often start. If they don’t have
time, they will tell me. Often, the
response is “What’s the question?” so I answer “It’s a crazy question, I
realize – What do you think happens after this life, if anything?” Usually, they get a big smile on their face
as they formulate a response. Other
times, they’ll say “That’s not something I care to discuss”. My response?
“No problem, I respect that, but it’s something worth thinking about
right?” and I go on my way. At least I’ve
given them a friendly reminder that there’s more to life than their day to day
concerns. But what if someone responds
by asking, suspiciously, “Why do you ask?”
I respond with the truth and a
little logic. “Well, if there is such a
thing as eternity, then we will spend a lot more time there than here right? And if there is a heaven and a hell, and a
judge who will hold us accountable for our actions while here on earth like the
Bible says, than we want to be sure to get it right. As a Christian who believes what the Bible
says about eternity, it wouldn’t be right to keep my beliefs to myself even if
I was wrong about the whole thing. So,
if there is a heaven, do you think you would end up there?” This was how an hour-long conversation with a
young man named Matt started today at the coffeeshop. He initially didn’t want to talk, but I think
by my saying things like “IF what the Bible says is true…” , and by asking for
his opinions and being willing to listen carefully and respond to his answers, I was showing him I was willing to consider
other points of view and that we could have a conversation without arguing. A conversation involves two-way
communication, so if you are willing to take the time to listen to what non-believers
have to say as well as to share the Gospel, there are a lot of people out there
who are willing to talk.
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