Loving Others
As we march out into the world to share the message we must remember one thing. A person’s relationship with God isn't up to us. That is a hard thing to get a hold of. So many Christians make it their business to save people, forgetting that they do not have the power or authority to do so. We can only deliver the message, after that it is between that person and God. That is if we truly believe in God and fully understand that He is in control.
Severn years ago, I met a young lady as I have stated in this blog in the past. On my first visit to China, she came to me crying. Since then she has visited me and my wife in each city we have visitedt in China. One day in Chengdu she brought to me a piece of paper. On the paper was the worse news I've received in China. Her aunt and mom practice Fulan Gong. This piece of paper was enough to get her, her mother and aunt thrown in prison and deportation for me.
After seven years, she finally had an in depth conversation with me (via instant messaging) about her personal beliefs. She informed me that she believes that people have sin and that they need to pay for their sin. My heart jumped, wow has she been talking to a Christian? Then she began to drop the other shoe. She continued that we must live many lives and suffer continuously until we have paid for that sin. I asked her, not in an argumentative way, how do you reconcile your beliefs with those of other religions?
She answered, there are many spatial areas for different gods, and so there is a Christian God, an Islamic god, and so forth. Each god controls a different aspect of the universe, including our earthly nature. Again, I was not telling her about Christianity, just asking her questions about her own belief, and having her draw the comparisons between the main organized religions of the earth. I know people who would have attacked her instantly, but that would have done zero good. I told her that I have studied in college, courses on world religions, and then I asked her if she had ever looked into what others around the world believe. At this point she decided to leave the conversation.
Paul walked into a temple in Athens and seeing all of the idols he stated to the Greeks, “I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” He then used this to deliver the gospel message. Wow, how many times have we seen a person condemn non Christians because of their beliefs? This passage comes out of Acts 17:23.
I must ask you, do you believe Paul is a good example of us to use, to tell us how we should be treating others in the sharing of our faith? I must remind you that in our Christian training to share the message, we are trained to use Paul’s blue print for delivering our testimony. That is what we were like before, how did it happen and what are we like now. If Paul can be trusted enough that we copy his example for sharing our testimony, than should we not trust him in how he dealt with people? I was faced with this when my friend began to share her beliefs with me.
I could have easily backed out of the conversation, or I could listen to her, find commonalties and build upon them. Sin, the belief in sin, and that we need to pay for those sins are a commonality. This is what I will build on, while showing her respect. I say to her, ah I see you believe in God and that we are sinners and must pay for those sins, and later, share with her my belief in how I believe we are redeemed. After that, all I can do is pray for her, and let God do His thing.
My last example, when in Vietnam, we took a trip to the coast. On the way the Vietnamese stopped at a temple. We all got out and went in. They sacrificed fruit to God on the alter. After words, they brought the fruit to us and said we must eat it. The counselors looked at me in distress, not knowing what to do. I reminded them that in 1 Corinthians 8:4 and 8:7-8, “So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. And in verse 7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.” We then ate the bananas and peaches.
Severn years ago, I met a young lady as I have stated in this blog in the past. On my first visit to China, she came to me crying. Since then she has visited me and my wife in each city we have visitedt in China. One day in Chengdu she brought to me a piece of paper. On the paper was the worse news I've received in China. Her aunt and mom practice Fulan Gong. This piece of paper was enough to get her, her mother and aunt thrown in prison and deportation for me.
After seven years, she finally had an in depth conversation with me (via instant messaging) about her personal beliefs. She informed me that she believes that people have sin and that they need to pay for their sin. My heart jumped, wow has she been talking to a Christian? Then she began to drop the other shoe. She continued that we must live many lives and suffer continuously until we have paid for that sin. I asked her, not in an argumentative way, how do you reconcile your beliefs with those of other religions?
She answered, there are many spatial areas for different gods, and so there is a Christian God, an Islamic god, and so forth. Each god controls a different aspect of the universe, including our earthly nature. Again, I was not telling her about Christianity, just asking her questions about her own belief, and having her draw the comparisons between the main organized religions of the earth. I know people who would have attacked her instantly, but that would have done zero good. I told her that I have studied in college, courses on world religions, and then I asked her if she had ever looked into what others around the world believe. At this point she decided to leave the conversation.
Paul walked into a temple in Athens and seeing all of the idols he stated to the Greeks, “I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.” He then used this to deliver the gospel message. Wow, how many times have we seen a person condemn non Christians because of their beliefs? This passage comes out of Acts 17:23.
I must ask you, do you believe Paul is a good example of us to use, to tell us how we should be treating others in the sharing of our faith? I must remind you that in our Christian training to share the message, we are trained to use Paul’s blue print for delivering our testimony. That is what we were like before, how did it happen and what are we like now. If Paul can be trusted enough that we copy his example for sharing our testimony, than should we not trust him in how he dealt with people? I was faced with this when my friend began to share her beliefs with me.
I could have easily backed out of the conversation, or I could listen to her, find commonalties and build upon them. Sin, the belief in sin, and that we need to pay for those sins are a commonality. This is what I will build on, while showing her respect. I say to her, ah I see you believe in God and that we are sinners and must pay for those sins, and later, share with her my belief in how I believe we are redeemed. After that, all I can do is pray for her, and let God do His thing.
My last example, when in Vietnam, we took a trip to the coast. On the way the Vietnamese stopped at a temple. We all got out and went in. They sacrificed fruit to God on the alter. After words, they brought the fruit to us and said we must eat it. The counselors looked at me in distress, not knowing what to do. I reminded them that in 1 Corinthians 8:4 and 8:7-8, “So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol is nothing at all in the world and that there is no God but one. And in verse 7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 8But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.” We then ate the bananas and peaches.
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