Not everyone is worth evangelising to.

Dkh587

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yellowMan

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couple more points I haven't seen brought up yet:

1) Paul at least temporarily gave up on a couple of guys who were teaching heresy:
1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

2) Paul telling Titus to attempt to correct hereticks a couple times then move on:

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
 
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Dkh587

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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.

faith is an action, which is directly tied to obedience. If we trust Messiah & God, we will do what they say. Internal faith manifests outwardly through obedience.

Doing what God says to do makes us righteous:

1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

Luke 1:5-7
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaha certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abiyah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of Yahweh blamelessly.
 
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Redwingfan9

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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.
I didn't intend to imply that Jesus only meant one thing in the passage. I agree, he was not being cuddly hippy Jesus. He's telling believers that those who will not receive the gospel are dogs and swine, don't waste your time with them.
 
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Redwingfan9

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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).
There is a difference between backsliding and outward rejection of faith. The backslider is grieved by his sin and repents. Those who finally have an outward rejection of faith don't care about repentance because they never believed in the first place.
 
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Longeen

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Can you share some personal stories in your life who you have shared the gospel with in person who you consider to be dogs and swine. Thanks !
Sure. For over a year I was trying to convince a Bible familiar, mechanical engineer, providing him with tons of evidence. Nonetheless, all the evidence had been rejected. No ways, we could make this horse to drink!
 
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RickReads

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Sure. For over a year I was trying to convince a Bible familiar, mechanical engineer, providing him with tons of evidence. Nonetheless, all the evidence had been rejected. No ways, we could make this horse to drink!

The Bible tells us that God draws everyone who comes to Christ. You can have all the right words and it won`t mean anything unless God is at work bringing that person into the Kingdom.

I like to share the gospel but I wait for people who are interested in hearing something about it. I try to get out of the way and let God lead me and let Him open doors, create opportunities. I have learned that I don`t do very well unless He helps me.
 
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Bible Highlighter

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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.

Here are some cross references that may help.

Proverbs 9:8
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 23:9
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

Matthew 15:26
But Jesus replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

Revelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood
 
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Saint Steven

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Some forty years ago I realized that it was wrong for me to make people into evangelism projects. Most of them had become immune to apologetics anyway. I stopped arguing and started making friends. I think God can make better use of that than me shaking the dust off my feet and pronouncing their judgment.

I think the people that hate Christians often have legitimate reasons for doing so.
 
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RickReads

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Here are some cross references that may help.

Proverbs 9:8
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 23:9
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Proverbs 26:4
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

Matthew 15:26
But Jesus replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."

Revelation 22:15
But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood

So you are implying that bad people aren`t worth evangelising to?
 
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RickReads

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Why would offering cross references on Matthew 7:6 make you assume that?

By offering cross reference you infer that the people in your examples are people that qualify as the dogs and swine.

Your list is a list of sinners/bad people.
 
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rebornfree

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Sure. For over a year I was trying to convince a Bible familiar, mechanical engineer, providing him with tons of evidence. Nonetheless, all the evidence had been rejected. No ways, we could make this horse to drink!
Yet!! Maybe he's not yet at that point. You may have done more good than you know and he'll accept the Lord some time in the future.
 
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RickReads

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Yet!! Maybe he's not yet at that point. You may have done more good than you know and he'll accept the Lord some time in the future.

I almost said that very thing. My great-aunt prayed for me and many others everyday. She was very humble and very godly and I was always aware that her prayers were the kind that has some clout.

I saw some of her prayers come to pass with my own two eyes years after she died.

Thinking about that just now brought tears.
 
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Blade

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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.

Context.. at the time the "bread" was only for the children no one else. He came to His own first.
 
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rebornfree

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I almost said that very thing. My great-aunt prayed for me and many others everyday. She was very humble and very godly and I was always aware that her prayers were the kind that has some clout.

I saw some of her prayers come to pass with my own two eyes years after she died.

Thinking about that just now brought tears.
That's a lovely post and such an encouragement for those of us who have been praying, and witnessing, for years.
 
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bèlla

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I stopped arguing and started making friends. I think God can make better use of that than me shaking the dust off my feet and pronouncing their judgment.

I believe its my job to inform. Not twist their arm or make them believe anything. I can't force someone to change. The desire for difference must come from them. We'll walk to the finish line with some and others have different companions.

Maybe my contribution was love, support, encouragement, etc. I'm okay with being a role player. God knows how to get His people. I'm a servant.

Yours in His Service,

~Bella
 
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Jesus is YHWH

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Some forty years ago I realized that it was wrong for me to make people into evangelism projects. Most of them had become immune to apologetics anyway. I stopped arguing and started making friends. I think God can make better use of that than me shaking the dust off my feet and pronouncing their judgment.

I think the people that hate Christians often have legitimate reasons for doing so.
Yes lifestyle evangelism :)
 
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