LisaC said:Guard Dad said:LisaC, you just don't get it.
No one said Christians shouldn't proclaim the word of God. But for God's sake (literally), we should use some tact and present it in a way that interests others in it instead of driving them away.
Too often, we blow it. I don't think we usually mean to, but sometimes we're over-zealous, poorly trained, and sometimes we just have an attitude that we're somehow better than they are. The latter is what tics me off, and why I posted the scripture above. Sorry, but doing it that way doesn't win souls. In fact, it usually drives people away and makes them think Christians are a bunch of arrogant jerks.
You mentioned Billy Graham in FB. What a wonderful example of what a Christian witness should be! Bold in his faith and always ready to tell others about Jesus; but he never ever came across as arrogant or above those who he spoke to.
This is what bothers me about your post - mostly because I am not arrogant and over-zealous when it comes to telling folks about Jesus. I generally wait until they ask so those comments don't apply to me. The problem I have with what you posted is that we are watering down the truth. We are telling people what THEY want to hear and sometimes that means that we are changing what the Word of God says. That is not what we are called to do.
P.S. Billy Graham has no tact. He will flat out tell you that we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God.
You don't seem to think we can present the Gospel accurately and honestly without watering it down. I totally disagree.
Billy Graham does use tact; he tells it like it is but in a loving manner that never seems arrogant nor elitist. He is probably the most loved and respected preacher ever, short of Jesus himself. Contrast him with someone like Jerry Falwell who could come across as downright mean and he often presented himself as being somehow better than those around him. IMO, Falwell did Christianity a lot of harm because of how he acted and presented himself.
This above is what I'm referring to. Both men preaching the gospel; one in a sweet and loving manner that draws people in, the other in a somewhat mean and arrogant way that turns people off.