Spread the Word, tell the story..
Today, just after lunch, there was a discussion going on about how do we reach out to people, what is the process (as far as it is in our hands, our role) from just any (pre-believer) friend, to seeing them become a strong Christian. There were some ideas going around about how to make people feel welcome in church (such as by getting more common friends or to ensure that common stereotypes (like high pressure tactics) are not carried out). Those have their role of course. They are important in making people feel welcome and to stay within the family of Christ, where they have a chance to grow.
I have a different concern however. There are many people who do go to church, but do not stay not because they do not feel welcomed, but that they do not see God as real. Or something similar which causes them to disregard the teachings, or at best to regard them as sound advise (instead of the inspired Word of God). Then there are those who are outside of the church but have the same idea - that God is not real, or the Christian idea of God is not real, and the teachings are merely good (or even excellent) advise
Of course, having said that, it is true that within the church, there are more opportunities to be exposed to God, to learn more, and eventually, through this process, to be able to finally come to faith in this God whom they had always heard about. This is why so many people in mission schools are more easily evangelized to - they had already been exposed to the teachings. However, the process of conversion is not that simple. More often than not, these people know about God, but never come to faith in God.
How then do we help people to see the need for this Savior, to see that it is true? (I am speaking about our part of course). I suppose different people have different needs. Some are incorrigibly intellectual and will have tons of questions to ask. Others will put it down to being unable to feel God. Still others will say that they have other things to do, don't have time to think about it. These, in my opinion, are not the real issues though..
As friends, we are the people in one of the best positions to know what really is going on.. Perhaps we should all take a greater interest in their spiritual life.
I have a different concern however. There are many people who do go to church, but do not stay not because they do not feel welcomed, but that they do not see God as real. Or something similar which causes them to disregard the teachings, or at best to regard them as sound advise (instead of the inspired Word of God). Then there are those who are outside of the church but have the same idea - that God is not real, or the Christian idea of God is not real, and the teachings are merely good (or even excellent) advise
Of course, having said that, it is true that within the church, there are more opportunities to be exposed to God, to learn more, and eventually, through this process, to be able to finally come to faith in this God whom they had always heard about. This is why so many people in mission schools are more easily evangelized to - they had already been exposed to the teachings. However, the process of conversion is not that simple. More often than not, these people know about God, but never come to faith in God.
How then do we help people to see the need for this Savior, to see that it is true? (I am speaking about our part of course). I suppose different people have different needs. Some are incorrigibly intellectual and will have tons of questions to ask. Others will put it down to being unable to feel God. Still others will say that they have other things to do, don't have time to think about it. These, in my opinion, are not the real issues though..
As friends, we are the people in one of the best positions to know what really is going on.. Perhaps we should all take a greater interest in their spiritual life.
posted by P{ZM} at 6:02 PM
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