Sharing the Faith...Worker/Supervisor

[Shane2336]

So here's where I'm at with this one...

I myself am a long-time Christian and have absolutely no qualms about sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone. Actually, I'd say it's the opposite. I LOVE sharing the gospel with others. It's something I'm passionate and excited about! But what do you do, when you run into a case of "refusal to hear"?

Allow me to be more specific.

I'm in the military (I've been around for a bit). I've found myself currently operating on a two-man team. I'm the junior man on this team by a couple of years. My boss and I get along absolutely great, so no complaints there. I'd say we're pretty good friends. That's where the problem lies. I would imagine I'm not alone here, but when you become friends and start to really care about someone; you become concerned for what eternity holds for them. Right? So, one day I brought up the topic. SHUT DOWN. He tells me he's an atheist and has no interest in anything I had to say about "god".

This was a few months ago...

Since then, we've had a lot of conversations on the subject. However, I feel like he's only being friendly and letting me talk. He's a very intelligent man and has a response/refutation for everything. Mind you, he's been very cordial and he's careful not to damage our friendship. I certainly respect him for that. I've learned (as I suspected) that he was brought up in the faith (Church of the Nazarene). He said a lot of the practices there made him feel uncomfortable, and so he turned away. Add about fifteen years of life to that and a lot of "research". He has concluded there is no God, and if there was even the slightest possibility of His existence, he still probably wouldn't care.

This is the deadlock we're in.

I know beyond any sliver of shadow of doubt that God exists, and my friend knows with one hundred percent certainty that there is no god. PERIOD.

So, what to do?

 

[slippinginfaith]

So here's where I'm at with this one...

I myself am a long-time Christian and have absolutely no qualms about sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone. Actually, I'd say it's the opposite. I LOVE sharing the gospel with others. It's something I'm passionate and excited about! But what do you do, when you run into a case of "refusal to hear"?

Allow me to be more specific.

I'm in the military (I've been around for a bit). I've found myself currently operating on a two-man team. I'm the junior man on this team by a couple of years. My boss and I get along absolutely great, so no complaints there. I'd say we're pretty good friends. That's where the problem lies. I would imagine I'm not alone here, but when you become friends and start to really care about someone; you become concerned for what eternity holds for them. Right? So, one day I brought up the topic. SHUT DOWN. He tells me he's an atheist and has no interest in anything I had to say about "god".

This was a few months ago...

Since then, we've had a lot of conversations on the subject. However, I feel like he's only being friendly and letting me talk. He's a very intelligent man and has a response/refutation for everything. Mind you, he's been very cordial and he's careful not to damage our friendship. I certainly respect him for that. I've learned (as I suspected) that he was brought up in the faith (Church of the Nazarene). He said a lot of the practices there made him feel uncomfortable, and so he turned away. Add about fifteen years of life to that and a lot of "research". He has concluded there is no God, and if there was even the slightest possibility of His existence, he still probably wouldn't care.

This is the deadlock we're in.

I know beyond any sliver of shadow of doubt that God exists, and my friend knows with one hundred percent certainty that there is no god. PERIOD.

So, what to do?

Pray for him and for wisdom so that when you talk to him, you will be able to say the right things. Faith is a very sensitive subject, so you don't wanna be one of those Christians who is too "pushy" about preaching the gospel, the kind that a lot of non-believers hate. So, if he is interested, then you should tell him more, but otherwise, you shouldn't be too "preachy" about God. And just pray for him on the side, so that God would open up his hearts.

I, myself, am stuck in a more "sticky" predicament and my bf isn't a believer. Let me tell you that it's definitely a lot more complicated when the person you're hoping to convert is your significant other. But I still am not trying to be too pervasive with him, but of course I'm just praying for him.

 

[Papias]

In both those situations, everyone involved agrees that sensible people make decisions based on objective evidence, right?

So maybe agree on that as a common starting point ahead of time, and then discuss pieces of evidence as they come up? Find some way to make a prediction based on either worldview, and then look up the evidence, and discuss which fits the evidence better?

In Christ-

Papias

 

[Shane2336]

In both those situations, everyone involved agrees that sensible people make decisions based on objective evidence, right?

So maybe agree on that as a common starting point ahead of time, and then discuss pieces of evidence as they come up? Find some way to make a prediction based on either worldview, and then look up the evidence, and discuss which fits the evidence better?

In Christ-

Papias

A good approach. Perhaps I've been coming at this with the "big picture" when small bits and pieces would suit better. Thanks!

 

[archer75]

In both those situations, everyone involved agrees that sensible people make decisions based on objective evidence, right?

I don't know whether this will work in this situation, but I do know there are some people for whom "evidence" will never work (I am one of them). So, for the future, IF this should not work out, considering approaches that shortcut around the whole notion of pro- and con- evidence.

 

[Shane2336]

I don't know whether this will work in this situation, but I do know there are some people for whom "evidence" will never work (I am one of them). So, for the future, IF this should not work out, considering approaches that shortcut around the whole notion of pro- and con- evidence.

Thank you very much for the advice.

 

[Greg J.]

Your perspective reveals that you have a certain expectation of what counts as good results, but is it the expectation God has right now? As @slippinginfaith says, pray for wisdom and insight from God.

Look at how successful you have been! You have not failed in any way I can see. We do the telling and God does the saving. You have done excellently in getting past the "I am not interested in anything you have to say" to having conversations. I can't say how much you should keep pressing, but will say that for some unbelievers, a time can come when we need to live the truth more than speak it.

 

[Shane2336]

Your perspective reveals that you have a certain expectation of what counts as good results, but is it the expectation God has right now? As @slippinginfaith says, pray for wisdom and insight from God.

Look at how successful you have been! You have not failed in any way I can see. We do the telling and God does the saving. You have done excellently in getting past the "I am not interested in anything you have to say" to having conversations. I can't say how much you should keep pressing, but will say that for some unbelievers, a time can come when we need to live the truth more than speak it.

I really appreciate this message, Greg. Thank you. It's easy to forget that I am merely the seed sower.

 

[RBPerry]

It is obvious you care about your co-worker and friend; you can only do so much. I for one dove into apologetics many years ago, but I have come to realize that debating the gospel yields very few conversions.

You have planted the seeds, now let your life and moral character become your witness to your friend.

If he was raised Nazarene, then there is a good chance he doesn’t understand God’s grace. I’m not implying the Nazarenes don’t understand grace, but sometimes it is overshadowed by legalism, and the sanctification beliefs of the Nazarenes. His issues may stem from a misunderstanding of what he believes God would expect of him, and therefore has decided to reject Him completely.

 

[Shane2336]

Thank you for your input. From my understanding, it was definitely a heavy dose of legalism that sent him running for the hills. I definitely wasn't saying anything negative about the Nazarenes (and I know you weren't either).
Another friend of mine, who happens to be our Navy Chaplain, (we're Marines and the Navy supplies those to us) has engaged in many of these conversations with us. He's a good guy and doesn't "push the gospel" as some chaplains are known to do. I've found that approach to be grossly ineffective at times.
Anyway, so this Navy Chaplain (Presbyterian) and I have been talking to our mutual friend and we have been attempting to reconstruct that view (he holds) of God's grace you were talking about. I'm sure, as most on this site will agree, that's a very simple and difficult one to explain, especially to someone outside of our family.

 

[RBPerry]

You are so right about understanding grace. I was raised SDA and totally rejected Christianity for many years because I felt I could never be acceptable to God.
I have a book called "Grace Awakening" and it was such a blessing to me.
By the way, thank you for your service to our wonderful country. One of my son in-laws is career Army and has been deployed three times.

 

[Greg J.]

I have a book called "Grace Awakening" and it was such a blessing to me.

I worked through the workbook a long time ago and still remember it as essential reading—revelatory. In retrospect, I'm amazed at how much more help with this I've needed since then. God is still working this into me!

 

[Shane2336]

You are so right about understanding grace. I was raised SDA and totally rejected Christianity for many years because I felt I could never be acceptable to God.
I have a book called "Grace Awakening" and it was such a blessing to me.
By the way, thank you for your service to our wonderful country. One of my son in-laws is career Army and has been deployed three times.

I thank your son-in-law for his service. And you, for your appreciation. Truly, thank you.