I have a friend that is a non-believer, though he's open to what I have to say. He's the type that needs proof, and I've had a difficult time finding it. It seems as though I find something that I believe is proof, but he finds a way to negate it. Can anyone help me?
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How do you convert a non-believer?
- Thread starter Courtney21
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I don't really think that you can "convert" anyone, only the Lord can do that.
All I think that we can do is plant the seeds.
Have you suggested any of the Lee Strobel books?
They are supposed to be really good.
Just let the Lord shine through you, let your life be a light to him, thats about all we can do, and pray for him, of course.
In Him
All I think that we can do is plant the seeds.
Have you suggested any of the Lee Strobel books?
They are supposed to be really good.
Just let the Lord shine through you, let your life be a light to him, thats about all we can do, and pray for him, of course.
In Him
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I'm so sorry.... I didn't mean to sound like I could do such a wonderful thing. I'm just so flustered right now. It's difficult for me to believe in something so great, but know someone doesn't see what I see.
What are the Lee Strobel books?
What are the Lee Strobel books?
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J
JVD
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One that I read was "The Case for Christ", I enjoyed it very much. Especially since it focused on my favorite subject when I begin to get doubts. I always go back to Jesus Christ and ask myself some questions.
Was he a real person?
Did he really claim to be God?
Was he really crucified?
Did he really rise from the dead?
The cool thing is that there is real historical evidence that answers all those questions. The historical evidence is very strong. It is much stronger than the evidence for almost all other ancient historical figures...and I don't see people bringing up a lot of doubt about the existence of Plato for example. After I look at that evidence and answer the above questions, I am always reassured. I think that anyone that really looks at the evidence with an open mind will be convinced. But many don't want to believe so will discount good evidence.
Was he a real person?
Did he really claim to be God?
Was he really crucified?
Did he really rise from the dead?
The cool thing is that there is real historical evidence that answers all those questions. The historical evidence is very strong. It is much stronger than the evidence for almost all other ancient historical figures...and I don't see people bringing up a lot of doubt about the existence of Plato for example. After I look at that evidence and answer the above questions, I am always reassured. I think that anyone that really looks at the evidence with an open mind will be convinced. But many don't want to believe so will discount good evidence.
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DanielRB
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Hi Courtney, 
I think a lot depends on your friend's background. There are good apologetic works out there ("apologetics" is the rational presentation of the Christian faith, not apologizing for it
). Lee Strobel's books are good introductions. There's also Ravi Zacharius, C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Norm Giesler and many others. My personal favorite website about apologetics is http://www.christian-thinktank.com , but there are also good resources at http://www.equip.org/ .
Keep in mind that certain resources will reach certain people better than others. It depends on the education and background of the individual. I know that some people might find Josh McDowell, for example, to be too introductory and not deep enough for the questions that they have.
Above all, pray for and show love towards your friend. No one was ever argued into the Kingdom of God.
In Christ,
Daniel
I think a lot depends on your friend's background. There are good apologetic works out there ("apologetics" is the rational presentation of the Christian faith, not apologizing for it
). Lee Strobel's books are good introductions. There's also Ravi Zacharius, C.S. Lewis, Josh McDowell, Norm Giesler and many others. My personal favorite website about apologetics is http://www.christian-thinktank.com , but there are also good resources at http://www.equip.org/ .Keep in mind that certain resources will reach certain people better than others. It depends on the education and background of the individual. I know that some people might find Josh McDowell, for example, to be too introductory and not deep enough for the questions that they have.
Above all, pray for and show love towards your friend. No one was ever argued into the Kingdom of God.
In Christ,
Daniel
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LadyLamond
Always Learning...
JVD said:
I have to agree, awesome book... well worth giving to anyone who needs proof.
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BarbB
I stand with my brothers and sisters in Israel!
Try the website for Way of the Master. Kirk Cameron has combined forces with Ray Comfort who has been evangelizing for years. They use the conviction of the 10 Commandments to show how all of us have sinned and then speak of Jesus as our Savior. And it works. My bro-in-law had sinned mightily and gotten caught. I witnessed to him in love and nothing happened. I witnessed to him by his offense against God's law, still with love, and he fell like a ton of bricks! The website has wonderful tools so check it out!
The website has wonderful tools so check it out!
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I can't thank you all enough for the encouraging words and recommendations. I'm excited with this opportunity to not only help a friend, but to strengthen my love and belief in God.
My prayers have been answered... thank you!
My prayers have been answered... thank you!
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if someone is "called" unto the kingdom of God, then they will begin to seek God, asking a Christian questions, or they will seek a church to attend,
we can never convert someone, we speak the truth, and it's up to them and God, if they turn toward God,
if they "see" they see, and if they don't, they don't,
this is why we never argue or debate the truth, if they are seeking God they will hear and if they are not then they will not hear,
we can never try to "convince" anyone that we speak truth, they will know if they are meant to know,
speaking truth by the Holy Spirit,
newname
we can never convert someone, we speak the truth, and it's up to them and God, if they turn toward God,
if they "see" they see, and if they don't, they don't,
this is why we never argue or debate the truth, if they are seeking God they will hear and if they are not then they will not hear,
we can never try to "convince" anyone that we speak truth, they will know if they are meant to know,
speaking truth by the Holy Spirit,
newname
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be patience and let god work.. but we do our part which is to pray consistently and persistently.. my friend prayed for her bestfriend for a year before she got saved and now a christian... so PRAY!!! keep praying..
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Lee Stroble also has a new one out that looks excellent
The Case For a Creator.
Best to you.
In Him
The Case For a Creator.
Best to you.
In Him
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Hi Courtney:
First things first, Courtney. Let us first find out if you are a good candidate to be helping someone find their Savior. Converting someone to Christ is about preaching the gospel. A true Christian is the person who has heard and believed the gospel. Our gospel is the good news message that Christ (the Son of God) died for our sins, was buried in the tomb, to be raised by God on the third day (1Cor. 15:1-4). Paul writes,
Paul describes only one baptism (Eph. 4:5) with our salvation, and that is performed by the Spirit of God.
The important thing is NOT to add works to the gospel. Trying to add one work to Christs shed blood for salvation is telling God that the sacrifice of His Son on the cross is just not good enough for you. Paul says,
If you are a person who has gone through the processes described above, then you are a true member of the Spiritual body of Christ. Eph. 4:12. Your question is not about how one is saved, but about how to preach the gospel to someone else. After years of practice and trying many different ways, one method seems to work best for me. When you are in a conversation with someone, then the Spirit inside you is looking for a way of entry. So I kind of lead the conversation around, until we are discussing something close to salvation, the Bible, heaven, or something along those lines. Then, instead of telling them about Calvary, I ask the person a question, and it goes something like this:
I ask, Do you believe you are going to heaven? Over half of the people say, Yes. Then I ask, What are you depending on for eternal life? Just about every time the persons eyes look inside themselves, and there is that moment of silent reflection. About half of the folks say, Because I am a good person, or because God is good and He will save me. Others say, because I am better than most people, because I go to church, give money here and there, etc.. They kind of have the notion that God holds a balance scale in His hand, and they are on the better half of it. Then, my response to them depends on the particular answer they provide. Believe me when I say that the best presentation is the canned presentation. That is the one you have rehearsed time and time again. You will become better at this, the more you do it. Each time will become a little easier, until one day the words will just flow out like honey.
When the person says, Because I am a good person, then I say, Yes, but if being good could save one soul, then Christ came and died for nothing. Gal. 2:21 (being good replaces Law). If they boast in their good works, then, Yes, but if giving money to the poor could save one soul . . . The object is the lead that person to Calvary every time. Many of them hear this from me, Yes, but, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23.
When you ask anyone what they depending upon for eternal life (or eternity with God, etc.), then the only right answer they can give is, Because, Christ died on the cross and shed His blood for my sins, and God raised Him from the dead. That person has already believed the good news of 1Cor. 15:1-4, and he is your brother in Christ.
God bless,
Terral
First things first, Courtney. Let us first find out if you are a good candidate to be helping someone find their Savior. Converting someone to Christ is about preaching the gospel. A true Christian is the person who has heard and believed the gospel. Our gospel is the good news message that Christ (the Son of God) died for our sins, was buried in the tomb, to be raised by God on the third day (1Cor. 15:1-4). Paul writes,
Paul describes only one baptism (Eph. 4:5) with our salvation, and that is performed by the Spirit of God.
The important thing is NOT to add works to the gospel. Trying to add one work to Christs shed blood for salvation is telling God that the sacrifice of His Son on the cross is just not good enough for you. Paul says,
If you are a person who has gone through the processes described above, then you are a true member of the Spiritual body of Christ. Eph. 4:12. Your question is not about how one is saved, but about how to preach the gospel to someone else. After years of practice and trying many different ways, one method seems to work best for me. When you are in a conversation with someone, then the Spirit inside you is looking for a way of entry. So I kind of lead the conversation around, until we are discussing something close to salvation, the Bible, heaven, or something along those lines. Then, instead of telling them about Calvary, I ask the person a question, and it goes something like this:
I ask, Do you believe you are going to heaven? Over half of the people say, Yes. Then I ask, What are you depending on for eternal life? Just about every time the persons eyes look inside themselves, and there is that moment of silent reflection. About half of the folks say, Because I am a good person, or because God is good and He will save me. Others say, because I am better than most people, because I go to church, give money here and there, etc.. They kind of have the notion that God holds a balance scale in His hand, and they are on the better half of it. Then, my response to them depends on the particular answer they provide. Believe me when I say that the best presentation is the canned presentation. That is the one you have rehearsed time and time again. You will become better at this, the more you do it. Each time will become a little easier, until one day the words will just flow out like honey.
When the person says, Because I am a good person, then I say, Yes, but if being good could save one soul, then Christ came and died for nothing. Gal. 2:21 (being good replaces Law). If they boast in their good works, then, Yes, but if giving money to the poor could save one soul . . . The object is the lead that person to Calvary every time. Many of them hear this from me, Yes, but, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 6:23.
When you ask anyone what they depending upon for eternal life (or eternity with God, etc.), then the only right answer they can give is, Because, Christ died on the cross and shed His blood for my sins, and God raised Him from the dead. That person has already believed the good news of 1Cor. 15:1-4, and he is your brother in Christ.
God bless,
Terral
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So often we as Christians feel that it's our obligation to preach and force our doctrines onto non-believers. There is an old saying that essentially says that we shoud be living epistles. The best thing you can do for your friend is to live a Christian, moral life before him. Be consistent and avoid being a hypocrite. After a while, hopefully he will start to ask questions as he sees how at peace you are and how you rely on the Lord Jesus as your strength. Eventually maybe he will be willing to visit your church and grow from there.
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Steve_SandbachBaptist_UK
Well-Known Member
You can only be as good a witness a possible and pray for them and if you do that, you may succeed. Try to talk about other things as well otherwise they will just get bored of you and then that will only harm your chances of helping the Lord to convert them.
Good luck
Steve
Also can you pray for a man being held prisoner in Iraq
http://www.christianforums.com/t926322
Good luck
Steve
Also can you pray for a man being held prisoner in Iraq
http://www.christianforums.com/t926322
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Lynn73
Jesus' lamb
I'm afraid that's the usual reaction of people who don't want to believe. No matter what you say, they'll always come up with a way to negate it,as you say. Makes them feel good, but it doesn't make them right. So I really don't know what to tell you. All you can do is share with them why you believe it and leave the results with God. As someone suggested, you could point this person to Lee Strobel's books. Wasn't he an agnostic or atheist who set out to examine the Bible and Christ and would up becoming a believer?Courtney21 said:
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I was a reluctant believer but G-d pursued me over and over. My experience started with one Christian trying to "convert" me and although he wasn't directly successful, he started the plan in motion (planted the seed). Many others throughtout my life followed up where he left off.
I tell you this, because even if you can't directly ignite his conversion, you can plant the seed. Live your life in full testament of Christ and his glory. Many times witnessing a true believer in action can get the ball rolling. I may sound like a CEO when I say this, but often I think it comes to angle. What angle to works with him? Some people aren't afraid of possible condemnation so that angle won't work. Get my point? My technique is to never ram it down their throat but to speak the truth, and my own truth. Life is better with G-d in it. The Holy Spirit entering solified any doubt that G-d truly exists, etc. I try to relate to people who waffle, because I was once them. If you keep listening to him carefully you may be able to undercover how to tap into his *need* better.
I tell you all this so you will not be so discouraged. If he has an open heart he will *hear* you ...but it may not melt into his head till some time later, even much later.
I'm a fan of Lee Strobel's books too. I'm reading The Case for Faith right now. Has good answers regarding Christians having doubt, "a loving G-d would not send people to hell", "how can there be so much suffering if there is a G-d...", etc. I found it at the library, you may want to check it out to prep you for some questions he may challenge you with.
As far as proof, my favorite expression: "Believe, and he will show you proof".
(not "show me proof then I will believe")
I tell you this, because even if you can't directly ignite his conversion, you can plant the seed. Live your life in full testament of Christ and his glory. Many times witnessing a true believer in action can get the ball rolling. I may sound like a CEO when I say this, but often I think it comes to angle. What angle to works with him? Some people aren't afraid of possible condemnation so that angle won't work. Get my point? My technique is to never ram it down their throat but to speak the truth, and my own truth. Life is better with G-d in it. The Holy Spirit entering solified any doubt that G-d truly exists, etc. I try to relate to people who waffle, because I was once them. If you keep listening to him carefully you may be able to undercover how to tap into his *need* better.
I tell you all this so you will not be so discouraged. If he has an open heart he will *hear* you ...but it may not melt into his head till some time later, even much later.
I'm a fan of Lee Strobel's books too. I'm reading The Case for Faith right now. Has good answers regarding Christians having doubt, "a loving G-d would not send people to hell", "how can there be so much suffering if there is a G-d...", etc. I found it at the library, you may want to check it out to prep you for some questions he may challenge you with.
As far as proof, my favorite expression: "Believe, and he will show you proof".
(not "show me proof then I will believe")
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