Gently instruct
Just last night someone who is an atheist asked me about what sort of Christian I am. I responded back and told him that I'm a non-denominational Christian and then I decided to ask him about his beliefs as an atheist. I haven't gotten a response yet.
After being almost finished with my Inter Disciplinary Studies (in other ways of putting it, it's a class about a lot of different isms), I feel like I'm ready to find out about what other people believe and in some way try to get them to think more about what they believe so that I might be able to lead them to Christ. Even though I've been through the class, I know that it still isn't going to be an easy task.
Anyway, last night I was praying about this person and that God would give me the right words. Suddenly, it hit me out of no where. I realized that when I try to talk with other people about their beliefs, I treat it more like an argument. I don't always realize how important it is to be delicate with my words and try not to scare them away from possibly starting up a relationship with God.
I've been reading this book called Letters From A Skeptic and it's a really awesome book about this son who is a Christian and he is writing his father who doesn't really have any strong set of beliefs. Throughout the whole book their engaging each other with some tough questions. One thing I've realized the son does is he is delicate and always trying to show how God is most importantly a God of love who sent His Son for us. The son is presenting his responses and ideas about God as clearly as he can.
To close, "Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses..." (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
After being almost finished with my Inter Disciplinary Studies (in other ways of putting it, it's a class about a lot of different isms), I feel like I'm ready to find out about what other people believe and in some way try to get them to think more about what they believe so that I might be able to lead them to Christ. Even though I've been through the class, I know that it still isn't going to be an easy task.
Anyway, last night I was praying about this person and that God would give me the right words. Suddenly, it hit me out of no where. I realized that when I try to talk with other people about their beliefs, I treat it more like an argument. I don't always realize how important it is to be delicate with my words and try not to scare them away from possibly starting up a relationship with God.
I've been reading this book called Letters From A Skeptic and it's a really awesome book about this son who is a Christian and he is writing his father who doesn't really have any strong set of beliefs. Throughout the whole book their engaging each other with some tough questions. One thing I've realized the son does is he is delicate and always trying to show how God is most importantly a God of love who sent His Son for us. The son is presenting his responses and ideas about God as clearly as he can.
To close, "Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses..." (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
posted by michelleesexton @ 9:46 AM
2 Comments:
At 10:08 AM, May 11, 2007,
Pat Jenkins said…
what would you describe as God's truth? in regard to your scripture reference.
At 12:53 PM, May 11, 2007,
michelleesexton said…
There are a lot of ways to describe God's truth. God's truth could reference to God's Spirit. In John 15:26 the Holy Spirit is described as "the Spirit of Truth." When you have the Holy Spirit, God is living inside of you and that is when you can know God's truth--which can be knowing what to do or not to do (ethics), understanding more about God's good character, and being able to teach and understand the Bible. I think that the Scripture is mostly referring to the Spirit.
It could also be referring to God's Word. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 it says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work." The Bible is "God-breathed." The Bible exposes how true God is.
In John 14:6 Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Jesus is also considered as the truth in this Scripture.
Overall, the truth can simply be that God is God. His Holy Spirit that lives in me shows me that He is truly God. His Word shows me that He is truly God. Jesus truly revealed Himself to the world and how He was God. The truth comes to the same conclusion of how divine God is.
I hope that makes sense :)
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