Should a Christian Preach

[JehovahsWitness]

What do you think, should a Christian go forth trying to make disciples, teaching people about Jesus?

What is your opinion on this?

[Wootah]

What do you think, should a Christian go forth trying to make disciples, teaching people about Jesus?

What is your opinion on this?

That is the job.

[Overcomer]

Jesus instructed us to share the Gospel as noted in this passage from the 28th chapter of Matthew:

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.�

And we don't necessarily have to share it using words. The way we live our lives, the kind of people we are, how we handle our relationships, etc. -- these "preach" a lot of truth to the folks around us.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 3 by Overcomer]

True words and actions go together. Sometimes its as difficult to avoid pornography, sex outside marriage, unclean speech, smoking and over indulgence as it is to speak to strangers about God? Or knock on a neighbours door bible in hand.

[Overcomer]

JehovahsWitness wrote:

True words and actions go together. Sometimes its as difficult to avoid pornography, sex outside marriage, unclean speech, smoking and over indulgence as it is to speak to strangers about God? Or knock on a neighbours door bible in hand.

Agreed.

I know some people are intimidated about talking about their religious beliefs. When I have talked to other Christians about it, they say they're afraid to do so because they don't have all the answers. But who of us does? There's no shame in saying, "I don't know the answer to that, but I will ask others who know more than I do or do some research and get back to you on that."

Do you find knocking on a door with Bible in hand difficult? How does one overcome one's apprehensions about talking about religious beliefs?

[JehovahsWitness]

Do you find knocking on a door with Bible in hand difficult? How does one overcome one's apprehensions about talking about religious beliefs?

We are all trained ministers and have various bible schools that give us much needed instruction.

• That said, its never easy because you don't know how you'll be received. One person may say "Oh thank God, I've been praying for someone to help me understand the bible, please come in!" And at the next door someone might cuss at you and threaten to shoot you if you don't leave immediately.

Jesus warned his followers it wouldn't be easy and we don't preach in our own strength but in Gods, He gives us the courage and He ensures we can keep going despite opposition.

JW

[Overcomer]

I agree that confidence in witnessing comes when one knows what one knows and why one knows it inside out. I am blessed to have a lot of time in which to study and I love doing it. I know others simply don't have the amount of time I do.

I listened to an interview with Jim Tour, a nano-technologist at Rice University, who talked about getting up at 4 a.m. every morning to spend a couple of hours in prayer and Bible study. He said he looked forward to it because it gave him such joy.

I don't get up at 4 o'clock in the morning, that's for sure! And some days I just natter at the Lord instead of sitting down with him for a quality time. But I agree with Tour. Time spent with the Lord is the best time ever!

[Aetixintro]

[Replying to post 1 by JehovahsWitness]

First and foremost, this is the effort for making Christianity promising to non-believers and Atheists/Agnostics. Secondly, one should recognize all other "white-list" religions. Thirdly, one should try to make Christianity as attractive as possible by being a moral example from it, that is, as a Christian one conducts life honorably or seeks to make Christianity impact the World by you as a person.

I do not see any point in trying to evangelize people of these other religions because it may spark conflicts of metaphysics and war of words which come across as crazy and not very brilliant to start.

IMO.

[Overcomer]

Aetixintro wrote:

I do not see any point in trying to evangelize people of these other religions because it may spark conflicts of metaphysics and war of words which come across as crazy and not very brilliant to start.

It might be easier to witness to believers of other religions than it is to witness to atheists. They already know that a god of some kind exists. That means they're half-way there to learning about the one true God. They aren't nearly as hard-hearted or, to use the Bible's word, stiff-necked as atheists.

However, if they belong to a religion where the ramifications of leaving it are severe (such as Islam), that might make it even harder to witness to them. The stakes are so much higher for them than for an atheist. They range from being ostracized from one's family and friends to being killed for dishonouring one's family by leaving the religion.

But there are certainly ex-atheists and ex-Muslims who are now in relationship with Jesus, so we should never give up on anybody.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 8 by Aetixintro]

Well as Jehovah's Witnesses we evangelize because it is a direct command from our Master. That is why we do it. We're happy to do so because we love God and our neighbour but its not easy and quite frankly if Jesus didn't command me to I can think of easier ways of spending my weekends.

I would agree that it would be counterproductive to preach while living lives that do not reflect Christian standards. That said, our message appeals to those that wish to learn what God has to say, so we don't tailor it to have mass appeal. Those that don't wish to listen or find the content appealing have but to say so and we will leave them be. Jesus indicated that his disciples shouldn't expect the majority to listen.

JW