Balancing free will with spreading the Gospel

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R

retrofuturist

New member
#1
Mar 16, 2023
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#1
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

Well-known member
#2
Mar 8, 2022
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#2
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...
Do you have specific examples/experiences?

I think there is tension where someone is resistant to the Gospel but you are continuing discuss the Gospel. However, sometimes people are naturally curious so there is not a lot of tension.
 
R

retrofuturist

New member
#3
Mar 16, 2023
9
9
3
#3
Greetings MsMediator,

Thanks for your response.

MsMediator said:
Do you have specific examples/experiences?
Click to expand...
Not yet, because I'm quite new to Christianity, hence the questions... but I would like to be clear on how to reconcile these matters first so I can have the confidence I'd be doing more good than harm.

MsMediator said:
I think there is tension where someone is resistant to the Gospel but you are continuing discuss the Gospel. However, sometimes people are naturally curious so there is not a lot of tension.
Click to expand...
That's my sense too. I also know there's a lot of cultural resistance and nowadays out-and-out hostility towards Christianity, due to the rise of materialism, rooted in Critical Theory etc.

Paul.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#4
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#4
retrofuturist said:
I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.
Click to expand...
The issue of free will in this case is moot. God now COMMANDS all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is exactly what people need to hear.
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

Well-known member
#5
Mar 8, 2022
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#5
retrofuturist said:
Greetings MsMediator,

Thanks for your response.


Not yet, because I'm quite new to Christianity, hence the questions... but I would like to be clear on how to reconcile these matters first so I can have the confidence I'd be doing more good than harm.


That's my sense too. I also know there's a lot of cultural resistance and nowadays out-and-out hostility towards Christianity, due to the rise of materialism, rooted in Critical Theory etc.

Paul.
Click to expand...
It is difficult because most people who are very anti-Christian, whom I have met, are fully aware about the requirement to accept Jesus and the part about hell. So, there is really nothing new for me to tell them about Christianity. Also, a lot of nonbelievers want "proof", which I cannot provide. However, I believe they may be moved by personal testimonies more rather than trying to convince.
 
wattie

wattie

Senior Member
#6
Feb 24, 2009
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#6
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...
It always helped me to think it was God's doing in the convicting and saving. All I was doing was sharing the message.

So it was never me or the group that got someone saved.. it was God every time.

So the pressure was lessened. Then we also came to think we don't need to pressure people to make a decision for Christ on the spot.

So they could go home and with God and talk to Him without us in their face.
 
The_Watchers_2017

The_Watchers_2017

Banned
#7
Jun 20, 2022
6,460
1,330
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#7
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...
i do a couple of things that is odd and does not cause anyone any affliction.

the most noticeable thing is i have a light gray baseball cap i wear backwards. in black thick ink i wrote on it [[Jesus Saves]]. then as i walk in the stores and malls people behind me can be reminded that Jesus Saves without me pressuring them.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#8
Jul 8, 2018
8,441
1,213
113
#8
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...

I believe the scriptures to teach that God has given mankind the freedom to choose how they want to live their lives here on earth, but those that God gave to his Son were redeemed from their sins, by Jesus death on the cross, and promised an eternal inheritance of heaven.

John 10:27-29 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

My Father, WHICH GAVE THEM ME, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
 
J

John146

Senior Member
#9
Jan 13, 2016
17,162
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#9
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...
Don't worry about what kind of soil it is, just spread the seed of the word of God and let God do the work.
 
ResidentAlien

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
#10
Apr 21, 2021
8,424
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#10
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King!

Paul.
Click to expand...
In my experience, the importance of caring about people and taking an interest in them can't be overstated. I ask a lot of questions; try to get to know someone. I've seen so many people start right off preaching at people. You don't have to preach, just take an interest and share your own faith when the Lord opens a door.
 
Pilgrimshope

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
#11
Sep 2, 2020
14,652
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#11
wattie said:
It always helped me to think it was God's doing in the convicting and saving. All I was doing was sharing the message.

So it was never me or the group that got someone saved.. it was God every time.

So the pressure was lessened. Then we also came to think we don't need to pressure people to make a decision for Christ on the spot.

So they could go home and with God and talk to Him without us in their face.
Click to expand...
Amen messengers share the message , the message of accepted leads to a realization that we must change , it’s already in us to change but we don’t know it because of sin

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:24-26‬ ‭KJV‬‬


We we’re slaves to sin our whole lives doing it’s bidding without remorse , and so after a long time as slaves we forget what freedom is like what it is to be given a choice

our nature is conditioned for our own worldly pleasure

but our spirit for righteousness in brotherly love that helps others and lays down self to do so there’s a conflict between flesh and spirit the spirit is working to free us from sins dominion but we have to actually hear the right message and decide to be free
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#12
Jul 8, 2018
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#12
Nehemiah6 said:
The issue of free will in this case is moot. God now COMMANDS all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is exactly what people need to hear.
Click to expand...

In most of the scriptures, you are applying "all men" to be referencing all of mankind, which is not rightly interpreting the scriptures correctly.

The Acts 17 scripture, that you have quoted, has reference to "all men who are the offspring of God" (verse 22-30).

These men of Athens were worshiping an unknown God that Paul is telling them that the unknown God, to them, is the living God.
 
F

ForestGreenCook

Well-known member
#13
Jul 8, 2018
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#13
MsMediator said:
It is difficult because most people who are very anti-Christian, whom I have met, are fully aware about the requirement to accept Jesus and the part about hell. So, there is really nothing new for me to tell them about Christianity. Also, a lot of nonbelievers want "proof", which I cannot provide. However, I believe they may be moved by personal testimonies more rather than trying to convince.
Click to expand...

A person that is searching for spiritual truths is already born again, because the natural man will not, and indeed, cannot search for anything spiritual, that he cannot discern, and thinks it to be foolishness. (1 Cor 2:14).
 
MsMediator

MsMediator

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#14
Mar 8, 2022
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#14
ForestGreenCook said:
A person that is searching for spiritual truths is already born again, because the natural man will not, and indeed, cannot search for anything spiritual, that he cannot discern, and thinks it to be foolishness. (1 Cor 2:14).
Click to expand...
However, a lot of people searching different religions are still undecided.
 
K

Karlon

Well-known member
#16
Mar 8, 2023
2,700
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#16
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...
all christians should act on a word received for the Holy Spirit for the benevolence of someone, immediately. if you feel like you don't want to, ask God for strength & a better joyful willing attitude towards that. what i try to accomplish is to place myself last when its fun time. that's a big test but the pass of the test is an everlasting memory. yes, Jesus is never forced, he is merrily "presented" in the Bible. we all go thru times, more often than not, to be selfish & please ourselves rather to help someone else & that's the "ticket" right there to recondition yourself to place others 1st.
 
Evmur

Evmur

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#17
Feb 28, 2021
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christianchat.com
#17
retrofuturist said:
Greetings brothers and sisters,

I wanted to ask about people's experience in balancing the imperative to spread the gospel with the respect for people's free will and spiritual autonomy afforded by God.

God never forced or compelled anyone to follow him, even as the nation of Israel continually failed to redeem itself and perpetuated sin for centuries. On the other hand, we are taught in the New Testament to spread the gospel and make new disciples in the name of Jesus Christ.

How do you yourself balance those competing tensions in doing the Lord's work? Got any insights or experiences worth sharing with others?

Thank you, and Happy Easter friends. Christ is King! 👑✝️

Paul.
Click to expand...
Hi Paul, a grand name, what latitude did God allow for Paul's "freewill"?
 
R

retrofuturist

New member
#18
Mar 16, 2023
9
9
3
#18
Greetings,

Evmur said:
Hi Paul, a grand name, what latitude did God allow for Paul's "freewill"?
Click to expand...
By this I meant that God never forced anyone to have a relationship with him. If people are prideful or worship idols, God won't stop them, but he won't want a relationship with them.

Likewise, Jesus made known the way to the Father but never forced anyone to follow it. Further, the Holy Spirit may be surrendered to, but will not take possession of someone against their volition, as a demon would do.

I hope that makes sense, I'm still a bit of a noob.

Paul. :)
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#19
Jul 18, 2017
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#19
retrofuturist said:
By this I meant that God never forced anyone to have a relationship with him. If people are prideful or worship idols, God won't stop them, but he won't want a relationship with them.
Click to expand...
Don't put the onus on God. "He won't want them" is not correct. Since God desires the salvation of all, He commands these sinners to repent and believe. So ultimately they reject the grace of God, not the other way around.
 
Nehemiah6

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
#20
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
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#20
retrofuturist said:
Likewise, Jesus made known the way to the Father but never forced anyone to follow it.
Click to expand...
Jesus also commanded repentance. That is exactly how He began His ministry. But God and Christ leave it up to the individual to either obey the Gospel or disobey the Gospel and face the consequences.
 
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