Archive for: Christians
Let’s face it. Whether it concerns politics, religion, or almost any other topic, our culture frowns upon those who state that their way is the only way. Such claims are viewed as arrogant, self-serving, and narrow-minded.
To some degree, I concur with that assessment. I cringe when I hear political commentators who boast that their opinions are superior to all others. They claim that anyone taking a different view is either uneducated, uninformed, or unintelligent. The mere tone of their words is enough to make me change the station or navigate to another website.
Christians can fall into the same trap. While it is important that we present Christ as “the only way,” we need to constantly keep our tone and attitude in check. When talking with non-Christians, “how” we say it is just as important as “what” we say. I am not saying that a loving tone takes precedence over truth, but it is just as important and often forgotten. A superior attitude can immediately put the brakes on a conversation about Christ.
The apostle Paul put it best when he said, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2.
One of the best ways to keep myself in check when discussing the exclusive claims of Christ and Christianity is to constantly evaluate my motivation. If my motivation is to win the argument or put someone “in their place,” I am in the wrong. If my motivation is more about my good over and above the good of the person to whom I am speaking, I am in the wrong. I not only try to monitor this during the conversation, but I evaluate it after the fact. Several times I have had to apologize to a non-believer because I realized after the fact that my motivation in the discussion was selfish. The motivation of being perceived as “being right” can get in the way of my love for someone else.
Knowing my motivation is love, wanting the best for the other person, I then can proceed with answering their questions and statements about the exclusive claims of Christianity. I always try to direct the conversation to the claims of Christ as found in John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” That way I let them know that my belief is rooted in the claims of Christ, not in my desire for my opinions to be “superior” over others.
Basing the discussion on the words of Christ Himself allows us to talk about “why” He said that He is the only way. He is the only way because He is the only one leader of a major religion to have risen from the dead. He is the only way because He truly is the only solution to our sin problem through His work on the cross. And, most importantly, be sure to share your personal reasons why you believe He is the only way. People don’t just want to hear “textbook” answers, but real testimonies of Christ’s impact on your life.
On the internet, most of us have seen Christians who respond to others in a way that repels them from Christ. Their intentions may be good, but the methods they use have the opposite effect of what they were trying to achieve. Here are a couple of hypothetical examples of good and bad ways to share your faith online.
Scenario One
Abe reads a blog post from a friend who is feeling down in the dumps, and responds with a comment.
Wrong Response:
“If you want to feel happier, stop smoking and start going to church. Get rid of all the sin in your life, and then trust in Christ alone to save you from your sin. You’d be surprised at how happy you’ll be when you surrender to God.”
Better Response:
“I am sorry to hear you are having a bad day. I am willing to lend a listening ear if you want to talk. Before I became a Christian, I had a lot of depressing days. Don’t get me wrong. Life still isn’t perfect, but Jesus Christ has given me strength to face the hardships that arise. Best of all, he offers salvation from the eternal consequences of my sin as a free gift. Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. This salvation isn’t something that is achieved by any good deeds that we do (phew… I would sure be in trouble if that were the case).”
Scenario Two
Abe reads a post from a friend who writes about how much he hates Christians, because he finds them judgmental. He responds with a comment.
Wrong Response:
“It sounds like you are trying to run from God. The pleasures of sin are good for a season, but in the grand scheme of things hell will not be pleasurable. After you die, it won’t matter to you whether or not Christians are judgmental. It will matter whether you have trusted in Christ to save you.”
Better Response:
“It sounds like you might have been hurt by Christians in the past. I have definitely had my fair share of hurts from fellow Christians myself. You’d think that we’d at least treat each other better. None of us are perfect that is for sure. I am so thankful that being a Christian isn’t dependent upon the actions of other imperfect Christians, but upon Christ who is perfect. Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead. This salvation isn’t something that is achieved by any good deeds that we do or don’t do, but in trusting in Christ alone to save.”
What do you think are some factors that lead to effective methods of sharing our faith?
A Platform for Proclamation
The Internet has become a great platform for proclaiming the good news about Christ. Unfortunately, you don’t have to look very hard to notice a verbal fight or online debate. This happens everywhere from Blog posts to Facebook to news articles’ responses. This applies to online evangelism as well, and I am sure probably any type of online conversation.
Lest you think this comes mostly from angry unbelievers, let me assure you that we Christians are not immune. Yes, Christians and non-Christians alike are quick to get caught up in online arguments.
A Danger in Online Communication
I’ve noticed people being far more careful of the way they speak when they are face to face with people, or when they know a person personally. Part of the appeal (and danger) of the Internet is being able to say whatever you want wherever you want with very little visible consequences. It is human nature to assume little or no damage unless it hits us in the face. The Internet is afterall a medium in which it is easier to make comments anonymously, or to say mean spirited words in secret knowing that people don’t have a tangible way of getting back at you.
An Unhinged Tongue
I have winced many times upon reading the harsh words of a person with a screen name like “JesusSuperChic777.” (Now mind you, that was not the actual screen name I saw. The ones I have observed in real life I will keep undisclosed.) This can be detrimental to one’s testimony and hinder people from listening to what we have to say. Further still, it makes me ask myself, “Have I done similar things?”
A Negative Message
When we fight with each other, we send a negative message about Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. When we fight with unbelievers, they can be turned off to Christianity. Quite frankly I don’t always blame them. I think we all have been burned by fellow Christians at one time or another. Yet, it is a privilege and a wonder that God uses inadequate people such as us as his primary means of sharing the “good news.”
A Higher Standard
We ought to live up to this privilege as best as we can. As Christians, we ought to hold ourselves to a higher standard of conduct in our online communication. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
There of course was no Internet in the NT times, but I think what is true with our verbal speech is equally (if not more) true for our written speech. It is important to remember that if someone misinterprets what we write it is harder to catch, and harder to show them our real motives behind what we say.
There will always be people who are offended by the Gospel, but keeping it “clear and simple” will go a long way to cutting down on the online verbal battles. I urge you to remember the simplicity of the Gospel, “Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Each month we have what we call an Igniter Lunch where anybody can come, grab a sandwich, and listen to a speaker give a message on evangelism. Tomorrow, I’ll be the speaker and will talk about “How does a busy Christian find time to evangelize?” When I think of this question two things come to mind.
One, we make this entire issue more difficult than it is. You don’t have to take time out of your schedule for non-Christians, you simply have to work them into your schedule. What are the three things believers do that non-Christians also do? They are eat, read, and play sports. So we need what Winston Churchill once called, “The genius to recognize the obvious”. Here are a few ideas:
- You can converse with non-Christians over a lunch table or have a non-Christian couple over for dinner. Lighthearted dinner conversations allow you to turn the conversations to spiritual things and ultimately the Lord.
- Share a book you’ve read about spiritual matters. Loan it to them and solicit their response. Give it to them with the compliment that you have been impressed with how much they like to read.
- Finally, most sports can be participated in with non-Christians. I tell people that I like anything that is outdoors and physically abusive. So my three sports are hunting, running, and water skiing. I have done all three with non-Christians and on occasion led people to Christ.
Secondly, busy people who are committed Christians make time for non-Christians when necessary, they don’t have time for non-Christians. They do so because they are absolutely convinced that the only thing they can take with them to heaven is a friend. They therefore spend time with non-Christians because they feel they are more important than their investments, hobbies, cars, lawn, or anything else. Once more, they prioritize.
So much more could be said and will be shared at the Igniter Lunch, far more than a blog post will allow me to say but I hope this gets your thinking started. But these are just my thoughts. Suppose I ask you the question, “How does a busy person find time to evangelize, what would YOU say?”
Few things are more distressing to a Christian than the realization that, unless something happens, those who are part of their family on earth will not be part of their family in heaven. Out of concern and compassion and often discouragement and distress, individuals ask, “How do I reach my own relatives with the Gospel?” Several things must be kept in mind. First and foremost recognize that you, in and of yourself, cannot bring your relatives to Christ. Christians often take responsibility upon their shoulders in this area. This concern for their salvation is healthy, but the inner frustration is not. You must recognize that unless the Spirit of God dispels the darkness from their minds and eyes and causes them to see their need, they will never come to Christ.
Another thing to consider is that relatives who will not listen to what you have to say may instead look at the way you live. Live the kind of consistent Christian life that attracts non-Christian family members to the Savior. The God who brought you to Christ can save any non-Christian relative. God has never met a person His heart did not love or His arm could not reach. If you do your part, God will do His. Sooner than you may think, as they trust the Savior they may say, “Thanks for not giving up on me,” as you welcome them into the forever family.
The Associated Press on Monday, June 23, 2008, released a statement that caught the attention of millions, Christians and non-Christians alike. The statement read, “Among the most startling numbers in the survey conducted last year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57% of evangelical church attendees said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life, in conflict with traditional evangelical teaching.”
Once again, the issue comes back to a very simple question. Is Jesus Christ the One He said He was? If He was, the evangelical church attendees could not be more wrong. If He wasn’t, anything evangelical church attendees say has as much authority and credibility as what He said.
He declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:26). If He was indeed the Son of God and the only one who can extend eternal life, then there is no other way to God except through Him. If He wasn’t the Son of God, what He said about being the only way to God is of no value whatsoever.
How do we know if He was who He said He was? The issue is bigger than the Bible. It’s the resurrection and the empty tomb the third day. That is the issue on which everything Christ said stand or falls. The Bible declares itself ot be the Word of God, without error or mistake (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:20, 21). But the proof behind the empty tomb is far wider than the Bible. In fact the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most attested fact of history. Thomas Arnold, who was author of a three volume history of Rome and appointed to the Chair of Modern History of Oxford said, “I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by letter and fuller evidence of every sort to the understanding of a fair inquirer than that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”
Therefore, before anyone, anywhere can say, “There are many religions that can lead to eternal life,” they must disprove the empty tomb of Christ. So far, nobody has. In fact, I personally do know of one person who objectively studied the evidence behind the empty tomb that did not become a believer. That means they came to God as sinners, recognized Jesus Christ paid for their sins on a cross and rose again, and trusted Christ alone as their only way to heaven.
