Not everyone is worth evangelising to.

I remember praying for a particular atheist once that I met on fb. This person, like so many, asserted they just needed proof, etc..., and was seeking. And I really felt compassion. The next morning though, when I logged in and my feed came up was the most blasphemous post had been shared by this person. It was directed to God and I can't repeat it here. But I suddenly had the strongest impression the Lord was saying "this is their answer to me". I left fb very quickly after that (for other reasons), so I never interacted with this individual again, but the desire to pray for them was completely gone, as though I understood somehow their choice was committed and there wasn't any point.

Rachel20 said:

I remember praying for a particular atheist once that I met on fb. This person, like so many, asserted they just needed proof, etc..., and was seeking. And I really felt compassion. The next morning though, when I logged in and my feed came up was the most blasphemous post had been shared by this person. It was directed to God and I can't repeat it here. But I suddenly had the strongest impression the Lord was saying "this is their answer to me". I left fb very quickly after that (for other reasons), so I never interacted with this individual again, but the desire to pray for them was completely gone, as though I understood somehow their choice was committed and there wasn't any point.

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I have a story about an atheist who always had a nice friendly disposition. My daughter met him at YWAM(youth with a mission) 5 years after his conversion to Christianity. He was a teacher for the new students (my daughter was a student) and they became friends and married a couple of years later. They are missionaries now and God is using them to train others in missions.

The one you are describing seems hardened much like pharaoh who's heart was hardened towards God in a bad way.

Inkfingers said:

When Christ said, in Matthew 7:6, "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." he is clearly saying that some (probably many, given Matthew 7:13-14) and not worth the effort.

When you come across people who are swine and dogs, recognise them as such and do not waste your time on them.

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When someone rejects the gospel it is clear they are not elect and we should move on to share the gospel with someone else who might be more receptive. People who already know the gospel (ie those who grew up in the church or were once members) aren't worth evangelizing to because they already know the truth of the gospel and have rejected it. Jesus is essentially telling us to use our time wisely.

Jesus is YHWH said:

The one you are describing seems hardened much like pharaoh who's heart was hardened towards God in a bad way.

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Yes, there seems to be both kinds out there. Love the ending of your story!

Inkfingers said:

If Christ says that would should not cast our pearls before swine, it means that he thinks that we can make that judgement (because he does not set traps).

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But what brings you to the conclusion that you aren't the "swine", because you believe in God? It's rather common that those who believe in God are one of the worst people on the planet.

Redwingfan9 said:

People who already know the gospel (ie those who grew up in the church or were once members) aren't worth evangelizing to because they already know the truth of the gospel and have rejected it.

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Some can have crises of faith though, which don't rise to the level of rejection imo (though at some point may lead to that).

"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation"." (Mark 16:15)

"For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27)

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person" (Colossians 4:6)

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:32)

Cis.jd said:

But what brings you to the conclusion that you aren't the "swine", because you believe in God? It's rather common that those who believe in God are one of the worst people on the planet.

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According to the Bible, the ones who “believe” in God are the ones who are righteous and are living a life pleasing to God.

by biblical definition, believing in God would exclude us from being swine.

if someone “believes in God” but are the worst on the planet, then I would question whether they really “believe” in God

WrappedUpinHisLove3 said:

God loves us, when He mAde humans he said His creation was good

I think the swine He refers to isnt.a comment on their intrinsic worth or lack of it, but they are ones who aren't receptive to the Gospel

There is another scripture saying to shake the dust from your feet and leave those who aren't receptive to the Gospel message. In other words, don't wEre your energy or time, just move on

way I see jt, we are not responsible for people getting saved, we.are.responsible for.sharing the Gospel with them. They choose to receive or not

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Exactly. We're called to offer the gospel to everyone. Our job is to sow the seed. What happens beyond that is between the individual and the Holy Spirit. Every person is worthy enough to be offered the gospel.

Inkfingers said:

He's doing a little more than that though, isn't he, when he refers to such people as "dogs" and "swine".

So much of Christianity today seems to want to be cuddly, when the language of the Gospel is certainly not fuzzy snuggles.

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Where do you see "fuzzy snuggles" in "preach the gospel to every person, and if they reject it, move on unless you feel directed otherwise"?

NerdGirl123 said:

Exactly. We're called to offer the gospel to everyone. Our job is to sow the seed. What happens beyond that is between the individual and the Holy Spirit. Every person is worthy enough to be offered the gospel.

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Absolutely! We are called to give without expecting anything in return. If we are truly following our Lord's commandment to love even our enemies, then we should be seeking what is good and best for everyone, remembering that "Jesus saves to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25). Choosing who we bother to evangelise to or not is like the unworthy servant who buried his talents instead of doing the work that he was entrusted to do. His attitude was condemned by our Lord in no uncertain terms.

Jesus is YHWH said:

The one you are describing seems hardened much like pharaoh who's heart was hardened towards God in a bad way.

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That's a curious thing about Pharaoh hardening his heart. At one point the Lord hardened his heart.

Exodus 8:32
But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

Exodus 9:12
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

Saint Steven said:

That's a curious thing about Pharaoh hardening his heart. At one point the Lord hardened his heart.

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It seems at some point God commits you to your choices. Also seen in 2 Thess 2 -

... because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Saint Steven said:

That's a curious thing about Pharaoh hardening his heart. At one point the Lord hardened his heart.

Exodus 8:32
But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

Exodus 9:12
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

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The narrative of Exodus shows that God is not random or capricious in whom He hardens.
Did not the Pharaohs claim to be deity and to rule by the will of Almighty God?
This same principle is true of the scribes and Pharisees, they were unable to repent, even after
witnessing miracles. Their hearts were hardened, as decreed in Isaiah 6.
Yeshua teaches on this here.
The Parable of the Two Sons Matthew 21:
28 But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said,
Son, go, work today in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not, but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, I will, sir,
but he did not go.
31 Which of the two did the will of his father?
They said to Him, The first.
Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the
kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward
repent and believe him.

Rachel20 said:

It seems at some point God commits you to your choices. Also seen in 2 Thess 2 -

... because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

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I agree. But I think hope never dies.
That 2 Thess 2:10-11 passage is in reference to the last days.

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I don't argue with anyone. Whether they're unsaved or believers. I'll dispense the truth or offer assistance as needed. But I can't force anyone to embrace it. The consequence of rejection falls in their lap. Not mine. I did my part.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella

Dkh587 said:

According to the Bible, the ones who “believe” in God are the ones who are righteous and are living a life pleasing to God.

by biblical definition, believing in God would exclude us from being swine.

if someone “believes in God” but are the worst on the planet, then I would question whether they really “believe” in God

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But also in the Bible, not all who believe are also righteous. Belief in God has much more depth to it than actual acknowledgement.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/passage/?q=james+2:9-20
James 2:9-20
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew 7:21-23&version=NIV
Matthew 7:21-23

Inkfingers said:

If Christ says that would should not cast our pearls before swine, it means that he thinks that we can make that judgement (because he does not set traps).

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Christ died for all and everyone has an opportunity8 to hear the gospel. We do not know the hearts of people, so we are ill equipped to decide who is a dog or swine.

Jesus hear is not talking about giving people the gospel, but other things.

Our job is to sow the seed, it is Gods job to decide what to do with it in the hearts of people.

Cis.jd said:

But also in the Bible, not all who believe are also righteous. Belief in God has much more depth to it than actual acknowledgement.
James 2:9-20
Matthew 7:21-23

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Righteousness does not come from us. We will NEVER meet the requirement of righteousness. (that's the whole point)

Romans 4:4-5
Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.