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Witnessing..evangelism..; whatever u want to call it really
Topic Started: Nov 29 2006, 11:49 PM (318 Views)
alibi
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so what does everyone think? which approach are you most comfortable with and seems to work well with you?

personally i think quiet ways are most often the best and im most comfortable with.. im really not into this whole shouting at people millarky "repent or ye shall burn in hell" kinda thing :)

do actions really speak louder than words in this case?
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Rachy
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ok.well i agree that fire preaching and hell are wrong, because that is not the gospel, the gospel is Christ and his dying for our sins on the cross, that salvation is through belief in his finished work and not a false salvation through being scared. however, hell and Christs coming are very much reality, and something we really dont always see the seriousness off, if we did we would be so much more active for Christ. we cannot tell about salvation without also warning of the cosequences of death and hell if you are still in your sins. there arte ways of witness. one of which is showing it through actions, a healthy approach is words and actions, sometimes if its purely actions we get lazy and vice versa, both have to be consistent if people out there are to see we are genuine. so i say a healthy balance of actions and words, but do not be over bearing on people that u would cause them to rebel even more. um,do i make sense?i think im rubbish at putting my mind on the page.....the scarey thing is i do english!aahhhhhhh lol
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alibi
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haha! ya make sense! see it really is a fine balance between the two.. coz if you say one thing and do another then youre a hypocrite. funny thats sometimes the only thing people ever remember!

i remember it in su in the academy.. where in my year you had a goup of christians who would preach to anyone and everyone, let everyone know they were christians yet they were falsely nice to people, bitched behind their backs and sat in their own wee clique at lunch and any other time....hopefully that was just my year and it doesnt happen anymore.
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Claire
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I think the best way to witness is just to come alongside people and love them as they are. You can't preach at people if you don't know anything about their circumstances because that can be soo condescending and off putting. Just being such a good friend to someone and showing unconditional love and understanding, so that you can trust each other. I have so much respect for people who can stand up in a church and tell people about God. It takes such courage, but not everyone has that gift. Acts of kindness and love which gain people's respect, even if they don't understand can be just as powerful in witness, because then people start to ask questions, giving you opportunity (not in a 'holier than thou' way) to share your faith and tell them what Jesus has done. :)
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Rachel J =]
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I totally agree with Claire on this one.

I have loads of respect for those people that do stand up and preach in the streets to total strangers, I mean it would take to much courage, and to hear some of the things people yell at them is heartbreaking. That said, i do think it's rather ineffective.

In my experience, it's far far better to go about daily life with jesus in your heart, to do those little things that set you apart from others, like being a good listener or spending the time with someone who needs help. Even smiling at the person no one else makes an effort with.

That way people notice you're different, then the ask questions about you....and you are given the oppertunity to witness to someone who knows & trusts you already....it tends to work so much better, they see what we have in our hearts and want it - so they seek god.

I guess it really is just personal though....each to their own and all that sauce.

=]
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Christine1912
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Yeah I think I agree with you Rach! I know I would never be brave enough to walk up to a random stranger and tell them that God loves them. It would terify me to pieces so much that by the time I had stopped feeling sick and had got up the courage to say anything the person would be long gone! I know also that if I was preaching in the middle of some big place with people yelling abuse at me it would cut me real deep, like really really deeply!
I also much prefer talking about spiritual matters with people who I have a trusting relationship with. It makes it seem more special (although this is only my opinion) if you know they are a hard nut to crack yet you manage to get them to smile like they haven't in years or see the result of your words then I think that woul be really special! While if you minister to someone you've just found on the streets it's like you are forcing your views on them and not giving them a chance to want to hear them.

Okay, I'm rambling a wee tad here! In conclusion, yes, I agree with Rachel! :)
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Claire
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[QUOTE=Christine1912,Dec 3 2006, 09:02 PM] While if you minister to someone you've just found on the streets it's like you are forcing your views on them and not giving them a chance to want to hear them. [/QUOTE]
I totally agree with that Christine :)

There's nothing worse than putting people off the Gospel, there is a time and a place for them to hear it and receive it.
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Rachel J =]
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Exactly....sometimes they really do.....liek you hear people talking about it and slagging it off "oh aye, i was in town on saturday....and this bible basher was yelling i'd burn in hell if i didnt repent now."

it tends to support that image we have as christians in some people's eyes.
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PhilyG
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I would have the same the view as Rachel here, i do not think that the Gospel should just be preached as Hell/Fire/Damnation only, because this emotional scare tactic does not work. When preaching or telling others of the Gospel we must not scare others into it, we must tell them of Gods Love and of the Lord Jesus not just about the consequences of rejecting him.

PhilyG (and some grammatical input from korbetta)
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jonny2shoes
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Yup definetly hit the nail on the head there. :)
If someone starts telling you bad stuff about urself and that you will BURN IN HELL!!!! WOW you would rather run away and curl up in a corner than become saved. Anyway becoming a part of God's army is soo clas and its the only way to go as Jesus said!

(BTW is that THE PHILIP GRAY or just some other fella I dont no :unsure: )
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Rachy
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lol thats philip gordon! u6th. i also get confused about allthese names,wish could put faces to them!
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jonny2shoes
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ooorite :lol: *embarassed*
hate it wen that happens!!
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Spurslad
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I actually sorta agree wit Jonny2shoes first reply..
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jonny2shoes
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:) ;) B)
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Rachy
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you habe gotta warn people of the danger they are in though, but dont ram it down their throat etc, be gentle and caring, the way Jesus would, Jesus was not afraid to tell people the peril they were in. i hear alot today about receiving Jesus etc, but they dont mention the other side of the coin, and that bugs me. if people arent made aware of their sin or hell they will never learn of their real need for Christ and hsi saving power,understnad guys? jsut dotn by pass the subject cuz its still part of Gods message and u cant leave parts out, its our duty to warn people and compel them to come in. but this should be done in a Christlike manner.
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