challenging - Disturbingly provocative.
challenge
- A call to engage in a contest, fight, or competition.
- An act or statement of defiance; a call to confrontation.
- A demand for explanation or justification; a calling into question.
Is this the Christian way of evangelizing? Is it following the example of our lord, and his followers?
Is it a good example to set for others?
Matthew 19:3
Then some Pharisees came and tested Him by asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”
Matthew 22:15-18
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?”
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me?
The religious Pharisees, used this method, since they did not have love for people.
Jesus, on the other hand, taught his disciples the loving approach.
Matthew 10:11-13
11 When you enter any town or village, find out who is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12 Greet a household when you enter it, 13 and if the household is worthy, let your peace be on it; but if it is unworthy, let your peace return to you.
Finding a worthy person would not be accomplished by challenging them.
The advise at 2 Timothy 2:23-26 is good for us.
23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
I love that advise.
It avoids challenging, and it allows me to leave a person in the spirit of peace, so that when they see me coming, rather than wanting to avoid me, they will see me as a friend.
Of course, if the person is argumentative, or just naturally aggressive, I cannot change that, but at least I try to leave on a good note,
We have several Jehovah's Witnesses around where we are. And when I am sharing the Gospel, I have one come up to me regularly and talk. We get on well and respect each other. But I have never really had any great apologetics to counter them. But this vid has now given me ammo. And the ammo is simple ammo to memorize. Awesome.
I have looked up some apologetics to counter JW's, but most of the time, the apologetics will point to John 1:1 or the apologetics will be a difficult one to memorize.
Does anyone else have simple things that may put a pin prick in their understanding?
and with a friendly smile.
It might soften the person.
The JW ladies did not appear to be aggressive, argumentative, or challenging.
