So Be Bold Brethren

[aReformedPatriot]

I think an overall problem in our evangelistic ministry, both here on this site and in the world has largley gone the wrong way. We tend to associate being bold for the cross as getting in your face and backing someone into a corner.

Perhaps a most blatant indicator (and example) is our treatment of homosexuals. We goto their pride events get on our bull horns and scream about how wrong they are. And our protest signs bear the flames of hell. It's almost like this "YE PAGANS CONFORM TO CHRIST'S HOLY STANDARD THIS MINUTE OR ROT IN HELL!!!!"

That is not being bold for the gospel. Why do we so often feel as if thats going to work? Being bold for the gospel would be to listen to what these people have to say. Being bold for the gospel would mean telling them gently what the bible says. You win people by loving their socks off. The only people Christ was ever harsh with were the religious types who should have known better, and I believe its a good example of churches that embrace fallacy. However, we cant expect a non Christian to understand our strong feelings about these things because they are of the Spirit:

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

And finally:

2Ti 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.


Imagine Brothers, the harvest we would reap even on these forums if we would quit fighting each other and focus our efforts on others. On loving our detractors, and instead of forcing them into a corner and beating them over the head with a Bible. To just listen to them and affirm that they are people. In the end, we stay biblical, we are truely bold, and we even get to hold our ground. By "holding our ground" I mean, we get to do this without condoning their sin and thus compromising.


- Mark

 

[ZiSunka]

Amen TLE!

At work, a new man was assigned to share my office and he is gay. When he came in he saw little things around my desk that indicated to him that I am a Christian. He was very ready for me to hate him and demand for him to be reassigned, but the whole time we worked together, I did nothing but show him kindness, because I pictured Christ dying for this man like he died for me. My sins were no better than his. He sins bug us more, but my sins are just as black as his in the eyes of God. During five years of working together, he learned that Christians aren't hate purveyors, we aren't violent, we don't do mean things to people who's sins we don't like. I constantly tried to be as Christ-like as possible. I knew that he knew that what he was doing was sin, he's married to an ex-priest afterall! We had many, many discussions about Christ and the plan of salvation, but I never pressured him because I know if I did, he would have closed his ears to the truth forever. When I quit two weeks ago, this man hugged me with tears in his eyes and told me how much he was going to miss me because I taught him that Christ is not about hate, but about grace. Maybe someday my friend will get saved. I hope so, he's a lovely person. If he does it will be because someone showed him the love of God and didn't bludgeon him with the wrath of their own heart.

An old friend of mine once told me that we can love people into the Kingdom, but we can't hate them into the Kingdom. Just some food for thought.

 

[TwinCrier]

Where are these people screaming with bullhorns?

I think your buying into their propaganda. It's not hate to disagree with someone's choices. The bigotry claims are just reliable ways to shut people down. Accuse someone of hate and they are expected to walk away defeated. Do not confuse being bold with being popular.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Where are these people screaming with bullhorns?

I think your buying into their propaganda. It's not hate to disagree with someone's choices. The bigotry claims are just reliable ways to shut people down. Accuse someone of hate and they are expected to walk away defeated. Do not confuse being bold with being popular.

No.

And I agree with you, its not hate to disagree with someones choices. Thats not what I am saying. However it is arrogant to tell someone to conform to Christ without yet having been renewed by the Holy Spirit. It's just not possible. We can develope a love relationship with them if we dont push them away.Then we can tell them what they need to hear, because when we listen to them, they will listen to us.

There was a wonderful picture posted in News & Current Events a few weeks ago with a protest sign bearing the flames of hell and a really mean message. While I was attending bible college in Springfield MO there is a Christian on the street corner telling women they are going to hell for wearing pants. Even if that were biblical there is nothing bold about that.

We can be righteously angry at the world, we dont have to condone their actions, and we dont have to compromise ourselves to be effective in ministry. I heard on the news here a group of Christians called up a mall and told them that unless they display the message "Merry Christmas" we will boycott you. That is silly, we live in a pagan culture, let us react biblically. Let us say Merry Christmas, but let us not force it on people which will make us look like we hate everyone who is not us.

 

[Matthan]

I must be a backslider in the witness department, TLE. I've never protested a gay event, never used a bull-horn to chide their lifestyle, or even to walk across the street to tell them they were wrong. I have always figured that they made their choices, and have just let them be.

Of course I have witnessed for Christ whenever the opportunity presented itself, but almost always after I was asked a question or I made a statement that someone responded to with a question. I have always felt that the folks who wanted to learn more would ask for more, and those that didn't wouldn't ask at all. Have I been wrong with this approach?

My biggest passion is and has been to witness to individuals who are members of apostate denominations that unwhittingly or unknowingly follow Satan, and not God. Oh, they think they are following God, and they honestly believe with all their hearts that they are doing His will. They cannot see for themselves that they are actually relying on the traditions and rules of men for getting into heaven, and not the guidelines given us so clearly in Scripture by God Himself.

I hope I am not off thread with this response. It's just that I get frustrated. Just thinking about a person who calls himself Christian and yet adheres to a "church" that tells the world that we all have to do it their way or we are cursed to hell and eternal damnation is frustrating to me. After all, that is the most unchristian stance imaginable, and yet it is totally and completely acceptable to the members of that denomination.

So I continue my witness when and where I can, and try not to get in their faces as I try my best to point put the heresy they believe in. Oh well! Wish me luck.

Matthan <J><

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I must be a backslider in the witness department, TLE. I've never protested a gay event, never used a bull-horn to chide their lifestyle, or even to walk across the street to tell them they were wrong. I have always figured that they made their choices, and have just let them be.

Of course I have witnessed for Christ whenever the opportunity presented itself, but almost always after I was asked a question or I made a statement that someone responded to with a question. I have always felt that the folks who wanted to learn more would ask for more, and those that didn't wouldn't ask at all. Have I been wrong with this approach?

My biggest passion is and has been to witness to individuals who are members of apostate denominations that unwhittingly or unknowingly follow Satan, and not God. Oh, they think they are following God, and they honestly believe with all their hearts that they are doing His will. They cannot see for themselves that they are actually relying on the traditions and rules of men for getting into heaven, and not the guidelines given us so clearly in Scripture by God Himself.

I hope I am not off thread with this response. It's just that I get frustrated. Just thinking about a person who calls himself Christian and yet adheres to a "church" that tells the world that we all have to do it their way or we are cursed to hell and eternal damnation is frustrating to me. After all, that is the most unchristian stance imaginable, and yet it is totally and completely acceptable to the members of that denomination.

So I continue my witness when and where I can, and try not to get in their faces as I try my best to point put the heresy they believe in. Oh well! Wish me luck.

Matthan <J><

I agree

You should commit 2 tim 2:24 to memory, it can only help you with that.

My bull horn and hellfire poster was a blanket example. It does happen, and more often than we'd care to admit. And when it does happen it gets a lot of attention as bad stuff does. This gives everybody the impression that we are looney and haters. So its best time we start speaking out against it so we dont lose control. In anycase I am not faulting anyone personally, and nothing unbiblical was said.

 

[Sword-In-Hand]

What's odd and sad is that Christians do more to hurt the Kingdom than to help. I've seen examples in the news of a city that is only 60 miles from me where protestors held out their sings against homosexuality. While I don't condone that lifestyle or should I say, choice of that lifestyle, I don't walk up to them and say, "Hope hell suits you because that's where you're going."

I watched the protest and there were signs of, "God hates gays!" They interviewed this teenager who was so arrogant it was sickening and she said, "God's perfect hate is directed towards the homosexuals." These people are supposed to be loving Christians but they mirror hate more than love and think they are doing God some awesome favor.

People have problems, certains sins that beat them down continously, and we all know its hard not to fall into these sins, but its always more of a help when a loving person helps you through the times instead of condemning you for it. We need to help people walk instead of push them down.

 

[aReformedPatriot]

Amen!!!!

 

[gey_christian]

While I don't condone that lifestyle or should I say, choice of that lifestyle, I don't walk up to them and say, .

choice of that lifestyle? can you plz elaborate on this

 

[SumTinWong]

I must be a backslider in the witness department, TLE. I've never protested a gay event, never used a bull-horn to chide their lifestyle, or even to walk across the street to tell them they were wrong. I have always figured that they made their choices, and have just let them be.

I must be a backslider as well. You will never see me with a bull horn, protesting gays events, or will I go out of my way to tell them how wrong they are. I try to live my life the way God would have me live it, and be an example in that regard.

I would echo what Swordin hand has said in thi matter.

 

[RED that's ME]

MOD HAT ON

Homosexual discussions will NOT be permitted in the Baptist/AnaBaptist forum.
Homosexual discussions are limited to 3 forums on CF.

Philosophy & Morality
General Apologetics
Liberal Theology


If you want to discuss the topic in those forums please do.


MOD HAT OFF

 

[ZiSunka]

I'm confused. We aren't allowed to discuss how a Christian should treat a gay with respect and love because those discussions are only allowed in non-Christian fora?

I'm not arguing, I'm just asking for a clarification.

 

[SumTinWong]

No, actually a troll came in and was trying to stir up a debate by asking a question. I think it was i the first part of the thread.

 

[ZiSunka]

Thanks for the clarification Bud! I got scared there for a minute.

 

[Gold Dragon]

I must be a backslider in the witness department, TLE. I've never protested a gay event, never used a bull-horn to chide their lifestyle, or even to walk across the street to tell them they were wrong. I have always figured that they made their choices, and have just let them be.

You are not a backslider at all. Your approach is the one TLE is trying to promote.