Do you have trouble witnessing to others?

[Bugs]

I have a good friend named Nick who is a non-believer and nothing I have said can persuade him. Three times I have had long conversations telling him of Christ and the eternal life He brings, but my friend just seems to turn it into a debate where no matter how many questions I answer he always disputes me with something else.

It seems so easy in the bible. Paul would go out around the world and churches with hundreds of believers would pop up wherever he came to. I wish there was a clear instruction manual given in one of his letters on how to persuade. Is there anywhere in any of the new testament where one goes out to witness to someone over and over and finally persuading them in the end?

I even asked him if he was given proof of God's existence would that be enough to make him accept Christ, he said to me he would have to question God and judge him from there. My friend has some issues that he does not like about God.

There is nothing else I can say, I will just have to allow whatever happens to happen. Maybe God will open his heart someday. It is hard because he really is my friend and his eternity is dark.

 

[JaumeJ]

We are not one of the Twelve men of renown. You are planting the Seed. All with whom you have shared the Word will one day be watered, perhaps by you , perhaps by another, and Another will give growth. Just keep planting, it is good works worthy of reward.

 

[SoulWeaver]

I am not good at personal witnessing either. Only do so if the Spirit presses it on me. Otherwise I don't. In my experience you can't debate people into believing God. Been thinking lately how to reach more people, it's troubling me that I don't know how to get through to people and evangelize. I'm not systematic and get confused when I am not writing.
I made small evangelizing YouTube video years ago with some Messianic prophecy that isn't commonly mentioned and put it online.
Maybe you can publish something online?
Maybe you can share materials that others created? Or give them the New Testament to read... if you are not confident into your abilities, it's only important to spread the message.
This is a really good movie (not mine of course , Ray Comfort's work )

 

[acts5_29]

I would say that anyone who does not have trouble witnessing to others, it's because they are not witnessing to others

 

[p_rehbein]

Regarding the question in the Title of the OP: No.

One of the most powerful "witnesses" a Christian can have is HOW THEY LIVE THEIR LIVES. When the world knows that a person professes to be a Christian, the world "watches" their every move, act, and listens to their every word searching for a misstep, mistake, mispoken word. Why? Because IF a Christian slips ( as we are apt to do from time to time), unbelievers can use that "slip" to justify their sinfilled lives. They will say "See, he's/she/s pretends to be a Christian, and look........."

By living a "Christ filled" life, and by striving to walk in the Spirit, displaying the love of God, and obeying the Gospel of Christ, Christians present God Himself to unbelievers.

As for arguments that may arise from some unbelievers questions................worry not. That is what the Written Word of God is for. Turn to it, and, if this fails, place your trust in the Holy Spirit. This is why having the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit is so very important, for He WILL give us the words to speak when the time comes.

 

[Deuteronomy]

Maybe God will open his heart someday. It is hard because he really is my friend and his eternity is dark.

Hello Bugs, you are correct, God opening/softening your friend's heart is the key to his salvation. As for his eternity being dark, only God knows if that is going to be the case or not, so pray for his salvation .. regularly.

In the meantime, like @JaumeJ just said above, focus on planting and watering (and not so much on reaping), because as you are already aware, atheists, like your friend Nick, do not believe that God exists, so they have a particularly LONG way to go (to get from there to the point of trusting the Lord Jesus as their Savior and surrendering their lives to Him as their Lord).

Praying for both you and for Nick.

God bless you!

~Deut
p.s. - here's a book that you may find useful. It will teach you how to ask Nick and others leading questions, questions that are intended to help them answer their own questions/reach their own conclusions about God, the Bible and the Christian faith. Of course, it is also important for you to continue to be there for your friend, and as his friend, to show him what a Christian is like.

TACTICS: A Game Plan For Discussing Your Christian Convictions (10th Anniversary Edition)

This expanded anniversary edition includes updates and expansions of existing tactics, as well as the addition of an all-new tactic and a chapter on Mini Tactics filled with simple maneuvers to aid in discussions.

In a world increasingly indifferent to Christian truth, followers of Christ need to be equipped to communicate with those who do not speak their language or accept their source of authority. In Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition, Gregory Koukl demonstrates how to artfully regain control of conversations, keeping them moving forward in constructive ways through thoughtful diplomacy. You'll learn how to stop challengers in their tracks and how to turn the tables on questions or provocative statements. Most important, you'll learn how to get people thinking about Jesus. Tactics provides the game plan for communicating the compelling truth about Christianity with confidence and grace.

Drawing on extensive experience defending Christianity in the public square, Koukl shows readers how to:

• Initiate conversations effortlessly
• Present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively
• Graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking
• Skillfully manage the details of dialogue
• Maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack

 

[JaumeJ]

I am not good at personal witnessing either. Only do so if the Spirit presses it on me. Otherwise I don't. In my experience you can't debate people into believing God. Been thinking lately how to reach more people, it's troubling me that I don't know how to get through to people and evangelize. I'm not systematic and get confused when I am not writing.
I made small evangelizing YouTube video years ago with some Messianic prophecy that isn't commonly mentioned and put it online.
Maybe you can publish something online?
Maybe you can share materials that others created? Or give them the New Testament to read... if you are not confident into your abilities, it's only important to spread the message.
This is a really good movie (not mine of course , Ray Comfort's work )

You have said it! The Holy Spirit does move on each of us to witness and speaks through us. As for when one does not feel His presence, not to worry, witnessing is always good, never bad, and it shows a willing servant.. Because you know the Spirit has moved you, you are definitely a willing servant and you are doing a good work, yes! you are. Thank you for blessing me.

 

[biscuitsPLZ1]

Hi Bugs, I am new to Christian Chat as well, and just became a Christian pretty recently I will say a prayer for your friend Nick, it seems that satan has a bad grip on him unfortunately.

"Lord, thank you for helping Nick be exposed to your Word through Bugs. Please show Nick through your holy power how amazing, forgiving, and satisfying life lived in perfect obedience to you is. Cast Satan's grip off Nick, and show him that Jesus loves him and has a plan for him. Show him that even though you the Lord our God are unseen, your presence is worth all the sacrifices in the world to be near and watched over by you. In Jesus' holy name, amen."

 

[Blik]

I have witnessed ineffectively because I had not studied scripture well enough. The Holy Spirit uses the scripture we have put in our minds.

The gospel is so simple a very young child can grasp it, But the truth of the Lord are vast. I needed to prepare myself to correctly answer the questions the people I witnessed to asked.

 

[Angela53510]

Are you praying for the salvation of this friend's soul? I had a prayer list for unsaved people a mile long when I was first save. I prayed daily, and many got saved. Not always because of me, but I know the prayer was essential. My father was unsaved. His mom was a Christian, and prayed for him her whole life. I got saved in 1980, and she died in 1981. So I kept praying for my dad and mom, sisters and all kinds of family and friends. In 2011, my father was dying of heart disease, after 31 years of praying for his salvation. I prayed even harder. Then he had a bad heart incident, and my husband and I explained the gospel clearly. After a life time of science and humanism, God saved him! He died 5 months later. I spent every day with him, reading the Bible, praying with him and singing hymns and Christian songs. He was so hungry to know God, and to tell other people about Jesus!

Then I found out a lot of my cousins were saved, including ones who had atheist parents. All the grandchildren of my praying grandmother. A little over a year ago, my humanist lawyer sister was saved. God just reached down and saved her. But lots of years of praying there, and lots of witnessing

Others have told you, but I will say it again. We do not and cannot save anyone. Only God can! But as Jaime pointed out, we can plant and water, even if we never reap. Pray, share and live for Jesus. God will be there at the harvest, and I hope we will see our small part where we obeyed God and planted the seeds of the gospel!

 

[Demi777]

The beginning is always hard. The more you jump over your own shadow, the easier it gets. Heads up

 

[Bugs]

Are you praying for the salvation of this friend's soul? I had a prayer list for unsaved people a mile long when I was first save. I prayed daily, and many got saved. Not always because of me, but I know the prayer was essential. My father was unsaved. His mom was a Christian, and prayed for him her whole life. I got saved in 1980, and she died in 1981. So I kept praying for my dad and mom, sisters and all kinds of family and friends. In 2011, my father was dying of heart disease, after 31 years of praying for his salvation. I prayed even harder. Then he had a bad heart incident, and my husband and I explained the gospel clearly. After a life time of science and humanism, God saved him! He died 5 months later. I spent every day with him, reading the Bible, praying with him and singing hymns and Christian songs. He was so hungry to know God, and to tell other people about Jesus!

Then I found out a lot of my cousins were saved, including ones who had atheist parents. All the grandchildren of my praying grandmother. A little over a year ago, my humanist lawyer sister was saved. God just reached down and saved her. But lots of years of praying there, and lots of witnessing

Others have told you, but I will say it again. We do not and cannot save anyone. Only God can! But as Jaime pointed out, we can plant and water, even if we never reap. Pray, share and live for Jesus. God will be there at the harvest, and I hope we will see our small part where we obeyed God and planted the seeds of the gospel!

My own dad died from cancer around the same time as yours did . He never wanted to hear about gospel. He always told me that he disliked the idea that event the most wicked people could repent and be saved.

He made friends with a preacher though and a few months before he passed away he surrendered to Christ. I did not even know about it until I came back to my home town for the funeral and met this man who through God changed his heart. You can imagine how grateful I was.

 

[Duskey]

I even asked him if he was given proof of God's existence would that be enough to make him accept Christ, he said to me he would have to question God and judge him from there.

Sounds like your friend has endured heartache of some sort that has left him spiritually bitter. I pray he comes to embrace the Truth about Christ as well as understanding he won’t be judging God anytime soon.

 

[soberxp]

tell your friend that not you care him but god cares him even he is your friend.

 

[Renewal]

I have a good friend named Nick who is a non-believer and nothing I have said can persuade him. Three times I have had long conversations telling him of Christ and the eternal life He brings, but my friend just seems to turn it into a debate where no matter how many questions I answer he always disputes me with something else.

It seems so easy in the bible. Paul would go out around the world and churches with hundreds of believers would pop up wherever he came to. I wish there was a clear instruction manual given in one of his letters on how to persuade. Is there anywhere in any of the new testament where one goes out to witness to someone over and over and finally persuading them in the end?

I even asked him if he was given proof of God's existence would that be enough to make him accept Christ, he said to me he would have to question God and judge him from there. My friend has some issues that he does not like about God.

There is nothing else I can say, I will just have to allow whatever happens to happen. Maybe God will open his heart someday. It is hard because he really is my friend and his eternity is dark.

You cannot convince an unbeliever he needs Christ if he thinks in his mind he has done nothing wrong. You have to make him aware of his sins against GOD and what GOD thinks of them and the punishment that follows if he dies in his sins.

 

[Renewal]

I have a good friend named Nick who is a non-believer and nothing I have said can persuade him. Three times I have had long conversations telling him of Christ and the eternal life He brings, but my friend just seems to turn it into a debate where no matter how many questions I answer he always disputes me with something else.

It seems so easy in the bible. Paul would go out around the world and churches with hundreds of believers would pop up wherever he came to. I wish there was a clear instruction manual given in one of his letters on how to persuade. Is there anywhere in any of the new testament where one goes out to witness to someone over and over and finally persuading them in the end?

I even asked him if he was given proof of God's existence would that be enough to make him accept Christ, he said to me he would have to question God and judge him from there. My friend has some issues that he does not like about God.

There is nothing else I can say, I will just have to allow whatever happens to happen. Maybe God will open his heart someday. It is hard because he really is my friend and his eternity is dark.

Christ's words to His disciples which Christians are suppose to be, as far as I'm aware,
"And He said to them, " Go out into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature". I'm sure many will manipulate this to suit there own ways and traditions.

 

[Renewal]

I have a good friend named Nick who is a non-believer and nothing I have said can persuade him. Three times I have had long conversations telling him of Christ and the eternal life He brings, but my friend just seems to turn it into a debate where no matter how many questions I answer he always disputes me with something else.

It seems so easy in the bible. Paul would go out around the world and churches with hundreds of believers would pop up wherever he came to. I wish there was a clear instruction manual given in one of his letters on how to persuade. Is there anywhere in any of the new testament where one goes out to witness to someone over and over and finally persuading them in the end?

I even asked him if he was given proof of God's existence would that be enough to make him accept Christ, he said to me he would have to question God and judge him from there. My friend has some issues that he does not like about God.

There is nothing else I can say, I will just have to allow whatever happens to happen. Maybe God will open his heart someday. It is hard because he really is my friend and his eternity is dark.

Took me a while to find this and I think this is very useful
Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

So your friend as I said being an unbeliever doesn't think he needs Christ because in his eyes his has done nothing wrong. You have to make him aware of his sins against GOD, by using the moral law the ten commandments you can use these To show him how bad his sins are against GOD. Examples lying, stealing, fornication, dishonoring father and mother, idol worship, blasphemy which everyone seems to do nowadays, lust where Christs expands the law spiritually to say lust is adultery of the heart and hate murder in the heart. Go through these laws and use them as the Bible says as a tutor to show him how much he needs the salvation in Christ for his sins.
Then what GOD thinks of them and the punishment that follows if he dies in his sins.

You can try this route, I'm sure the commandment haters will refute all this but I'm not concerned with that only truth from scripture and trying to spread the gospel in love and peace and hopefully GOD using me for guiding people to Christ for their salvation and not to just let them go to hell.

 

[Bugs]

It is difficult to have any joy and peace when you know that everything you have tried has failed to lead your friend to salvation in Christ.

Thank you to your prayers for his eternal destiny. He has heard a lot about God from other and has already hardened his heart. Was told all his life growing up that he would go to hell everytime he did something wrong but never of Christ's sacrafice until after he already decided not to beleive in God's righteousness or even His existence .

All I can do for now is pray God will do whatever it takes to change his heart.