5/31/11 Tom, about 50
I stopped at a park on my way home from work where I found a man named Tom sitting on a park bench, encouraging a neighbor as she ran laps around the park. He was glad to answer my questions about his beliefs, and soon recognized our conversation as heaven sent. I could tell by his attitude and his testimony that he has been born again. He grew up in a Catholic orphanage where he developed a deep dislike for the hypocritical adults in charge there. He joined the army and after returning from duty he married. He became an alcoholic and made many attempts at sobriety, but could never bring himself to achknowledge a higher power or take responsibility for his addiction. His wife died of cancer eight years ago, and he soon had a stroke followed by a heart attack. He had reached his lowest point when he experienced what can only be described as being born again, with a new heart, a new outlook on life, and new desires to make the most of the second chance he'd been given. He seemed to have some spiritual knowledge, but this experience seemed more like something that happened to him, without his really understanding it. I found myself explaing the way of God more adequately, explaining the biblical basis for what has happened to him experientially, maybe like Priscilla and Aquilla did for Apollos in Acts 18. He doesn't own a Bible or belong to a church, and as far as I could tell his only spiritual input comes from Christian radio. I gave him a Bible and an invitation to fellowship; let's pray he responds.
Gospel conversations from the streets and marketplace....
5/31/2011 Steve, Brian, and friend all early 20's
On a Memorial Day road trip we stopped at a Wisconsin rest area where I found three "roadies" - a sound production crew for concerts - hanging out at a picnic table during a break in their travels. I gave them all MDB's to start a conversation, asking if they believe they'll go to heaven. "No way!" one exclaimed, saying he didn't believe in God or heaven. He turned out to be quite an atheist, mocking God and anyone who would believe in Him. While driving, I had been thinking about the general lack of conviction of sin and fear of God I've seen in people over the past several weeks, and was concluding that in the hard-to-find balance between law and grace I have been erring far too much on the side of grace, and had resolved to emphasize the law of God more, so here was my chance. The kinds of things this guy asked me were "So do you believe your God will send us all to hell? Is He on some kind of ego trip or something? Who does He f____in'' think He is?" I told him "You know right from wrong but are living in rebellion against God and will be held accountable for your actions whether you believe in Him or not" He (he refused to tell me his name) had obviously thought a lot about this because he asked me a lot of questions - the kind people rely on to try to dismiss God. His friends, Brian and Steve, had some good questions of their own, but more of the kind of questions where they truly wanted to understand Christianity. Their friend dominated the conversation, but on my way back to the car Steve stopped me, saying "I don't believe in God like you, but thanks for what you are trying to do."
On a Memorial Day road trip we stopped at a Wisconsin rest area where I found three "roadies" - a sound production crew for concerts - hanging out at a picnic table during a break in their travels. I gave them all MDB's to start a conversation, asking if they believe they'll go to heaven. "No way!" one exclaimed, saying he didn't believe in God or heaven. He turned out to be quite an atheist, mocking God and anyone who would believe in Him. While driving, I had been thinking about the general lack of conviction of sin and fear of God I've seen in people over the past several weeks, and was concluding that in the hard-to-find balance between law and grace I have been erring far too much on the side of grace, and had resolved to emphasize the law of God more, so here was my chance. The kinds of things this guy asked me were "So do you believe your God will send us all to hell? Is He on some kind of ego trip or something? Who does He f____in'' think He is?" I told him "You know right from wrong but are living in rebellion against God and will be held accountable for your actions whether you believe in Him or not" He (he refused to tell me his name) had obviously thought a lot about this because he asked me a lot of questions - the kind people rely on to try to dismiss God. His friends, Brian and Steve, had some good questions of their own, but more of the kind of questions where they truly wanted to understand Christianity. Their friend dominated the conversation, but on my way back to the car Steve stopped me, saying "I don't believe in God like you, but thanks for what you are trying to do."
5/28/11 "Noah" about 45
While driving through Wisconsin I handed out MDB gospel tracts whenever we stopped at rest areas and gas stations, engaging in short exchanges to encourage people to check out the "good person test" on the back and fishing for a longer conversation, but people were generally in a hurry to get to their destinations and so was I. One exchange stood out, with a man I'll call "Noah", an African American biker looking pretty menacing dressed in full biker leather gear and decorations. I asked if he follows the Ten Commandments, and I was surprised with his answer. "I follow the 7 laws of Noah. You see I'm a Noahide - a member of a branch of Judaism. We have followers in Israel and all over the United States. Look it up, you can find out all about it online" I just did, and found out it teaches a way for Gentiles to be counted among the righteous of Israel. Of course it too, like so many religions, is based on one's good works for salvation. The rest of Noah's group was waiting and he had to get going, so we couldn't talk any further, but this is just another reminder to me never to judge a book by it's cover when it comes to evangelism conversations - we need to take a little time to learn more about the people we talk to.
While driving through Wisconsin I handed out MDB gospel tracts whenever we stopped at rest areas and gas stations, engaging in short exchanges to encourage people to check out the "good person test" on the back and fishing for a longer conversation, but people were generally in a hurry to get to their destinations and so was I. One exchange stood out, with a man I'll call "Noah", an African American biker looking pretty menacing dressed in full biker leather gear and decorations. I asked if he follows the Ten Commandments, and I was surprised with his answer. "I follow the 7 laws of Noah. You see I'm a Noahide - a member of a branch of Judaism. We have followers in Israel and all over the United States. Look it up, you can find out all about it online" I just did, and found out it teaches a way for Gentiles to be counted among the righteous of Israel. Of course it too, like so many religions, is based on one's good works for salvation. The rest of Noah's group was waiting and he had to get going, so we couldn't talk any further, but this is just another reminder to me never to judge a book by it's cover when it comes to evangelism conversations - we need to take a little time to learn more about the people we talk to.
5/25/11 Eric, about 45
At the grocery store I saw a man named Eric browsing in the magazine aisle, which let me know he probably had time to talk. He agreed to answer a few questions, but when he found out it was about his spiritual beliefs he commented that he had no ideas, that this sort of subject was way over his head. He was content to believe he will go to heaven when he dies, but was also content to remain in ignorance of all things religious. I wonder how many people simply think that "ignorance" leaves them blameless, that they don't know any better so they can't be held accountable. However the Bible assures us that we all have a conscience - we are all "with knowledge" - the knowledge of good and evil. All are guilty, all have sinned, all of us need saving from the punishment we deserve. Is Eric ignorant of the things of God? I believe he is, but it is the result of the many decisions to ignore God that he has made over the years. He wasn't ready to hear the whole Gospel today, but hopefully what I did share can be a step in the right direction.
At the grocery store I saw a man named Eric browsing in the magazine aisle, which let me know he probably had time to talk. He agreed to answer a few questions, but when he found out it was about his spiritual beliefs he commented that he had no ideas, that this sort of subject was way over his head. He was content to believe he will go to heaven when he dies, but was also content to remain in ignorance of all things religious. I wonder how many people simply think that "ignorance" leaves them blameless, that they don't know any better so they can't be held accountable. However the Bible assures us that we all have a conscience - we are all "with knowledge" - the knowledge of good and evil. All are guilty, all have sinned, all of us need saving from the punishment we deserve. Is Eric ignorant of the things of God? I believe he is, but it is the result of the many decisions to ignore God that he has made over the years. He wasn't ready to hear the whole Gospel today, but hopefully what I did share can be a step in the right direction.
5/23/11 Milán, 32
I was walking down the sidewalk and handed a million dollar bill gospel track to an oncoming man named Milan, who has immigrated to Chicago from Chilé. When he found out they were religious tracts he asked why they were made to look like million dollar bills. "That's a good question", I said and told him that its sort of a collectors item that people are less likely to throw away, and that my hope is that it will help start a conversation about more important things, like our eternal fate. Milan told me he has recently left his Seventh-Day Adventist Church, feeling disillusioned by its leadership and by Christian leaders in general. He felt they were out to take advantage of others in God's name. He enjoyed talking about religion and at first sounded like he knew a lot about the Bible, but I soon found out he rejects much of it in favor of his own ideas. He thinks God made a mistake in giving mankind free will and in using the Ten Commandments to fix our sinful condition. He thinks Jesus made up for these mistakes by setting an example for God the Father to see and for people to follow. Just as a weak foundation leads to a poorly built house, poor theology inevitably leads to poor conclusions, and later in the conversation Milan told me he feels God can't hold us accountable for our sins since He thinks of sin as simple mistakes in judgment rather than the rebellion against God's authority that they are. He said "God made us this way, and it is His fault for giving us rules He knew we would break". I told him this was the oldest trick in the Bible, that Satan has been sowing seeds of rebellion toward God ever since that first day in the garden when he asked - "Did God really say...?" I explained the Gospel fairly clearly, but Milán ignored (rejected) it, continuing to place his trust in man made theories rather than biblical truths.
I was walking down the sidewalk and handed a million dollar bill gospel track to an oncoming man named Milan, who has immigrated to Chicago from Chilé. When he found out they were religious tracts he asked why they were made to look like million dollar bills. "That's a good question", I said and told him that its sort of a collectors item that people are less likely to throw away, and that my hope is that it will help start a conversation about more important things, like our eternal fate. Milan told me he has recently left his Seventh-Day Adventist Church, feeling disillusioned by its leadership and by Christian leaders in general. He felt they were out to take advantage of others in God's name. He enjoyed talking about religion and at first sounded like he knew a lot about the Bible, but I soon found out he rejects much of it in favor of his own ideas. He thinks God made a mistake in giving mankind free will and in using the Ten Commandments to fix our sinful condition. He thinks Jesus made up for these mistakes by setting an example for God the Father to see and for people to follow. Just as a weak foundation leads to a poorly built house, poor theology inevitably leads to poor conclusions, and later in the conversation Milan told me he feels God can't hold us accountable for our sins since He thinks of sin as simple mistakes in judgment rather than the rebellion against God's authority that they are. He said "God made us this way, and it is His fault for giving us rules He knew we would break". I told him this was the oldest trick in the Bible, that Satan has been sowing seeds of rebellion toward God ever since that first day in the garden when he asked - "Did God really say...?" I explained the Gospel fairly clearly, but Milán ignored (rejected) it, continuing to place his trust in man made theories rather than biblical truths.
5/20/11 Greg about 52
The ministry of conversation can also happen at the gas pumps. I had just finish a fill up when a cyclist on a totally restored vintage Kawasaki drove up. I offered him a trillion-dollar bill (gospel tract) for his bike. This brought a laugh and he - Greg - started telling proudly about the 4 years of work he has put in on his bike - the chrome, stainless steel, platinum and even gold-plated parts. He also turned out to be a successful actor who could quote long passages of Shakespeare and a playwrite with 10 of his own plays being produced. He was very interesting to talk with, but he had to get going soon so I knew I didn't have much time to switch over to a spiritual conversation. I told him my purpose for giving him the trillion dollar bill - that it was a religious tract - and asked what he thought the ultimate "trillion dollar question" could be, which helped start a good spiritual conversation. Greg grew up in a Lutheran family but now questions specific religious belief. He said he can't imagine heaven being any better than the life he is living now - that it must be boring with the absence of evil or conflict. We talked a while and we both agreed that God can use the trials and tribulations of this life to teach us things we wouldn't be able to learn in heaven. We didn't have time for me to go through a full gospel explanation, so I just asked some key questions to try to help interest him in reading the info I gave him. I couldn't help but think as I left what kind of person he would have been if he had given as much time to pursuing a relationship with God as he has in pursuing his hobbies.
The ministry of conversation can also happen at the gas pumps. I had just finish a fill up when a cyclist on a totally restored vintage Kawasaki drove up. I offered him a trillion-dollar bill (gospel tract) for his bike. This brought a laugh and he - Greg - started telling proudly about the 4 years of work he has put in on his bike - the chrome, stainless steel, platinum and even gold-plated parts. He also turned out to be a successful actor who could quote long passages of Shakespeare and a playwrite with 10 of his own plays being produced. He was very interesting to talk with, but he had to get going soon so I knew I didn't have much time to switch over to a spiritual conversation. I told him my purpose for giving him the trillion dollar bill - that it was a religious tract - and asked what he thought the ultimate "trillion dollar question" could be, which helped start a good spiritual conversation. Greg grew up in a Lutheran family but now questions specific religious belief. He said he can't imagine heaven being any better than the life he is living now - that it must be boring with the absence of evil or conflict. We talked a while and we both agreed that God can use the trials and tribulations of this life to teach us things we wouldn't be able to learn in heaven. We didn't have time for me to go through a full gospel explanation, so I just asked some key questions to try to help interest him in reading the info I gave him. I couldn't help but think as I left what kind of person he would have been if he had given as much time to pursuing a relationship with God as he has in pursuing his hobbies.
5/19/11 Socorro, about 50
Great conversation today with a woman at the park named Socorro. It was a basic law and grace gospel presentation with someone who believes in their own basic goodness and thus sees no need for salvation, but what I enjoyed about it was the chance to practice my intermediate Spanish. Using a second language that one isn't very good at can have a few positive effects on a Gospel conversation: 1.) It naturally keeps me humble and in the position of being corrected as a language learner even while I am teaching Gospel truths; and 2.) It slows the conversation down, giving my listener more time to think through what I am trying to say, and for them to make comments and ask questions. Of course the downside is the greater possibility of miscommunication, but I believe the humility I was able to demonstrate speaks louder than words.
Great conversation today with a woman at the park named Socorro. It was a basic law and grace gospel presentation with someone who believes in their own basic goodness and thus sees no need for salvation, but what I enjoyed about it was the chance to practice my intermediate Spanish. Using a second language that one isn't very good at can have a few positive effects on a Gospel conversation: 1.) It naturally keeps me humble and in the position of being corrected as a language learner even while I am teaching Gospel truths; and 2.) It slows the conversation down, giving my listener more time to think through what I am trying to say, and for them to make comments and ask questions. Of course the downside is the greater possibility of miscommunication, but I believe the humility I was able to demonstrate speaks louder than words.
5/17/11 Larry, about 35
"...since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." What did Paul mean when he wote these words, found in Romans 1? If science is the observation and description of what can be seen and measured, I believe Paul was showing us that belief in God is the most basic conclusion of scientific thought. No matter how many scientific curtains we draw back, the understanding that everything had an ultimate beginning, that everything was made and that this implies a Maker - is basic to all of human logic. The opposite conclusion - that nothing somehow created something - represents a denial of the evidence and stands opposed to unbiased scientific thought. Today at the park I met Larry, whom I found sitting at a picnic table. Larry is a salesman, aspiring commodities trader and family man. He described a past of searching for spiritual truth through mind-altering drugs, new age techniques, and even involvement in an evangelical church and witnessing - yet he has now concluded that God does not exist. He is enamored with the promices of science and technology, even stating that God was an invention of man and has now been replaced by Google. Larry was clearly a false convert when involved in church activities, for 2 John 1:9 says that "anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God". At least Larry is honest enough to admit his unbelief - better to be cold than lukewarm - but where he isn't honest is when it comes to admitting the scientific evidence that the fact of creation gives for the existance of a Creator.
"...since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." What did Paul mean when he wote these words, found in Romans 1? If science is the observation and description of what can be seen and measured, I believe Paul was showing us that belief in God is the most basic conclusion of scientific thought. No matter how many scientific curtains we draw back, the understanding that everything had an ultimate beginning, that everything was made and that this implies a Maker - is basic to all of human logic. The opposite conclusion - that nothing somehow created something - represents a denial of the evidence and stands opposed to unbiased scientific thought. Today at the park I met Larry, whom I found sitting at a picnic table. Larry is a salesman, aspiring commodities trader and family man. He described a past of searching for spiritual truth through mind-altering drugs, new age techniques, and even involvement in an evangelical church and witnessing - yet he has now concluded that God does not exist. He is enamored with the promices of science and technology, even stating that God was an invention of man and has now been replaced by Google. Larry was clearly a false convert when involved in church activities, for 2 John 1:9 says that "anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God". At least Larry is honest enough to admit his unbelief - better to be cold than lukewarm - but where he isn't honest is when it comes to admitting the scientific evidence that the fact of creation gives for the existance of a Creator.
5/16/11 Tim, about 30
I was out on a "fishing expedition" at the park with Lance, a young believer from church, when we encountered a man - Tim- out walking his two dogs. He agreed to answer some questions and when I asked if he thought much about the idea of eternal life, his answer was "All the time. My father just passed away two weeks ago" This caught me by surprise. Tim had dark sunglasses on and it was not easy to tell how hard he was taking this. As he talked further I could tell that like so many people he bases his faith on his good works rather than on Jesus, and all I could think about was that if I used the Ten Commandments to show him his need for salvation, he would only worry that his father might now be in hell or focus on my insensitivity and lack of compassion during his time of mourning. Yet I felt he needed to hear the Gospel truth. Tim was surprisingly open to our discussion - possibly more so because of a tender heart- and I was able to share the Gospel perhaps a little more sensitively than normal, and Lance and I made sure to pray over Tim before we all went on our way.
I was out on a "fishing expedition" at the park with Lance, a young believer from church, when we encountered a man - Tim- out walking his two dogs. He agreed to answer some questions and when I asked if he thought much about the idea of eternal life, his answer was "All the time. My father just passed away two weeks ago" This caught me by surprise. Tim had dark sunglasses on and it was not easy to tell how hard he was taking this. As he talked further I could tell that like so many people he bases his faith on his good works rather than on Jesus, and all I could think about was that if I used the Ten Commandments to show him his need for salvation, he would only worry that his father might now be in hell or focus on my insensitivity and lack of compassion during his time of mourning. Yet I felt he needed to hear the Gospel truth. Tim was surprisingly open to our discussion - possibly more so because of a tender heart- and I was able to share the Gospel perhaps a little more sensitively than normal, and Lance and I made sure to pray over Tim before we all went on our way.
5/14/11 "Ishaya" about 55
Was it possible for John the Baptist to have a religious conversation in polite company? He preached repentance, wasn't afraid to confront those of a higher social status than himself about their sin and rebellion toward God, and was beheaded because of it. In a way his may have been a different role than a typical Christian evangelist, because he was to "make straight the way for the Lord", preaching the bad news of our need for repentance before people could be ready for the good news of faith - and forgiveness - in Jesus. Yet there are people all around us who still need to hear John's message even today. Many have been inundated with news of the Savior without seeing the need to be saved. Today my wife and I, celebrating our anniversary at a bed and breakfast, had a friendly, polite and respectful - yet not compromising - conversation with our host, "Ishaya" (not her real name), who turned out to be a teacher of "Ascension" - a new age spiritual meditational technique. She and her husband - both Americans who have taken Sansrit names as part of their vows as Ascension teachers - deny the existence of sin, accountability to God, judgment, punishment, and, of course, the need for Jesus as savior. Theirs is a religion of life enhancement - personal happiness - rather than righteousness. How can we talk about such things in polite company and stay true to both the law and grace of the Gospel? Here's a few thoughts... 1.) I began by asking about her spiritual journey. I knew she had some spiritual interest and that she would be glad to talk about it. We let her share her views without judgment or criticism 2.) I acknowledged that our nodding and affirmations of understanding are not the same as agreement. By saying this she knew that I didn't necessarily agree with her views, and she felt free to listen and understand but not necessarily agree with mine. 3.) I explained our perspective as Christians concerned for her salvation. How could we believe what we believe about our need for Jesus - whether its true or not - and not share the greatest news ever? and 4.) I may hope and pray for it but shouldn't expect a complete change of one's world view in one simple conversation. We were simply planting seeds of truth, and we felt privileged to be able to do that today - and didn't burn any conversational bridges in the process.
Was it possible for John the Baptist to have a religious conversation in polite company? He preached repentance, wasn't afraid to confront those of a higher social status than himself about their sin and rebellion toward God, and was beheaded because of it. In a way his may have been a different role than a typical Christian evangelist, because he was to "make straight the way for the Lord", preaching the bad news of our need for repentance before people could be ready for the good news of faith - and forgiveness - in Jesus. Yet there are people all around us who still need to hear John's message even today. Many have been inundated with news of the Savior without seeing the need to be saved. Today my wife and I, celebrating our anniversary at a bed and breakfast, had a friendly, polite and respectful - yet not compromising - conversation with our host, "Ishaya" (not her real name), who turned out to be a teacher of "Ascension" - a new age spiritual meditational technique. She and her husband - both Americans who have taken Sansrit names as part of their vows as Ascension teachers - deny the existence of sin, accountability to God, judgment, punishment, and, of course, the need for Jesus as savior. Theirs is a religion of life enhancement - personal happiness - rather than righteousness. How can we talk about such things in polite company and stay true to both the law and grace of the Gospel? Here's a few thoughts... 1.) I began by asking about her spiritual journey. I knew she had some spiritual interest and that she would be glad to talk about it. We let her share her views without judgment or criticism 2.) I acknowledged that our nodding and affirmations of understanding are not the same as agreement. By saying this she knew that I didn't necessarily agree with her views, and she felt free to listen and understand but not necessarily agree with mine. 3.) I explained our perspective as Christians concerned for her salvation. How could we believe what we believe about our need for Jesus - whether its true or not - and not share the greatest news ever? and 4.) I may hope and pray for it but shouldn't expect a complete change of one's world view in one simple conversation. We were simply planting seeds of truth, and we felt privileged to be able to do that today - and didn't burn any conversational bridges in the process.
5/10/11 Tom, about 45
Active and continuous intentional evangelism keeps me constantly questioning my methods, motives, and beliefs, and I believe that's a healthy and necessary process. Finding the right balance between law and grace is one recurring theme. The world (including many church people) would say that any mention of our accountability to God and the punishment of hell makes me a party pooper at best and a hater at worst. Yesterday I read in Titus 3 that "...when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." At first glance it would seem then that what brings people to saving faith is God's kindness and love, and the conclusion is that we should do likewise. What this verse assumes though, is that before God's mercy, we were. in fact, not saved. We were condemned, as are those outside of faith in Christ. Somehow we were informed of our sinful condition and condemnation, so that when we heard of the forgiveness we can have in Christ, it was to us like "a pearl of great price". But to most people of the world who have a false belief in their own goodness, the need for forgiveness in Christ is more like the "pearl thrown to the swine" - they simply don't see the need for it. Wouldn't it be loving then to do the tough love of trying to help people see where they stand before God's moral law?
Yesterday I met Tom, a middle-aged man who was finishing a meal while on break from his work at the IIT campus. He had grown up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, but had abandoned the faith while in college. Tom believes in his own version of God, a god that has very low standards when it comes to sin. Someone would have to be a mass-murderer before he would be punished by Tom's god. Although I pointed out the high standards of Jesus and the rest of the Bible in regards to sin and judgment, Tom remained unconcerned. It may have been that he knew he didn't have time for a longer discussion, but I truly felt that he wasn't ready for me to talk about grace because he refused to be accountable to the law. I felt more like John the Baptist than Jesus in this conversation.
Active and continuous intentional evangelism keeps me constantly questioning my methods, motives, and beliefs, and I believe that's a healthy and necessary process. Finding the right balance between law and grace is one recurring theme. The world (including many church people) would say that any mention of our accountability to God and the punishment of hell makes me a party pooper at best and a hater at worst. Yesterday I read in Titus 3 that "...when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." At first glance it would seem then that what brings people to saving faith is God's kindness and love, and the conclusion is that we should do likewise. What this verse assumes though, is that before God's mercy, we were. in fact, not saved. We were condemned, as are those outside of faith in Christ. Somehow we were informed of our sinful condition and condemnation, so that when we heard of the forgiveness we can have in Christ, it was to us like "a pearl of great price". But to most people of the world who have a false belief in their own goodness, the need for forgiveness in Christ is more like the "pearl thrown to the swine" - they simply don't see the need for it. Wouldn't it be loving then to do the tough love of trying to help people see where they stand before God's moral law?
Yesterday I met Tom, a middle-aged man who was finishing a meal while on break from his work at the IIT campus. He had grown up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, but had abandoned the faith while in college. Tom believes in his own version of God, a god that has very low standards when it comes to sin. Someone would have to be a mass-murderer before he would be punished by Tom's god. Although I pointed out the high standards of Jesus and the rest of the Bible in regards to sin and judgment, Tom remained unconcerned. It may have been that he knew he didn't have time for a longer discussion, but I truly felt that he wasn't ready for me to talk about grace because he refused to be accountable to the law. I felt more like John the Baptist than Jesus in this conversation.
5/8/11 Asher, Victor 24, 25
I met Asher and Victor as they sat down for a beer outside Ashton's storefront-turned-apartment at the end of a warm Sunday afternoon. They seemed to be a mix of starving artist/musician/ science geeks. They started out answering my questions about their beliefs as rather strong atheists, mocking those with faith in God and mocking God directly. Usually my hope is simply to help people like this to doubt their atheist faith and begin to see the evidence of God's existence all around them. This can take a while as we work through what they believe and point out some of the poor logic on which these beliefs are based. Today I had some extra time and we talked for well over an hour, and they gradually began to talk like God's existence is not just possible but probable, wondering how they could have a right relationship with him. They really enjoyed the conversation and wanted to come check out my church, so i invited them. They had a few more beers as we talked so I didn't take their positive change of attitude too seriously, but still, God is at work.
I met Asher and Victor as they sat down for a beer outside Ashton's storefront-turned-apartment at the end of a warm Sunday afternoon. They seemed to be a mix of starving artist/musician/ science geeks. They started out answering my questions about their beliefs as rather strong atheists, mocking those with faith in God and mocking God directly. Usually my hope is simply to help people like this to doubt their atheist faith and begin to see the evidence of God's existence all around them. This can take a while as we work through what they believe and point out some of the poor logic on which these beliefs are based. Today I had some extra time and we talked for well over an hour, and they gradually began to talk like God's existence is not just possible but probable, wondering how they could have a right relationship with him. They really enjoyed the conversation and wanted to come check out my church, so i invited them. They had a few more beers as we talked so I didn't take their positive change of attitude too seriously, but still, God is at work.
5/5/11 Floyd, 74
"To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted." (Titus 1:15) Is there a connection between conspiracy theorists and disbelief in Jesus? Are those who say Bin Laden isn't really dead - or that we never really walked on the moon - often the same kind of people who say the Bible was just written by a few people to control the rest of us, or that Jesus didn't really rise from the dead? I think there's a big connection. Today at the grocery store I met Floyd, an older African American man who seemed to take pride in questioning just about any sort of authority we talked about, spiritual or secular. Personally I don't believe man has the long-term ability to keep the kinds of secrets that conspiracy theorists claim. We flatter ourselves to think we could be that smart or disciplined as humans. Floyd not only claimed the Bible can't be trusted but that even if it could be trusted people would only read it in different ways. I tried to help him see that the same God who made sure to inspire His own revelation of Himself also made sure to preserve His word. And He isn't trying to fool us; there is no secret way to interpret it. Floyd grew up in a strong church environment but has obviously spent a lifetime finding ways and reasons to refute the Bible, both real and imagined. He has had to lie to himself about it so much that he has lost touch with reality, and many of his ideas defied common sense. Needless to say, I didn't convince him of anything today but as always, I trust that God can do something with the seeds that were planted during that half hour in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store - in Floyd or any one of the dozen of other shoppers who walked past us.
5/4/11 Aaron, Laureth late teens
Out on a fellowship and "fishing" outing with Brad, a younger brother from church, we met a teenage couple on the sidewalk - Aaron and Laureth - and they agreed to answer some questions. Laureth in particular was happy to talk about spiritual things because she had just come back from a spiritual retreat with her Catholic high school. She had decided to turn over a new leaf and live for God, and now very confidently viewed herself as a good person. She volunteered for my "good person test" based on the Ten Commandments. I warned her that it might break her spiritual bubble and as my questions went on it seemed from the look on her face that it did. I hated to see her lose that spiritual glow but I also felt that she needed to hear the truth - the bad news that we can't just become good people by our own efforts, and that our sin doesn't just go away but that it will be accounted for. I tried to emphasize God's love in Jesus, but she seemed too shocked by the reality of this confrontation with her own sin to notice. I pray that God uses His truth before the enemy can use his lies...
Out on a fellowship and "fishing" outing with Brad, a younger brother from church, we met a teenage couple on the sidewalk - Aaron and Laureth - and they agreed to answer some questions. Laureth in particular was happy to talk about spiritual things because she had just come back from a spiritual retreat with her Catholic high school. She had decided to turn over a new leaf and live for God, and now very confidently viewed herself as a good person. She volunteered for my "good person test" based on the Ten Commandments. I warned her that it might break her spiritual bubble and as my questions went on it seemed from the look on her face that it did. I hated to see her lose that spiritual glow but I also felt that she needed to hear the truth - the bad news that we can't just become good people by our own efforts, and that our sin doesn't just go away but that it will be accounted for. I tried to emphasize God's love in Jesus, but she seemed too shocked by the reality of this confrontation with her own sin to notice. I pray that God uses His truth before the enemy can use his lies...
4/29/11 Hector, Marisa, Angel 30,30,10
As I rode bike down the sidewalk I noticed a man on his front porch smoking, so I used a MDB to help start a conversation. He (Hector) had a lot of good questions, a sign that he has been thinking a lot about Christianity, but I wasn't sure if his questions were an excuse for doubting or the sincere questions of a truth seeker. The questions were rapid-fire, with Hector not being patient enough to wait for the answers, and that's a pretty clear sign that his questions - and doubts - were more important than the answers. Then his wife Marisa and their son Angel came out on the porch and I could tell that Marisa is the one in the family with the real spiritual interest. She asked almost as many questions as Hector, but the difference was that she would wait to hear my answers, and her reaction to them was optimistic, whereas Hector was pessimistic. Unfortunately, neither of them have ever read the Bible for themselves. Marisa has been attending New Age type seminars, and Hector gets his religious "facts" and opinions from the History Channel. I was deluged with questions, and even their 10 year old son Angel had a lot of them. I wondered if this family didn't primarily need just to hear the Gospel - they need to experience Jesus in the context of a healthy local church and to see the truths of God lived out relationally before they will take them seriously. Yet if they come to church for the wrong reasons - seeking the happiness they think they want rather than the right relationship with God that they really need - I'm not so sure they'll find it. Nonetheless, I invited them to church, hoping that if they come they will both hear and experience the true Gospel.
As I rode bike down the sidewalk I noticed a man on his front porch smoking, so I used a MDB to help start a conversation. He (Hector) had a lot of good questions, a sign that he has been thinking a lot about Christianity, but I wasn't sure if his questions were an excuse for doubting or the sincere questions of a truth seeker. The questions were rapid-fire, with Hector not being patient enough to wait for the answers, and that's a pretty clear sign that his questions - and doubts - were more important than the answers. Then his wife Marisa and their son Angel came out on the porch and I could tell that Marisa is the one in the family with the real spiritual interest. She asked almost as many questions as Hector, but the difference was that she would wait to hear my answers, and her reaction to them was optimistic, whereas Hector was pessimistic. Unfortunately, neither of them have ever read the Bible for themselves. Marisa has been attending New Age type seminars, and Hector gets his religious "facts" and opinions from the History Channel. I was deluged with questions, and even their 10 year old son Angel had a lot of them. I wondered if this family didn't primarily need just to hear the Gospel - they need to experience Jesus in the context of a healthy local church and to see the truths of God lived out relationally before they will take them seriously. Yet if they come to church for the wrong reasons - seeking the happiness they think they want rather than the right relationship with God that they really need - I'm not so sure they'll find it. Nonetheless, I invited them to church, hoping that if they come they will both hear and experience the true Gospel.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)