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Q
Isn't loving them the same thing as witnessing to them? This world tells them plenty of lies about Jesus already. We don't need to tell them suck more than they already believe it. Love will bring them to repentance. Besides it's not pur job to bring them to repentance. That is the job of the holy spirit. We were commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves and make disciples. If you just tell them they suck their defenses will go up and you will get nowhere.
I know of people who were driven away from Jesus and the church because of "tough love". It was so sad!! I myself have been tempted to leave because of people's ignorance. Luckily I go to a wonderful church that knows who Jesus is. They know sin is an issue but they don't beat people down with it. That does way more harm than good. I am not saying to ignore it. I am saying don't let that be the first thing you tell people. Don't lead with that. Seek to heal like Jesus did. Seek to love like Jesus did. You wouldn't start by telling a rape survivor how big of a sinner she is. You need to get to know people and tend to their inner wounds and let Jesus and the Holy Spirit get them to a place of repentance.
This may be a hard concept to grasp because it means surrendering a level of control to Jesus but it actually sets you free from stress and worry knowing that people's salvation doesn't lie on your shoulders. Also if people don't accept Jesus, you can't force it and you can walk away knowing you did all you could and that God is still pursuing them. You can still pray for them with the hope that they make the right choice but the fact is scaring them into repentance doesn't work. It projects a distorted image of Christ. I wouldn't feel safe coming to Christ if I thought all he was going to do was condemn me.
Just my two cents.
I know of people who were driven away from Jesus and the church because of "tough love". It was so sad!! I myself have been tempted to leave because of people's ignorance. Luckily I go to a wonderful church that knows who Jesus is. They know sin is an issue but they don't beat people down with it. That does way more harm than good. I am not saying to ignore it. I am saying don't let that be the first thing you tell people. Don't lead with that. Seek to heal like Jesus did. Seek to love like Jesus did. You wouldn't start by telling a rape survivor how big of a sinner she is. You need to get to know people and tend to their inner wounds and let Jesus and the Holy Spirit get them to a place of repentance.
This may be a hard concept to grasp because it means surrendering a level of control to Jesus but it actually sets you free from stress and worry knowing that people's salvation doesn't lie on your shoulders. Also if people don't accept Jesus, you can't force it and you can walk away knowing you did all you could and that God is still pursuing them. You can still pray for them with the hope that they make the right choice but the fact is scaring them into repentance doesn't work. It projects a distorted image of Christ. I wouldn't feel safe coming to Christ if I thought all he was going to do was condemn me.
Just my two cents.
W
No where in my post did I say we should tell people they suck. Jesus didn't just hang out with sinners, he preached to them. He told them the truth about how to enter heaven, how to live their lives. The apostles did the same thing when they went out. They told the unsaved that there was a way to heaven and how to get there.
My father has the same idea as you about just loving them and hanging out with them. He has a ton of friends he has had for years and never once shared the gospel with them and they are all still atheists, agnostics (unsaved). This type of Christianity isn't love, it is tolerance. Love is telling them the truth.
Ephesians 4:15 (NASB)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
My father has the same idea as you about just loving them and hanging out with them. He has a ton of friends he has had for years and never once shared the gospel with them and they are all still atheists, agnostics (unsaved). This type of Christianity isn't love, it is tolerance. Love is telling them the truth.
Ephesians 4:15 (NASB)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,
Q
I'm not saying don't share the gospel. I am saying don't do it in a way that hurts and demeans them. SHOW them Jesus as well as tell them about him. If you tell them Jesus is compassionate, be compassionate. Avoid pointing out their sin because that is none of your business and you have no business doing so. That is not your job. Tell them how to get to heaven but make it seem desirable at least. Make God seem like a person they want to be with for eternity because he is.
W
I completely disagree. How can a sinner know what sin is if you don't show them what sin is. Try it this way, don't accuse them of sin let them say it themselves. That way you aren't seeming judgmental. Is Christianity really desirable? We really need to tell them the truth. It isn't all bunnies and fireworks everyday. We will be persecuted, we will go through death and disease, heartache and hardships. This is why so many Christians fall away from Christianity. They aren't prepared for the fact of life that just because they are a Christian they won't go through it and most likely much much more because of satan attacking them. And please tell me in scripture where it says it isn't our job to tell them the truth?
We all must turn away from our sins and this is something that needs to be said to non believers and believers alike. I'm not saying this is what is needed to be saved but it needs to be said. So many new Christians come to Christ thinking that nothing bad will happen, it is all about love and joy and God won't let anything bad happen to me ever. Then they go on their way and really don't change their lifestyle because no one told them how to change. All they know is Jesus saved them and He lives in their heart.
We all must turn away from our sins and this is something that needs to be said to non believers and believers alike. I'm not saying this is what is needed to be saved but it needs to be said. So many new Christians come to Christ thinking that nothing bad will happen, it is all about love and joy and God won't let anything bad happen to me ever. Then they go on their way and really don't change their lifestyle because no one told them how to change. All they know is Jesus saved them and He lives in their heart.
W
Yes the HS will convict people but they need the Word of God. I'm sure you have heard of this analogy before. You are standing near a cliff and you see someone running towards it and they don't see it. You start telling them "hey Jesus loves you come to Christ and make Him your Lord and Savior." As they keep on running they confess and accept Jesus then they fall off the cliff. Maybe you should have warned them about the cliff first. After they stopped then you can say "hey, you don't have to keep running toward the cliff, there is a way that will save you and He is Christ Jesus."
Q
Also if someone gets their feelings hurt and lashes out at you when you tell them they are a sinner that's not persecution.
This video may help you...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w7XIOv2KvM
This video may help you...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w7XIOv2KvM
S
"People are people so why should it be
You and I should get along so awfully
- Depeche Mode
I've been on the receiving end of some distancing since drifting from Christianity. Scripture does advise to not fellowship/be yoked with unbelievers, and while I have mixed feelings about the ethics of that, I'm respectful of people's values. My thoughts on "non-Christians" is that they're not much different than non non-Christians.
You and I should get along so awfully
- Depeche Mode
I've been on the receiving end of some distancing since drifting from Christianity. Scripture does advise to not fellowship/be yoked with unbelievers, and while I have mixed feelings about the ethics of that, I'm respectful of people's values. My thoughts on "non-Christians" is that they're not much different than non non-Christians.
My thoughts on them are that people are people lol. I have found that whether someone is nice or not has nothing to do with if they're a christian. Some of the nicest people I've known sadly are not. Some of the unfriendliest I've met have been christians. Funny how that works sometimes. But, I agree. We should try to show God's love to everyone.