Letter from an Athiest

[Matthew 10:34]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"You are really convinced that you've got all the answers. You've really got yourself tricked into believing that you're 100% right. Well, let me tell you just one thing. Do you consider yourself to be compassionate of other humans? If you're right, as you say you are, and you believe that, then how can you sleep at night? When you speak with me, you are speaking with someone who you believe is walking directly into eternal damnation, into an endless onslaught of horrendous pain which your 'loving' god created, yet you stand by and do nothing.

If you believed one bit that thousands every day were falling into an eternal and unchangeable fate, you should be running the streets mad with rage at their blindness. That's equivalent to standing on a street corner and watching every person that passes you walk blindly directly into the path of a bus and die, yet you stand idly by and do nothing. You're just twiddling your thumbs, happy in the knowledge that one day that 'walk' signal will shine your way across the road.

Think about it. Imagine the horrors Hell must have in store if the Bible is true. You're just going to allow that to happen and not care about saving anyone but yourself? If you're right then you're an uncaring, unemotional and purely selfish (expletive) that has no right to talk about subjects such as love and caring."[/font]

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This is an excerpt from an e-mail sent to Evangelist Ray Comfort of Living Waters.[/font]

Christians, are we doing enough? How many of us have hellbound friends and yet we do nothing? How do we excuse ourselves when even an athiest can see our hypocrisy?? What would Jesus say to this?

Peace in Chist!

 

[Sword-In-Hand]

good post

 

[JMandrell]

Wow. You are right, as christians we should take every opportunity to bring unbelievers to christ. The problem is, not everyone wants to be saved.

My preacher says that if everyone in our church was on fire for Jesus the way we should be, there would not be a person in the county who had not heard about Jesus and that we would have to build a church ten times the size of the one we have to hold all the people that would be there. But yet, most christians just leave church and never even invite their neighbors.

 

[Matthew 10:34]

Wow. You are right, as christians we should take every opportunity to bring unbelievers to christ. The problem is, not everyone wants to be saved.

My preacher says that if everyone in our church was on fire for Jesus the way we should be, there would not be a person in the county who had not heard about Jesus and that we would have to build a church ten times the size of the one we have to hold all the people that would be there. But yet, most christians just leave church and never even invite their neighbors.

Amen. How many of us stop our witnessing when we leave the church?

 

[CFoster]

I too, for whatever reason (excuse), do not share the Gospel of our Lord near enough. My preacher says that there is one thing that we can do here while we are on this earth that we will not be able to do in heaven, and that is to give witness to the Lord Jesus Christ and to turn His lost children back to him.

(Mat 9:36) But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.

(Mat 9:37) Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.

 

[TwinCrier]

But few atheists are this open and accepting. I can safely say most would demand you get the bible out of their face, accuse you of shoving your religion down their throats and file a law suit. We can lead the lost to the gospel but we can't make them believe.

 

[ZiSunka]

Wow. You are right, as christians we should take every opportunity to bring unbelievers to christ. The problem is, not everyone wants to be saved.

A lot of people do, they just don't know how. When I was unsaved, I wanted more than anything in the world to have a good relationship with God. I wanted to be cleaned and to have assurance that he's not mad at me.

But none of the many Christians I knew bothered talking to me about Christ. They judged me, they made fun of me, they gossiped about me, but none of them even tried to lead me to the Lord.

My preacher says that if everyone in our church was on fire for Jesus the way we should be, there would not be a person in the county who had not heard about Jesus and that we would have to build a church ten times the size of the one we have to hold all the people that would be there. But yet, most christians just leave church and never even invite their neighbors.

Or even talk to anyone at all about their faith.

When was the last time any of us spoke to someone about getting saved?

 

[JMandrell]

I have this guy at my work who was raised in an atheist family. Every time I bring up the subject of God he automatically has a comeback line. Well I told him that I was not going to preach to him but that he was welcome at my church anytime and that if he ever just wanted to talk I would be there. Well as the years have gone by, he has slowly opened up to talking about God. He has not yet gone to church or accepted Jesus, but I can tell that it is starting to nag at him a little. It is taking all of my strength not to badger him about it and let him come to Jesus on his own. Hopefully with my prayers, he will make the next step.

The thing to remember is, God wants everyone to be saved. You need to allow Him to work in their lives be it thru you or thru another means.

 

[SonOfThunder]

Christians, are we doing enough? How many of us have hellbound friends and yet we do nothing? How do we excuse ourselves when even an athiest can see our hypocrisy?? What would Jesus say to this?

Peace in Chist!

Once (not so long back) I was one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Perhaps I am wrong in saying that this religion seems to be the only Organistaion actively witnessing on a regular basis.

I might add this was works to many, a monthly quota to achieve. To some a passion to share out of dedication to Jehovah and not to an organistion.

Either way God knows our heart and our motive and drive.

Since I left and have started to go to a Baptist church I notice the focus is not to 'go out' but to 'draw them in'. We talk of 'friends days' or picnics to bring people to us, rather than to go out to the people.

The thought of door knocking brings shudders of fear into some. Rejection eats into the mind and we shy from sharing the hope with others.

I pray one day God will give me the courage needed, the words (His words) to reach others.

Thankyou for the reminder

James

 

[ninja]

I think people need to know how to effectively share the gospel. I don't believe bible bashing and door knocking are the only way to go about it. Look at the reputation of JWs and Mormons there has to be a better way. I used to be a Mormon btw, I’m currently looking for another church but feel orchard just turning up. I’ve got a few friends that go to church near me but they have never invited me sad isn’t it.

My GF is a catholic and has completely got turned of going to church with me because a friend of told her that catholic aren’t Christians etc.

I feel Christians need to be out in the community living life as an example. Definitely invite people to church, activities and their when they have questions maybe there should be more focus on how to effectively witness to people in church.

 

[staugustine68]

Evangelism is an act of Worship.

God wants us to go out and plant seeds.

There are ways of doing this besides agonizing people.
We each have our "own" way to do this.

I have a Jesus fish on the back of my car...that could be one way.

The Bible does state to be careful on how to spread his name.

There are people in this world that don't want to be saved, but I will tell you this, all things is possible with God.

 

[Steve_SandbachBaptist_UK]

Trouble is some people are jus not open enough to the gospel but a contributing factor to this is perhaps that some Christians are too conservative in our evangelism and so because of this the non-Christians may think ''well even the christians don't seem like they fully believe it''.

 

[jcright]

Do you think it's really as bad as all that? Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm know we could be doing more...however, this person is placing the blame fully on us. There's a serious flaw here: 1) Only the Holy Spirit can save. Therefore it, doesn't matter how much jumping around we do, how much talking we do, doesn't matter how much of a pest we make of ourseslves. 2) Everyone has a choice....instead, society is pushing more and more for religion to be banned from public knowledge. If we tell them the Word and they reject it, then who's fault is it? Yes, we have a responsibility to spread the Word, however, I can't help but to keep Mark 6:11 "if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.” I'm not suggesting we give up, even if we try a hundred times, but I'm not so sure we should be kicking ourselves to the extent that the author would have us shamed to.

 

[Gwenyfur]

It is true...adn sad that most Christians in america say little to nothing about Jesus and His love outside of their "comfort zone".

That's why we started Fishers of Men. We go door to door working off the map of the city. Not one house will not be visited. We take with us little packets, that's in a doorknob hanger back (like avon) inside there's a copy of the Gospel of John, a list of our services and outreach ministries, invitations to AWANA's as well as invitations for the youth to our youth ministry meetings and upcoming events. We also try to spend time with them when they answer the door, to ask about prayer requests, share His love and the Gospel taht could save their souls.

Hugs,

 

[P_G]

Just want you to know I am going to use this in my sermon tonight


Pastor George

 

[ZiSunka]

Just let's please not do what the JWs do! They think they can get people saved by annoying them by going door to door, but this just irritates folks. I never heard of any of the disciples going door to door, they talked to individuals and to groups and in the marketplace and in the homes of Believers, but they never, ever went door to door and tried to make people listen to them.

 

[SonOfThunder]

It is true...adn sad that most Christians in america say little to nothing about Jesus and His love outside of their "comfort zone".

That's why we started Fishers of Men. We go door to door working off the map of the city. Not one house will not be visited. We take with us little packets, that's in a doorknob hanger back (like avon) inside there's a copy of the Gospel of John, a list of our services and outreach ministries, invitations to AWANA's as well as invitations for the youth to our youth ministry meetings and upcoming events. We also try to spend time with them when they answer the door, to ask about prayer requests, share His love and the Gospel taht could save their souls.

Hugs,

This post is good and reflects ( I think) what Jesus did Himself. He didn't sit in a temple waiting for people to come to Him. He went out and met the people in their own towns and had no place to lay His head. Likewise the disciples did many many travels.


James

 

[Matthew 10:34]

Just let's please not do what the JWs do! They think they can get people saved by annoying them by going door to door, but this just irritates folks. I never heard of any of the disciples going door to door, they talked to individuals and to groups and in the marketplace and in the homes of Believers, but they never, ever went door to door and tried to make people listen to them.

I'm undecided on this form of witnessing, however, I must say, I believe Mormonism is the fasting growing religion (or maybe the fastest growing "Christian" religion - if you can call it that). Going door to door must work becasue that's what they do. While I don't consider Mormons to be Christian, I must say they certainly beat us in the evangelizing department! I see Mormons coming to my door, I see them setting up tables and handing out pamphlets on campuses, I see them traveling around the world bringing their religion to all corners of the earth, I read a post in another forum where someone said her mormon neighbor gave her a missionary tract for Christmas! How many of us do that for our unsaved neighbors? Or are we too afraid it will make them not like us? I think we can take some inspiration from their zealousness (and maybe give it back to them ).

Nehemiah_Center, I'm glad that the post could be of use to you. I hope it went over well!

Peace in Christ!

 

[ZiSunka]

How many of us do that for our unsaved neighbors? Or are we too afraid it will make them not like us? I think we can take some inspiration from their zealousness (and maybe give it back to them ).

I think that if we led our lives the way Christ wanted us to, we wouldn't need to go out and pound on doors, the world would come to us to find out more about this God we belong to. But instead of living our lives like people of God, we live our lives as Americans who just happen to be Christians. Most of us, when we got saved, just added Christ to our existing lives, and didn't let Him radically change our lives. The Apostles were effective at evangelism, not just because of what their lips said, but because of how they conducted themselves, like renewed people. How many of us could really say that our old lives have fallen away and we've begun entirely new lives, like the Bible teaches should happen?

To the world, it seems like being a Christian is all about going to church, and not at all about starting a whole new life of love and joy. To the world, the smiling mormons seem happy, but we seem dour and grim. Who would join an organization that is dour and grim when they could join one that is happy and promises a whole new life for you and your family?

That's why they are gaining ground, because they live differently, and we just add a fish symbol to the back of our car and go on like nothing else happened.

 

[seebs]

Christians, are we doing enough? How many of us have hellbound friends and yet we do nothing? How do we excuse ourselves when even an athiest can see our hypocrisy?? What would Jesus say to this?

Peace in Chist!

A very interesting question, and a real challenge for many of us.

The question is not one of mere zeal. The question is whether my life will actually draw people towards the faith. I try to work on living that life, first and foremost.

As St. Francis said, "Preach the Gospel always, use words when necessary."