We are called to be "salt."

It is true.

Salt tho, should be used sparingly. Lest it be spit from the mouth and the entire plate rejected.

Salt tho, should be used sparingly. Lest it be spit from the mouth and the entire plate rejected.

I agree Tova and on JU a little goes a looooooooooong way I'm finding out.

I agree Tova and on JU a little goes a looooooooooong way I'm finding out.

I like salt.  I have been lurking and listening.

Proving God exists by pointing to a book written by people who believed God exists isn't proof, and it doesn't serve the argument. It makes us seem idolatrous and mindless as Christians, believing blindly paper and ink.

Wow, now that deserves an insightful!
I hate religion in general and but more so when all I hear are quotes from the bible when asking the question 'Does God Exist?'. I enjoy listening to people talk about god when they are refering to what is inside them or to personal beliefs / experiences.

I throw it all out the window as soon as I hear a quote from the bible being said to support an idea or argument. Worse even when when someone blogs debating quotes from the bible. Instead they should be talking about what is coming from the heart.

One last time.

NO.

If the proof before you isn't enough, then you might check into a hospital. They can help delusionals like you.

throw it all out the window as soon as I hear a quote from the bible being said to support an idea or argument. Worse even when when someone blogs debating quotes from the bible. Instead they should be talking about what is coming from the heart.

Well Sushik.....any Christian worth his salt is going to love to read and talk about God's word. Like I do. I will be careful not to quote anything to do as you don't want to hear it ok? The words that we read and take to heart inspire us and give us hope. In our darkest moments these words come into our minds and a calming peace that surpasses all understanding washes over us. When we give out God's word to another it's only because we want to share what we have especially for those that have no hope.

I remember talking to my mother in law when she was really down. She was not big into the bible but when I gave her scripture I saw her countenance change almost immediately. I believe the word of God is more than just words on a printed page. It's alive and nourishes our soul like food nourishes our physical body.

And I agree with you......I'm not much of a religionist either. But please don't get the two mixed up.

I agree Tova and on JU a little goes a looooooooooong way I'm finding out.

In real life as well.

I don't think there are too many adults in the US who haven't heard of Christ. I heard a minister once say, "by the age of 30, if you live in the US, you have either made a conscious decision for Christ, or a conscious decision against Him."

So hearing is not the problem. It's seeing it LIVED....know what I mean?

Ya, but that's a general rule. I've seen many come to Christ much later in life. But agree it's alot harder. They say that the most important formative years are the first 8. I've seen that in real life. Those that bring their kids up loving Christ in the home stand out among those that drag their kids to church when puberty hits thinking they need to straighten them out. Doesn't work well.

I've gone thru the HS thing. Wait till you hit that with your kids. It's a real eye opener for sure.

I think Jesus' ministry at age 30 does seem to make a statement. I think it's in your 30's that you really start thinking of things. Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? Where am I going? Before that......too busy having a good time. After that.......family life really starts to take a toll and the ball gets away......

You would be surprised tho about how many are living here in the good ol' USA that have not heard much about the bible and/or Christ. I had a 19 year old working for me. She had never heard of Adam and Eve. Never heard of Noah. Knew something on Christ but not much and didn't know who Mary was. I had another friend whose sister in law never knew why we celebrated Christmas!!! She thought it was just goodwill, a season of cheer. This was about 10 years ago and this girl was in her mid twenties. She overheard my friend talk about the Christmas story to her children. Her mouth dropped open. She had no idea.

Have you ever seen Jay Leno on the street asking bible questions? People have no idea. I've heard that other countries are starting to send their missionaries to our country now because we have so lost our way.

Yes, seeing it lived is so true. But like I told my firend who said I just show them the love of Jesus.....I asked her..."do you tell them about him?" She said well...."no." "Well then how will they know?" She said...."oh I never thought of that."

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God." We must show them but we must also tell them. If they don't want to hear. Then we stop. But we have to "go and tell."

who knows....maybe that's where "show and tell" comes from.................

who knows....maybe that's where "show and tell" comes from

Ha. I think Thomas was probably the author of "show and tell."

I don't think I've ever run into someone who doesn't know about Christ. They may not know the details, but they know the gist.

I agree telling is important, it was after all the LAST thing Christ said before his ascension. He coulda said anything but he chose to say..."Go forth and make disciples of all nations."

Five years ago I was an in your face scripture debater. However, God has shown and is showing me that mercy and grace are far better tools than the tongue, at least in my life.

I have an aunt who came to Christ in her 60's!! She tells people I was instrumental in her accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. I asked her, "Why do you tell people that? We only had a very few conversations over several years."

She said, "Tonya, I know you. Have known you since the day you were born. There are not two people more alike in this world than you and me. I saw the changes in your life, things I would never believe possible. I saw them and I wanted it. And now I am beginning to see so much more, and starting to experience it in my own life."

I was humbled because in all honesty while I was always so VOCALLY and strongly trying to bring people to God, it was the non direct approach that actually worked.

In my case, I love to debate/argue. So when I was "arguing for God" I felt JUSTIFIED. Well, I have to say God really disciplined me on this. IT took three HARD years for me to finally get the message......for me it is this....I may be saying it in love but if I KNOW that person is not hearing it in love and I continue, then its really all about me, and not about HIM.

I am less likely to help someone know Christ once I've defeated them verbally....does that make sense? I may not be articulating it quite right because I am still on the learning curve of what He is showing me.

At the root of it was pride. And I didn't even know it. I couldn't see it because I was convinced I was doing it all selflessly for HIM.

When someone (a sister) would come to me with a problem, I'd quote scripture and give her a pep talk. "Let Go and Let God." It wasn't until God allowed me to enter a pit of darkness in my life that I saw exactly how heartless doing that was......yes, it is good to seek comfort and reassurance from God, but the empathy and the heart were not often involved...make sense?

And then there are people (and people who have times) who do NOT hear from God. I have a relationship with Jesus and went through a three year period where I received NOTHING but silence. No matter what occurred, SILENCE. Did I know God was with me? Yes. Did I feel it? No! My mantra "I will never leave you or forsake you." I probably said that a hundred times a day...and "He who began a good work in you is faithful to complete it."

Three years is a long time and proved to be just long enough for me to be "broken." Broken of the unknown pride in my heart, broken so that I might once again be a useful tool and not a hindering one. Broken so I might be remade stronger, smarter. But broken all the same, with the pain and "abandonment" that encompasses......

I dwindled down to one question at the end of that three years while I felt like I was hanging on by my fingernails. "Is God Good?"

When I settled that in my mind, I started by an act of will, BELIEVING it.

So for me, its not longer about winning the argument, but about letting Him win. Saying what I am compelled to say, and letting go. After all I can't save anyone.....but I can certainly turn them away from God.

But if you live according to the word the scriptures says that you will be a Peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9, Exodus 19:5, Deut 7:6).

They will know by how we treat ourselves, how we treat our families, how we treat our neighbors, how we do business. I see no scriptures that support "Cram it down their throats it may hurt for a bit but its for their own good."

KFC, I know deep in your heart you want to see people come to Christ. I see this through your writings. You are studying vigorously in scripture and I commend you for that. But how many times does your passion superceed your concern for their wellbeing? No where in scriptures does it say force your beliefs on others. You and I have had our share of discussions but do you feel like you walked away from such discussions with a new friend or are we just still acquaintances? Are you building one another up or tearing others down? You see Actions DO speak louder than words. Please do not think that as I write this to you that I am sitting on some high chair looking down at you but as a fellow believer sharing with you my observations (and who has personally gone the hard way to arrive to such thinking). I know there have been some harsh criticizm written towards you but you have two options in how you take them. You can look at it as opportunities to grow or you can become defensive and blind to the facts. I encourage you to take these opinions that they have of you and use this as a great opportunity to grow in personal character. Peace and a blessing.

AD

Jesus did say go and make disciples but in John 13:34-35 we have a clear picture of what discipling really means.

"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as
I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."

After all I can't save anyone.....but I can certainly turn them away from God.

I've done my fair share if not more in turning some away.

So for me, its not longer about winning the argument, but about letting Him win.

Absolutely!

Here is the thing God brings me too when I am wanting to "warrior witness." (That's what I call it because it is often done with the best heart, just at the wrong time...sometimes by sword and sometimes by hugs.)

When Jesus healed people, more specifically when Jesus healed the boy having seizures on the ground. What was the first thing Jesus did?

Did he run up to the boy, lay his hands on the kid and wa-la...HEALED.

Nope.

The first thing he did was speak to the dad. Now imagine a child having violent seizures at your feet. And what is the first thing Jesus does? He starts a repore a RELATIONSHIP with the Dad. THEN he saves the child. Over and over again you will see Jesus establish some sort of relationship with almost all those he heals or who come to him.

I do believe there are times when witnessing is (w or w/o words) done without a relationship, when the HS directs it.

I was on the beach in Atlantic City some years ago. It was a weekend and the beach was crowded. I saw a group of about 7 people walking down the beach toward where I was sitting, one carrying a guitar. As they approached I heard them singing. My heart dropped. They were singing Christian songs and I assumed they would be evangelizing on the beach.

I don't have a problem with that approach per say, except that most people doing it assume everyone they come into contact with does not know Jesus. That irks me. It is presumptuous at best. And I hate having to tell them I don't need to say the sinner's prayer and then the argument they start to give about why I do....or I say, I am saved and they say "how do you know?" Move on already!! I have no patience because it REEEKS of condescension.

Ok, so, I was there with relatives who as far as I know are unbelievers.

I watched and it turned out they were baptizing a man and woman. I wanted to roll over and finish reading my book, but I could not do it. My eyes never left the group. I saw them bow their heads and pray...and I thought, right now someone is entering the kingdom and the angels are rejoicing.

I wanted to sit and watch but I was COMPELLED to get up. I did not want too, but I got up and walked down to that group and watched the man and woman be baptized. (Just a side....two dolphins jumped into the air at the moment they went under the water right behind them)...When they came out of the water I hugged each of them and welcomed them and rejoiced with them. The woman told me she was Catholic, but no more. I told her to find a Bible believing church and we talked a few minutes.

When I came back to my blanket my family members looked at me like I was crazy, PECULIAR even. haha

Do you know that was one of the events my aunt sites when talking about coming to Christ? That of all the people laying on the beach, I was the only one who stood and made my way over to the new believers and hugged them. That blew her mind more than anything I ever said.

Ok I have to go right now...more later.

Very touching Tova. Thanks

AD

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Tonya))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) Thank you for sharing. Your words completely capture my heart and feelings on the subject. Love you.

Your words completely capture my heart and feelings on the subject. Love you.

Wow, thanks HC.

Love ya too sista!