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I'm thinking it's not about the capability of talking, but about the anointing of the Holy Spirit.Well said. But for each of us, it is still a question of talents. Many have been blessed with the capability of talking and choose not to.
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8I'm thinking it's not about the capability of talking, but about the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
I suppose I can agree with you but one thing about threads like this is it guilts people. Perhaps a better approach is to share mutiple and variety of ways to show people how they can do so in a very comfortable way.....many don't know where to start or how to bring up the subject....so what's the best ways you have seen to do this? It would be good to see a thread talking about this so people can learn what has worked for others.Often, they hide behind the pretence that not everyone has been called to share the Gospel. They say it is only the evangelists. Sadly, in my town, most people think this way. And because of this, within the last 40 years, I have never seen a believer out there sharing the Gospel with the lost. We need to step out of our comfort zone and do as Jesus commanded. (God has given these people talents but they do not put them to work)
Amen brother. I was gonna say this. Hearing stuff about people trying to get me to evangelize others makes me just want to stay at home and finish up a good TV show, cos I am not that good at social interaction when it comes to convincing people to switch to Jesus.I suppose I can agree with you but one thing about threads like this is it guilts people. Perhaps a better approach is to share mutiple and variety of ways to show people how they can do so in a very comfortable way.....many don't know where to start or how to bring up the subject....so what's the best ways you have seen to do this? It would be good to see a thread talking about this so people can learn what has worked for others.
It will guilt those who know the good they ought to do and have not been doing it. If they had been telling people the Gospel, then they probably would not feel so guilty.I suppose I can agree with you but one thing about threads like this is it guilts people.
I have already done a few threads on how I evangelise but not many people look in the Missions, Evangelism & Witnessing section on this forum. Most people like to stick to theology and stuff like that. So, I thought I would put this thread up here in the hope that it would make people think, "How can I tell people the Gospel?"Perhaps a better approach is to share mutiple and variety of ways to show people how they can do so in a very comfortable way.....many don't know where to start or how to bring up the subject....so what's the best ways you have seen to do this? It would be good to see a thread talking about this so people can learn what has worked for others.
In the private messages, you have told me your situation. And it is different to most. You will naturally have issues interacting. But just remember that you can always support someone who is sharing the Gospel, or you can give out Gospel tracts. And when giving out tracts, you don't have to even approach people face to face. You can leave them in Library books or leave them at a table in a restaurant (leave a tip as well), or maybe on a park bench. Get creative. People always pick up the Million Dollar note tracts.Amen brother. I was gonna say this. Hearing stuff about people trying to get me to evangelize others makes me just want to stay at home and finish up a good TV show, cos I am not that good at social interaction when it comes to convincing people to switch to Jesus.
And to whom was Jesus speaking? (hint: v.2)"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth." Acts 1:8
So, the Holy Spirit was given to us so that we would go out and be His witnesses to all the ends of the earth.
So, you believe that it is only the apostles who need to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth? We have no responsibility to love the lost?And to whom was Jesus speaking? (hint: v.2)
Straw man. . .So, you believe that it is only the apostles who need to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth? We have no responsibility to love the lost?
That might be a better idea. I may think about putting tracts in library books, but also have to be careful, as I use my local library a lot for renting anime, historical fiction and documentary DVDs. I don't want to ruin my relationship with the library.In the private messages, you have told me your situation. And it is different to most. You will naturally have issues interacting. But just remember that you can always support someone who is sharing the Gospel, or you can give out Gospel tracts. And when giving out tracts, you don't have to even approach people face to face. You can leave them in Library books or leave them at a table in a restaurant (leave a tip as well), or maybe on a park bench. Get creative. People always pick up the Million Dollar note tracts.
You have still not read Ephesians 4:11-12. I will underline the part you are missing.Straw man. . .
It is the responsibility of the church to preach the gospel, and she does so through those with the gift of evangelism, which is not everyone, just as it is the responsibility of the church to teach doctrine and she does so through those with the gift of teaching, which is not everyone.
It appears to me that your brand of "sharing the gospel" is personal evangelism, and not every Christian can do that. In 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote of the church that some are the mouth and some the ears and some the hands or feet. The ears listen, they don't talk. The hands do, they don't talk. The feet go, they don't talk. It looks to me like you are proving my words true, that every evangelist I talk to wants everyone to be an evangelist. Like the mouth wants the whole body to be a mouth.Do you have a verse that says we are not all called to share the Gospel?
Each person who is serving God is excited to serve God in their own way. If you pressure someone to do personal evangelism when they aren't called to do so, they find themselves like a fish out of water. It's a good way to kill someone's excitement for the Lord.The way we act is not the Gospel, but it is a witness, and we can either be a good witness or a bad witness. If I were talking to someone downtown and a passerby heard me use God's name as a cuss word that would not be very good. Then if I were to go to a park a few days after this and say the Gospel to that same passerby, my words that I say have been tainted because of my previous conduct. He would think to himself, "This fuller does not even truly believe himself because he uses his own God's name as a cuss word." So, I am therefore not a good witness. My actions did not bring Glory to God but instead a disgrace. Our actions substantiate our words. Therefore, bringing Glory to God.
We should all be excited to tell others what Christ has done for us. If we deserve eternal death but now, we have life because of Jesus. Why would you not want to tell everyone? It is better than winning lotto. This excitement should overflow out of our mouths.
We are not all called to be street preachers, but we should all want to tell as many people as possible the Gospel. Maybe our place to share is at work or at school. But we should all be telling people about the excitement within us.
The whole church, by doing what they are called to do, and what they desire to do, are being the light of the world. Some are the talkers, and some are the doers. By DOING something of what Christ commanded, we are sending out the message of our faith in Christ. What we do is a form of preaching. But it appears to me that you want everyone to preach the gospel even when they have no talent or calling to do so. What you suggest is that if a Christian isn't a "gospel activist" to everyone they meet, that they are disobeying Christ. That simply is not so.You are arguing the opposite. You are saying that the great commission was only given to evangelists. But I believe it was given to the whole church.
Telling someone what Jesus did for us is a testimony, not "sharing the gospel" in the way you suggest in your conversation. In addition to that, it is proper to "be ready to give account of your faith" if someone asks. Not be an activist to push your testimony on people who are not interested.Correct. We are not all called to be street preachers. This does not mean you don't have to tell people the exciting, good news that Jesus did for you. It should be an overflowing of your heart. We should want to tell as many people as possible. It would be unloving not to.
I also hand out tracts when appropriate, but I'm not an activist like you suggest every Christian ought to be.I know a person who has a serious disability and struggles to talk to people. But because he has an excitement within him, he gives out Gospel tracts.
We do not have to be skilled at speaking to even share the Gospel. We can give out tracts. It should overflow.
Many Christians aren't mature enough to know what to say to people. If someone knows the Apostles Creed and recites it to someone who is interested, then they are saying what they believe. That's different than giving testimony of what God has done for the individual. It should be done when appropriate, not to everyone. In fact Jesus Himself passed up many people on the street. He only ministered personally to people who showed some faith. He did not go out of His way to preach the gospel to people who weren't interested. This flies in the face of your "Why would you not want to tell everyone" idea.That is like saying we should always be ready to say our testimony, but we don't have to say what we actually believe in.
We believe that we were under God's wrath because we have all sinned, but because of the great sacrifice, we can now be with Him forever.
I'm saying this is not true. Some are evangelists, as indicated in Eph. 4:11. Those without that gift should do other things, which they will be excited to do, once they get clear about how God has called them to serve.All are called to preach the Gospel to the lost. So, we are all called to be evangelists.
The Bible says "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." But you are saying "Everyone who is not a personal evangelist is not a child of God." You are proving the words of James who wrote "let not many of you be teachers, because he who teaches will incur greater judgment."It seems clear according to the Bible that if a person who claims to be a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, they are held captive by God with the express Purpose of spreading the Message about His Son.
The above is one of many great ways to determine if we may or may not be "saved." Are we held captive by God with the express Purpose of spreading the Saving Plan of Jesus Christ? We either relate to that statement or we do not. If we are not sharing the Saving Plan of Christ, we are probably not YET held captive by God, and held as His Property. In other words, a person who is not compelled beyond his or her own capacity to first learn and then accurately spread the Message, is not likely yet a genuine child of God.
The Bible says "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." But you are saying "Everyone who is not a personal evangelist is not a child of God." You are proving the words of James who wrote "let not many of you be teachers, because he who teaches will incur greater judgment."
You should take great care about trying to teach something other than the grace of God for motivating assurance of salvation.
God did make us all different. Some he made to be ears, some he made to be hands, some he made to be a mouth and some he made to be feet.In 1 Corinthians, Paul wrote of the church that some are the mouth and some the ears and some the hands or feet.
Once again, we do have different giftings that God has given us.Each person who is serving God is excited to serve God in their own way. If you pressure someone to do personal evangelism when they aren't called to do so, they find themselves like a fish out of water. It's a good way to kill someone's excitement for the Lord.
Gospel means, "Good Speil". Or Good Talk. Or as we now say it, Good News.Telling someone what Jesus did for us is a testimony, not "sharing the gospel" in the way you suggest in your conversation. In addition to that, it is proper to "be ready to give account of your faith" if someone asks. Not be an activist to push your testimony on people who are not interested.
So we do not have to preach the Gospel to all creation? Who do I obey, you or Jesus? I will stick with what Jesus told us to do.He only ministered personally to people who showed some faith.
In my town, everyone has taken the same approach as you and so for the last 40 years, nobody has taken the Gospel in the streets or parks. We have all just left the lost to be lostSome are evangelists, as indicated in Eph. 4:11. Those without that gift should do other things, which they will be excited to do, once they get clear about how God has called them to serve.
I do not believe that 2ndTim was saying that. He was saying that if you have a true belief, then it would be wrong not to share the Gospel. Even Charles Spurgeon understood this. He said, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!"The Bible says "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." But you are saying "Everyone who is not a personal evangelist is not a child of God." You are proving the words of James who wrote "let not many of you be teachers, because he who teaches will incur greater judgment."
You should take great care about trying to teach something other than the grace of God for motivating assurance of salvation.
God did make us all different. Some he made to be ears, some he made to be hands, some he made to be a mouth and some he made to be feet.
If you are an ear, listen to people's problems and then tell them the Gospel.
If you are a hand, mow someone's law and weed their garden and then tell them the Gospel.
If you are a mouth, teach people and then tell them the Gospel.
If you are feet, walk to the parks or down the street and then tell people the Gospel.
We do have different giftings and abilities and with these, we should bring Glory to God. We should not use our gifts as an excuse not to give God glory.
I am a foot. I often choose to go to the parks and give God glory. Sometimes I am a hand and I share the Gospel. Sometimes I listen to people and then I tell the Gospel.
Once again, we do have different giftings that God has given us.
Many people often say my gifting is one of helps. So, they are a hand. They spend year after year doing good deeds and then never speak about the awesome thing that God did for them. So, nobody knows what this person believes in. If God is not spoken of, their good deeds do not give glory to God. We need to learn to open our mouths to speak of His awesome sacrifice.
In saying this, many believers do not know how to say the Gospel clearly and effectively. So, if you truly believe that your neighbour is under God's wrath, take the time and prepare a defence for the hope that is within you. I had to do this and it took me months to be able to say it.
Your testimony is not the power of God unto salvation. It is only a reason for your belief in Him
So we do not have to preach the Gospel to all creation? How do I obey, you or Jesus? I will stick with what Jesus told us to do.
In my town, everyone has taken the same approach as you and so for the last 40 years, nobody has taken the Gospel in the streets or parks. We have all just left the lost to be lost
Also, you missed the second part of Eph 4:11 because it continues to verse 12. The gift of evangelism is, "for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ". So, the gifting is for the saints. It is for the church so that we can equipped to go out and share the Good News. We are all to evangelise but someone with the gift of evangelism will have the ability to teach others to do so as well.
I do not believe that 2ndTim was saying that. He was saying that if you have a true belief, then it would be wrong not to share the Gospel. Even Charles Spurgeon understood this. He said, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you're not saved yourself, be sure of that!"
Our actions substantiate our true beliefs. People can fool themselves into thinking that they believe in something just by saying "I believe", when in fact, they don't truly believe. For instance. If you are going skydiving for the first time, while you are on the ground you may say, "I am not afraid, I trust my parachute." But then when it comes down to the crunch and you are up at 10000 feet about to jump, you may say, "On second thoughts, it is a long way down and I don't want to die." So, your actions substantiate your true beliefs. James 2:24 says "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."
Exactly.I'm thinking it's not about the capability of talking, but about the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
I thought I made that clear. You said:What, exactly, would you say that I cannot back up with Scripture?
I am objecting to you claiming that determining if we are saved (or not) depends on whether or not we are "spreading the message".The above is one of many great ways to determine if we may or may not be "saved."
Children who are humble are accepting, not rejecting.And by the way, considering how you just launched yourself at me, I hope you don't have children.
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