1/30/12 Hajee, about 30
Jesus told his followers they would be fishers of men so Joe, a church brother, and I went out on a "streetfishing" expedition. We met a man named Hajee (not sure of spelling) as he headed into a store, and asked if he had a minute to talk about his beliefs. Hajee is from Lebanon and is a Druze, a mideast religion with close ties to Islam. He believes in reincarnation for those who aren't ready for heaven, and that all people will eventually go to heaven after a succesion of lives. We heard a lot more of his beliefs, many of which are obviously in opposition to biblical Christianity. It might have been tempting to point out our differences immediately, but we were looking for a conversation, not a confrontation. Our respect and willingness to listen gave Hajee the willingness to listen to the basics of the Gospel in return. When we went our separate ways, Joe and I prayed that Hajee will respond to the biblical truths he heard.
Gospel conversations from the streets and marketplace....
1/27/12 Vince, about 18
On my way home from work today I stopped at a park where I met a serious looking older teen on his way to the basketball courts. I asked if he had a minute to answer an interesting question - "What do you think happens after we step off this earth - what happens next after this life?" He - Vince - looked at me and broke into a big smile - "I don't know but that's just what I was thinking about before you asked me" he said. I found out Vince has no religious background and hasn't read any of the Bible, but he is definitely interested in spiritual things. The problem is he gets his information from YouTube and sensationalist TV shows. He also told about different personal experiences with ghosts or spiritual apparitions of some sort. He feels that if he was judged he would have to stay here in the middle, joining these spirits, because he feels he is neither good enough for heaven or bad enough for hell. I spent some time explaining biblical truths, and Vince was very interested but due to a short attention span and various friends walking by distracting him we only talked about 20 minutes. He was glad to get more info - please pray against everything that will try to distract him from reading it.
On my way home from work today I stopped at a park where I met a serious looking older teen on his way to the basketball courts. I asked if he had a minute to answer an interesting question - "What do you think happens after we step off this earth - what happens next after this life?" He - Vince - looked at me and broke into a big smile - "I don't know but that's just what I was thinking about before you asked me" he said. I found out Vince has no religious background and hasn't read any of the Bible, but he is definitely interested in spiritual things. The problem is he gets his information from YouTube and sensationalist TV shows. He also told about different personal experiences with ghosts or spiritual apparitions of some sort. He feels that if he was judged he would have to stay here in the middle, joining these spirits, because he feels he is neither good enough for heaven or bad enough for hell. I spent some time explaining biblical truths, and Vince was very interested but due to a short attention span and various friends walking by distracting him we only talked about 20 minutes. He was glad to get more info - please pray against everything that will try to distract him from reading it.
1/26/12 Alfred, about 24
Can an atheist believe in Jesus?
At the IIT student center we met
Alfred, a graduate student from France who agreed to talk about his
beliefs. Alfred's grandparents were Catholic and he had nominal
involvement in their church, but he decided early that God doesn't exist
because of all the evil in the world and, as Alfred put it, "God never
did anything good for me".
We talked for awhile about reasons
for belief in God, and then about the implications if God does, indeed,
exist. Does all the evil in the world indicate that God doesn't exist
because, if He did, why would He allow it to continue?
Much of
our conversation focused on the sources of evil in the world and in our
own hearts. Alfred said several times that he gets disgusted not just by
the bad behavior of others but what he sees in himself. He could see
that he can't even keep his own standards which, according to the Bible,
comes from his God-given conscience. He agreed that though he knows
better, his selfish desires often keep him from doing the right thing.
Alfred
was beginning to see the connection between our own immoral choices and
the problems in the world around us that he had blamed God for, and he
was slowly taking responsibility for his sin. There was so much more I
wanted to tell him - especially about Jesus - but I didn't want to
mistake intellectual progress about biblical truths for spiritual
progress such as conviction and repentance of sin.
Should I have
gone ahead to explain the Gospel and tell more about Jesus? As far as I
knew, he still considered himself to be an atheist. So how could it
help to describe a right relationship with God through Christ if he
didn't believe in God in the first place? Can one believe in the true
"Jesus" if they don't even believe in God?
I believe the wisdom
of scripture knows the atheist mind better than they know themselves, so
down at the deepest levels no one is truly convinced that God doesn't
exist. Everyone believes there is some sort of higher power to whom we
are morally accountable. The excuses and rationalizing that comes with
breaking their own morality tells me that much.
In the end I
think I need to be attentive to the verbal and nonverbal messages people
give me about their level of continued interest. I think Alfred had
already heard more than he could comprehend with his atheistic world
view, and he had much to think about. I didn't want to "get ahead of my
skis" so to speak, wearing out my welcome to the point that my
insistence would distract from my message, so I gave him a good book and
my contact info should he want to talk further.
1/25/12 Ed, about 20
I went on a witnessing walk with Brad from church, and we came across an IIT student out for a smoke in front of one of their Greek fraternities. He was open to answering some questions so I began by asking if he had any belief in a future existance of any sort after his life on earth is over. He - Ed - is a chemical engineering student and explained that although he grew up in a culturally Buddhist household he doesn't have any belief in a life to come or in a creator God, since they can't be proven scientifically. He liked the idea of "spirit guides" who lead one through life, but this seemed to be more of a whimsical thought inconsistent with his previous claim of commitment to science. It was cold out and I knew we didn't have time to talk for very long, so rather than go through some of the logical arguments for God's existence, I simply explained the Christian view of God as both our creator and final judge who will hold us accountable for our actions in this life. Ed was open to this possibility, though obviously very non-commital, so I just asked how he thought he would measure up to such a judgment. I used some of the Ten Commandments as a standard for comparison to help Ed see the personal nature of his sin, and even without believing in the authority of the Bible Ed could see he had failed to keep even his own standards according to his conscience. This was a lot to take in for a young guy who was just out for a smoke, being exposed to a world view entirely different from his own and I felt it important to end the conversation before wearing out our welcome. I believe Brad and I may have been part of Ed's first exposure to bibllical truths, and hope we won't be the last.
I went on a witnessing walk with Brad from church, and we came across an IIT student out for a smoke in front of one of their Greek fraternities. He was open to answering some questions so I began by asking if he had any belief in a future existance of any sort after his life on earth is over. He - Ed - is a chemical engineering student and explained that although he grew up in a culturally Buddhist household he doesn't have any belief in a life to come or in a creator God, since they can't be proven scientifically. He liked the idea of "spirit guides" who lead one through life, but this seemed to be more of a whimsical thought inconsistent with his previous claim of commitment to science. It was cold out and I knew we didn't have time to talk for very long, so rather than go through some of the logical arguments for God's existence, I simply explained the Christian view of God as both our creator and final judge who will hold us accountable for our actions in this life. Ed was open to this possibility, though obviously very non-commital, so I just asked how he thought he would measure up to such a judgment. I used some of the Ten Commandments as a standard for comparison to help Ed see the personal nature of his sin, and even without believing in the authority of the Bible Ed could see he had failed to keep even his own standards according to his conscience. This was a lot to take in for a young guy who was just out for a smoke, being exposed to a world view entirely different from his own and I felt it important to end the conversation before wearing out our welcome. I believe Brad and I may have been part of Ed's first exposure to bibllical truths, and hope we won't be the last.
1/24/12 Sam, about 23
Which is more important, a world without suffering or man's free will?
A
young man at a Burger King agreed to answer some questions about his
spiritual beliefs, and I soon found that he - Sam - has rejected any
sort of organized religion or faith in favor of science and reason. His
main reason for rejecting God, though, was that he can't understand how
a loving God would allow the poverty, injustice, and cruelty he sees in
the world.
We talked about this a while and one point I made
seemed to get him thinking - that ultimately God must have decided in
His infinite wisdom that somehow giving man free will is worth all the
trouble.
Being the rebel and free thinker that he sees himself
to be, Sam could hardly disagree that we shouldn't have free will. But
he also found it hard to believe that we humans would have enough
wickedness in our hearts that we would turn against each other and
create such problems the way we do.
I explained how the original
temptation of Adam and Eve was not just the forbidden fruit but to "be
like God" (Gen 3:5) At first Sam disagreed that it would be a problem
for everyone to be their own god - but as we talked he could see where
that would lead - selfishness, greed, poverty, famine, war - the very
things he had blamed God for in the first place.
"So you see,
there's only room for one God" I concluded. We talked quite a while,
and I could see he was really thinking it all through. On the one hand,
most would agree like Sam that having our free will is important, but
on the other hand ultimately there must be One who has the final say.
So, a world without suffering or man's free will? Is it true we can't have both?
A
future world without suffering or evil is described in the Bible as the
Kingdom of Heaven. It says in Rev. 21 that "There will be no more
death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has
passed away."
But the passage continues as it talks about who
will be in charge, and it isn't us - "...He who was seated on the throne
said, "I am making everything new!"
God will be on His throne -
after all a Kingdom must have a King - so now we must face the question
of free will. Will those in God's Kingdom be all people regardless of
whom we call King, or those who bow before the King of Kings?
We
can find some clues in Phil. 2 - "...at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
So, at the name of Jesus, every knee SHOULD bow, but will they?
The
passage continues to explain how we must make our peace with God, to
"work out your salvation with fear and trembling" now, during this
lifetime, before it's too late and we face eternity in all its power.
C.S.Lewis describes the coming of God's Kingdom and the urgency of our standing with God so well:
"When
the author walks on to the stage the play is over. God is going to
invade, all right: but what is the good of saying you are on His side
then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream
and something else—something it never entered your head to
conceive—comes crashing in; something so beautiful to some of us and so
terrible to others that none of us will have any choice left?"
Lewis
continues - "For this time it will be God without disguise; something
so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or
irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to
choose your side. There is no use saying you choose to lie down when it
has become impossible to stand up.
That will not be the time for
choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really
have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this
moment, is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to
give us that chance. It will not last for ever. We must take it or leave
it." (from Mere Christianity)
It looks like we do have free
will in the matter, until we read the rest of that passage in
Philippians - "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in
order to fulfill his good purpose." And part of that larger purpose is
the coming of a Kingdom free from the evil, poverty, injustice, and
cruelty of this present world.
Exactly how God remains sovereign,
while also giving us the free will to make the tremendous choices to
which we will be held accountable, is a mystery to me - and to many
Christians. But, however we look at it, we are called to tremendous
decisions that matter to the sovereign King.
1/22/12 Ken, about 40
On my way home from church today I stopped at a McDonald's hoping to share the Gospel. I found an African-American man dressed in a suit, looking like he had either just come from church himself or was a businessman. He - Ken - was willing to answer my questions so I sat down to talk. As it turned out he is a bodyguard by trade and had an appointment to keep, but he had 10 or 15 minutes to talk. Ken said he believes in God and a God-given purpose in life - "to make the best use of one's gifts and talents" - but he doesn't believe in heaven or hell. He thinks that one's soul goes on to influence the lives of others, particularly ones descendants. He believes that very little of what the Bible says is true, because there are so many different denominations within Christianity. He said he doesn't believe that the idea of being accountable to God on judgment day is even possible, yet he believes in those things that all major religions share in common. Where does one go with a conversation like this? I knew my time was limited, so I just touched on a few things Ken didn't seem to have thought of, like the exclusive claims of Christ to be God; the predictions of Christ about many false teachers; the desire of God to make His will known for all to see in the Bible. Finally I asked if, even though he doesn't believe it, does he have at least a basic understanding of the Bible's message? "Do you have any idea why this man who was hung on a cross 2000 years ago would have anything to do with us today?" I asked. This started a good discussion, but, unfortunately, Ken had to get to his appointment. I gave him a booklet about that very topic, and, hopefully, I also stirred up the curiosity he will need to read it.
On my way home from church today I stopped at a McDonald's hoping to share the Gospel. I found an African-American man dressed in a suit, looking like he had either just come from church himself or was a businessman. He - Ken - was willing to answer my questions so I sat down to talk. As it turned out he is a bodyguard by trade and had an appointment to keep, but he had 10 or 15 minutes to talk. Ken said he believes in God and a God-given purpose in life - "to make the best use of one's gifts and talents" - but he doesn't believe in heaven or hell. He thinks that one's soul goes on to influence the lives of others, particularly ones descendants. He believes that very little of what the Bible says is true, because there are so many different denominations within Christianity. He said he doesn't believe that the idea of being accountable to God on judgment day is even possible, yet he believes in those things that all major religions share in common. Where does one go with a conversation like this? I knew my time was limited, so I just touched on a few things Ken didn't seem to have thought of, like the exclusive claims of Christ to be God; the predictions of Christ about many false teachers; the desire of God to make His will known for all to see in the Bible. Finally I asked if, even though he doesn't believe it, does he have at least a basic understanding of the Bible's message? "Do you have any idea why this man who was hung on a cross 2000 years ago would have anything to do with us today?" I asked. This started a good discussion, but, unfortunately, Ken had to get to his appointment. I gave him a booklet about that very topic, and, hopefully, I also stirred up the curiosity he will need to read it.
1/22/12 Ken, about 40
On my way home from church today I stopped at a McDonald's hoping to share the Gospel. I found an African-American man dressed in a suit, looking like he had either just come from church himself or was a businessman. He - Ken - was willing to answer my questions so I sat down to talk. As it turned out he is a bodyguard by trade and had an appointment to keep, but he had 10 or 15 minutes to talk. Ken said he believes in God and a God-given purpose in life - "to make the best use of one's gifts and talents" - but he doesn't believe in heaven or hell. He thinks that one's soul goes on to influence the lives of others, particularly ones descendants. He believes that very little of what the Bible says is true, because there are so many different denominations within Christianity. He said he doesn't believe that the idea of being accountable to God on judgment day is even possible, yet he believes in those things that all major religions share in common. Where does one go with a conversation like this? I knew my time was limited, so I just touched on a few things Ken didn't seem to have thought of, like the exclusive claims of Christ to be God; the predictions of Christ about many false teachers; and the desire of God to make His will known for all to see in the Bible. Finally I asked if, even though he doesn't believe it, does he have at least a basic understanding of the Bible's message? "Do you have any idea why this man who was hung on a cross 2000 years ago would have anything to do with us today?" I asked. This started a good discussion, but, unfortunately, Ken had to get to his appointment. I gave him a booklet about that very topic, and, hopefully, I also stirred up the curiosity he will need to read it.
On my way home from church today I stopped at a McDonald's hoping to share the Gospel. I found an African-American man dressed in a suit, looking like he had either just come from church himself or was a businessman. He - Ken - was willing to answer my questions so I sat down to talk. As it turned out he is a bodyguard by trade and had an appointment to keep, but he had 10 or 15 minutes to talk. Ken said he believes in God and a God-given purpose in life - "to make the best use of one's gifts and talents" - but he doesn't believe in heaven or hell. He thinks that one's soul goes on to influence the lives of others, particularly ones descendants. He believes that very little of what the Bible says is true, because there are so many different denominations within Christianity. He said he doesn't believe that the idea of being accountable to God on judgment day is even possible, yet he believes in those things that all major religions share in common. Where does one go with a conversation like this? I knew my time was limited, so I just touched on a few things Ken didn't seem to have thought of, like the exclusive claims of Christ to be God; the predictions of Christ about many false teachers; and the desire of God to make His will known for all to see in the Bible. Finally I asked if, even though he doesn't believe it, does he have at least a basic understanding of the Bible's message? "Do you have any idea why this man who was hung on a cross 2000 years ago would have anything to do with us today?" I asked. This started a good discussion, but, unfortunately, Ken had to get to his appointment. I gave him a booklet about that very topic, and, hopefully, I also stirred up the curiosity he will need to read it.
1/17/12 Jaime, about 30
I used Gospel tracts as conversation starters with a dozen or so people at a laundromat. Most were hard-working young parents who worried about paying the bills and didn't think much about eternal things, just assuming they will go to heaven because they see themeselves as good people. My poor Spanish limited the depth of our conversations but they all thanked me for the advice I gave. At the end I met Jaime, a young father there with his wife and several young children. Jaime proved to be a solid believer at a church whose pastor continually emphasizes that we can't be saved by our own good works but only by the work of Jesus on the cross. This was so refreshing because I've met too many churchgoers who have forgotten - or never knew - that we are sinners in need of a Savior. I prayed with Jaime - we had church right there in the laundromat - asking that God will bless him as the spiritual leader of his young family.
I used Gospel tracts as conversation starters with a dozen or so people at a laundromat. Most were hard-working young parents who worried about paying the bills and didn't think much about eternal things, just assuming they will go to heaven because they see themeselves as good people. My poor Spanish limited the depth of our conversations but they all thanked me for the advice I gave. At the end I met Jaime, a young father there with his wife and several young children. Jaime proved to be a solid believer at a church whose pastor continually emphasizes that we can't be saved by our own good works but only by the work of Jesus on the cross. This was so refreshing because I've met too many churchgoers who have forgotten - or never knew - that we are sinners in need of a Savior. I prayed with Jaime - we had church right there in the laundromat - asking that God will bless him as the spiritual leader of his young family.
1/12/12 Sandy, 65
"Law and grace" evangelism acknowledges that people don't put their trust in the Savior until they know they need to be saved. the law is a tool God uses to help bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24) This means we are to use the law like a farmer uses a plow - to do the work of an evangelist by preparing the soil of people's hearts in preparation for the Gospel seed. I was trying to do just this at a McDonalds today as I talked with Sandy, an African-American woman whose heart seems hardened after years of her dysfunctional church. She related a recent controversy with her church friends - whether or not she "dissed" them when she gave their group a general greeting when they thought they deserved a special personal greeting. Sandy views the whole church as hypocrites who only want to judge others, so naturally she thought I was judging her when I asked how well she has kept the law. She was immediately defensive, giving excuses instead of taking responsibility for her sins. "I don't tell lies, I just tell stories" for example. But before her defensiveness turned into belligerence, I went to plan "B" - apply the law to myself. I explained how I would be found guilty on Judgement Day if judged according to the standard of the law, such as the Ten Commandments. Almost immediately, Sandy came to my defense, probably because she knew that what applied to me would apply to her too. Instead of getting nowhere arguing about her sin, she began to understand her own sin indirectly - by seeing how the Ten Commandments would apply to me. Now she understands more clearly why she needs a Savior.
"Law and grace" evangelism acknowledges that people don't put their trust in the Savior until they know they need to be saved. the law is a tool God uses to help bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24) This means we are to use the law like a farmer uses a plow - to do the work of an evangelist by preparing the soil of people's hearts in preparation for the Gospel seed. I was trying to do just this at a McDonalds today as I talked with Sandy, an African-American woman whose heart seems hardened after years of her dysfunctional church. She related a recent controversy with her church friends - whether or not she "dissed" them when she gave their group a general greeting when they thought they deserved a special personal greeting. Sandy views the whole church as hypocrites who only want to judge others, so naturally she thought I was judging her when I asked how well she has kept the law. She was immediately defensive, giving excuses instead of taking responsibility for her sins. "I don't tell lies, I just tell stories" for example. But before her defensiveness turned into belligerence, I went to plan "B" - apply the law to myself. I explained how I would be found guilty on Judgement Day if judged according to the standard of the law, such as the Ten Commandments. Almost immediately, Sandy came to my defense, probably because she knew that what applied to me would apply to her too. Instead of getting nowhere arguing about her sin, she began to understand her own sin indirectly - by seeing how the Ten Commandments would apply to me. Now she understands more clearly why she needs a Savior.
Is There Value Simply In Asking Questions?
1/11/12 Dave, about 18
Is there value in asking questions without providing answers?
I often fail to share my faith for fear there is not enough time to explain it all or that I will be cut short. But do we ever really "explain it all"?
Lately I am realizing that sharing ANY biblical truths can be helpful to others and I have the hope that God's word "will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire" (Isaiah 55)
One day I spent some fellowship time walking at a park with Sal, a brother from church. While I wasn't looking for a long witnessing conversation, I did stop a few people to ask what they thought about spiritual things.
One of the people I stopped, an older teen named Dave, clearly appreciated some simple logical questions that many people don't think to ask, like...
"What do you think will happen to you after this life?
"If there is both a heaven and hell, then some people must go to one and some to the other. How are they different from each other? ...Who judges?"
"What standard are people judged by? Is anyone perfect?"
"How good do we have to be? Are YOU a good person?"
Dave had drifted from his Catholic roots but thought intently about these questions and others in a ten minute exchange on the sidewalk.
"If we exist eternally then where we go after we die is something we should take very seriously. Wouldn't you agree?"
Dave did agree, and he was glad to take some things to read about these very important questions.
My friend Sal, kind of a quiet and reserved person, had agreed ahead of time to pray quietly during any witnessing conversations, and it sure added a lot to our conversation afterward!
I often fail to share my faith for fear there is not enough time to explain it all or that I will be cut short. But do we ever really "explain it all"?
Lately I am realizing that sharing ANY biblical truths can be helpful to others and I have the hope that God's word "will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire" (Isaiah 55)
One day I spent some fellowship time walking at a park with Sal, a brother from church. While I wasn't looking for a long witnessing conversation, I did stop a few people to ask what they thought about spiritual things.
One of the people I stopped, an older teen named Dave, clearly appreciated some simple logical questions that many people don't think to ask, like...
"What do you think will happen to you after this life?
"If there is both a heaven and hell, then some people must go to one and some to the other. How are they different from each other? ...Who judges?"
"What standard are people judged by? Is anyone perfect?"
"How good do we have to be? Are YOU a good person?"
Dave had drifted from his Catholic roots but thought intently about these questions and others in a ten minute exchange on the sidewalk.
"If we exist eternally then where we go after we die is something we should take very seriously. Wouldn't you agree?"
Dave did agree, and he was glad to take some things to read about these very important questions.
My friend Sal, kind of a quiet and reserved person, had agreed ahead of time to pray quietly during any witnessing conversations, and it sure added a lot to our conversation afterward!
1/8/12 Tito, about 45
I started a gospel conversation on the sidewalk with a man who turned out to be a Jehovah's Witness (JW). I have never encountered a JW yet who wasn't willing to talk theology with me and I didn't feel I needed to spend much time "earning the right to be heard" by listening (and I feel I have heard it all from them before) so I cut right to the chase: "From what I understand, you believe Jesus is not God, but rather just a created being, is that right?" Tito was well aware of these basic differences from orthodox Christianity and had ready answers to my questions. It occurs to me that their teaching about Jesus' nature is not just some subtle difference between Christians and JW's but rather a basic teaching that the JW's drill on over and over again, teaching how to counteract arguments against their belief that Jesus is only an angelic being created by God rather than being God Himself. It may seem trivial to many unversed Christians and even more so to unbelievers, but it has huge theological implications. I went over some of these with Tito, knowing I'm not going to change his mind but hoping to plant a seed that may cause him to question his JW indoctination and to look at the Bible for himself. I pointed out that the JW version of the Bible (The New World Translation) has been altered according to their teachings, and also explained how the sacrifice of a finite created being in our behalf would be an insufficient substitute for our sins against an infinite God. "If God created Jesus, then you realize there was a time when Jesus didn't exist, right?" It was questions like this that I hoped would begin to help Tito see the errors of his beliefs.
I started a gospel conversation on the sidewalk with a man who turned out to be a Jehovah's Witness (JW). I have never encountered a JW yet who wasn't willing to talk theology with me and I didn't feel I needed to spend much time "earning the right to be heard" by listening (and I feel I have heard it all from them before) so I cut right to the chase: "From what I understand, you believe Jesus is not God, but rather just a created being, is that right?" Tito was well aware of these basic differences from orthodox Christianity and had ready answers to my questions. It occurs to me that their teaching about Jesus' nature is not just some subtle difference between Christians and JW's but rather a basic teaching that the JW's drill on over and over again, teaching how to counteract arguments against their belief that Jesus is only an angelic being created by God rather than being God Himself. It may seem trivial to many unversed Christians and even more so to unbelievers, but it has huge theological implications. I went over some of these with Tito, knowing I'm not going to change his mind but hoping to plant a seed that may cause him to question his JW indoctination and to look at the Bible for himself. I pointed out that the JW version of the Bible (The New World Translation) has been altered according to their teachings, and also explained how the sacrifice of a finite created being in our behalf would be an insufficient substitute for our sins against an infinite God. "If God created Jesus, then you realize there was a time when Jesus didn't exist, right?" It was questions like this that I hoped would begin to help Tito see the errors of his beliefs.
1/7/12 Aaron, 26
I stopped a young man on the sidewalk, asking if he had time to answer an interesting question. This began a long interesting exchange that moved over to a bench at a nearby bus stop and may have reached people waiting for the bus more than it reached him. The young man - Aaron - is Ethiopian, Jewish, and gay. He majored in philosophy and economics at the University of Chicago and now works as a political analyst, having worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He had been headed to hear a lecture by one of his university professors but chose to miss it as we talked for an hour and a half about Christianity and his form of Judaism. I think my patience in hearing about his beliefs led to his patience with mine. Though highly educated, Aaron really didn't understand biblical Christianity. In fact, he had that intellectual and scholarly pride that prohibited him from having the ability to understand, at least by his own efforts. Nevertheless, he was willing to listen to my explanation of the Gospel - not just the good news of grace but the biblical and hard to swallow aspect of the law - though he was not willing to agree with it. No matter - Aaron wasn't the only one to hear the Gospel as many bus riders came to our bus stop and listened as they waited.
I stopped a young man on the sidewalk, asking if he had time to answer an interesting question. This began a long interesting exchange that moved over to a bench at a nearby bus stop and may have reached people waiting for the bus more than it reached him. The young man - Aaron - is Ethiopian, Jewish, and gay. He majored in philosophy and economics at the University of Chicago and now works as a political analyst, having worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He had been headed to hear a lecture by one of his university professors but chose to miss it as we talked for an hour and a half about Christianity and his form of Judaism. I think my patience in hearing about his beliefs led to his patience with mine. Though highly educated, Aaron really didn't understand biblical Christianity. In fact, he had that intellectual and scholarly pride that prohibited him from having the ability to understand, at least by his own efforts. Nevertheless, he was willing to listen to my explanation of the Gospel - not just the good news of grace but the biblical and hard to swallow aspect of the law - though he was not willing to agree with it. No matter - Aaron wasn't the only one to hear the Gospel as many bus riders came to our bus stop and listened as they waited.
1/6/12 Bob, 52
On a morning witnessing outing with Matt, from church, we spoke with an older man named Bob, the building engineer at the mall we were at. Bob was blessed to have grown up with a Bible-believing grandmother whom he said left a huge impact on his life. However, partially since his live-in girlfriend is Jewish, Bob takes the attitude that since one cannot know for sure what happens after we die, it is useless to get serious about religion and the best we can do is try to be good people and just hope for the best when we die. Since Bob already claims to respect the Bible in honor of his grandmother (though he doesn't read it and has forgotten much of what's in it) he was willing to hear various verses, and Matt did a good job of helping Bob understand that he has a conscience and that God will hold him accountable when he dies. However Bob ignored the work of Christ, arguing instead that he is just not a bad person. After a while the conversation started to become more like a debate, with Bob holding his ground firmly to his idea that he just wants to hope for the best when it comes to eternal life. I believe, however, that he was reminded of some of those biblical truths from his grandmother that his selective memory didn't allow him to remember, and I hope he'll go back to the Bible to see for himself if what we were telling him is true.
1/3/12 John about 45
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves...." 1 Cor. 13:5 I was at a McDonald's meeting with "T" - a new believer who was experiencing doubts about his salvation. He had just heard a sermon by Paul Washer , a preacher who often advises American churchgoers to "examine yourselves" as it says in Corinthians - and for good reason I have been finding out. I meet more and more people while witnessing who have fallen into the trap of easy-believism and cheap grace. "T" has proclaimed Jesus as his Lord for a week or so, following a few months of investigating Christianity and counting the cost. As he has continued to dig deep into his new faith he came across the Washer sermon and worries that he isn't showing any spiritual fruit. I told "T" that it is good to examine his own faith, but also that Washer's sermon was directed more toward the countless churchgoers who are false converts with only a dead faith. After our weekly meetings i have been taking "T" with me to listen in on my witnessing conversations, and today we met a man named John who was a perfect example of the kind of person Washer was speaking of. John depends on his past church upbringing and his mother's status in her church for his claim on salvation. We talked awhile as "T" listened in. "God has no grandchildren. You need your own relationship with the Lord" I told John. I couldn't find a better example to help "T" understand the false ideas of Christianity that Washer was referring to. T and I prayed for John as we ended our time together.
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves...." 1 Cor. 13:5 I was at a McDonald's meeting with "T" - a new believer who was experiencing doubts about his salvation. He had just heard a sermon by Paul Washer , a preacher who often advises American churchgoers to "examine yourselves" as it says in Corinthians - and for good reason I have been finding out. I meet more and more people while witnessing who have fallen into the trap of easy-believism and cheap grace. "T" has proclaimed Jesus as his Lord for a week or so, following a few months of investigating Christianity and counting the cost. As he has continued to dig deep into his new faith he came across the Washer sermon and worries that he isn't showing any spiritual fruit. I told "T" that it is good to examine his own faith, but also that Washer's sermon was directed more toward the countless churchgoers who are false converts with only a dead faith. After our weekly meetings i have been taking "T" with me to listen in on my witnessing conversations, and today we met a man named John who was a perfect example of the kind of person Washer was speaking of. John depends on his past church upbringing and his mother's status in her church for his claim on salvation. We talked awhile as "T" listened in. "God has no grandchildren. You need your own relationship with the Lord" I told John. I couldn't find a better example to help "T" understand the false ideas of Christianity that Washer was referring to. T and I prayed for John as we ended our time together.
(Note: I - Jeff - usually limit my posts here to stories of witnessing encounters,but this story was so encouraging to me I had to copy it here. It was written by Richard Innes)
The Impact of One Faithful Witness
Jesus said, "You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere."1
Many will have read about "layman Edward Kimball who gathered the nerve to witness and win the soul of a young shoe salesman named D.L. Moody to Christ. D.L. Moody went on to become one of the greatest evangelists in his day. But, do you know the rest of the story? D.L. Moody went to England and worked a profound change in the ministry of F.B. Meyer. F.B. Meyer, with his new evangelistic fervor, influenced J. Wilbur Chapman. Chapman helped in the ministry of converted baseball player Billy Sunday, who had a profound impact upon Mordacai Ham. And Mordacai Ham, holding a revival in North Carolina, led Billy Graham to Christ. And the man who started it all was a layman, Edward Kimball, who took seriously Christ's commission to be a witness in his world."2
And we all know the incredible way God has used Billy Graham to reach millions of people worldwide with the gospel.
You and I are not too likely to ever become a Billy Sunday or a Billy Graham, but every single one of us can be an "Edward Kimball" witness for Christ.
As the hymn writer so eloquently said, "When we all get to heaven what a day of rejoicing that will be, when we all see Jesus we'll sing and shout the victory." And how wonderful it will also be to meet the ones who are in heaven because of your and my witness for Jesus. Only heaven will reveal who these ones are.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, I'm available for you to use ... please use me today and every day to be an effective witness for you and to be 'as Jesus' in some way to every life I touch. And grant that they, seeing Jesus in me, will want you for themselves. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."
1. Mark 16:15 (TLB).
2. Submitted by Deward Hurst. Cited on the Sermon Fodder list. To subscribe please send an e-mail to Sermon_Fodder-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
P.S. I happened to graduate from Moody Bible Institute, the school that D.L. Moody founded.
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