Question on People leaving the church because of sins they see in
leaders.
-- Why is it
when Tiger Woods has an affair people don't give up on Golf, but when a
minister has an affair, people leave the church?
-- Because
people don't associate Golf with moral character. People expect religion to
change a person and make them different.
Question of
Tolerance. Every one is right, no one is wrong. Remember conversation with
Joannah in office. All faiths right. I'm right. Everyone is right. No one is
wrong. We preach inclusion.
--
Christians are becoming a problem because they are viewed as not tolerant.
Think about the
new Iphone or any new technology when it comes out. What is communicated? The
perks or the reasons this product will change your life. Never do you hear the
concerns or problems.
As a society we
are only concerned about the goodness of life.
So, Why WOTM? Why
not use something else?
Let's think about
this:
How do people of
another faith see our faith? -- Mormon vs. Christian, List areas.
How do people who
believe in God (in some way) view religion or your faith? -- Answer, list
things generally about faith -- all protestant faiths.
How do people who
have no faith or are atheists view religion? -- They clump together any
religion into one.
Now, let's think
about faith for a moment. We can strip down all religious thought or
really all belief systems into 2 options.
1. God saves you.
(Christianity) -- Think of the illustration. Jesus saves us, throws down a rope
or ladder, climbs down rope or ladder, reaches out his hand, grabs us and takes
us up the rope/ladder.
2. Man saves
himself (Muslim, Mormonism, Atheism) - God throws down the ladder, people climb
up it.
The more I study
the Gospel and Grace the more I understand that all faiths can be stripped down
into these two categories.
Scripts: Write out scripts to use at a bus stop
Remind people that
your neighbors know you go to church (example: neighbor stating I ride my bike)
As I read
scripture and study it, there is just an amazement that I am a child of God. As
you engage with people and begin to talk with them and begin to understand that
how their worldview has been shaped into what they believe currently is so
distant from where you are in your faith. How utterly amazing of our position
in Christ. You see this enthusiasm as Eric gives the message. I hope you can
see and hear his enthusiasm. As you study God's word you walk away with just an
amazement that God did what he did and he did it for you, for me. Wow.
Hebrews 3:1 -
Consider. Attentively ponder all that is said of the Messiah. Think of his
rank; his dignity; his holiness; his sufferings; his death; his resurrection,
ascension, intercession. Think of him, that you may see the claims to a holy
life; that you may learn to bear trials; that you may be kept from apostasy.
The character and work of the Son of God are worthy of the profound and prayer
consideration of every man; and especially every Christian should reflect on
him. Of the friend that we love we think much; but what have we like the Lord
Jesus?
Authority is so important with Mormon’s. They will always try to
make it sound like they have the only truth. They have the authority over you.
When talking to them, resist the temptation to feel like you are trying to
convert them. It’s important to simply identify the differences.
They will say, “you are wrong, this is the right way.”
Focus on simply the idea that we disagree. God will decide who is
right or wrong.
Always make it personal. Versus simply intellectual.
Quotes: Passion is perhaps the most important
of these characteristics; it’s the one attribute I find most lacking in the
Church as I begin to travel around the country speaking on these issues. Most
of us are not passionate about Christian Case Making. We fail to recognize the
calling of 1 Peter 3:15-16 on our lives. We’re not excited about it. - J.
Warner Wallace
No comments:
Post a Comment