Comments on: Lifesavers and Letter Writing http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/ Let's give the Commission back to the church. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:48:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: stepchild http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1107 stepchild Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:03:14 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1107 Paul, I think you're right. We don't always value honesty and openness in any area of our lives. How can we expect believers to know how to talk about their faith? I think some of it is due to the preaching most people hear in church every Sunday morning. If our pastors insist on talking down to people about matters of faith, it only makes sense that anyone without a seminary degree would feel timid about talking about Jesus. I've been to churches that know how to talk about Jesus without using any ancient Greek. That's where the real conversation can happen. Paul,
I think you’re right. We don’t always value honesty and openness in any area of our lives. How can we expect believers to know how to talk about their faith?

I think some of it is due to the preaching most people hear in church every Sunday morning. If our pastors insist on talking down to people about matters of faith, it only makes sense that anyone without a seminary degree would feel timid about talking about Jesus.

I’ve been to churches that know how to talk about Jesus without using any ancient Greek. That’s where the real conversation can happen.

]]> By: Paul http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1105 Paul Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:41:31 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1105 Honest communication is difficult, not just in evangelism, but in life. I regularly find myself having these sort of conversations with my wife when we're talking about some difficulty we're having with one of the kids or with a friend. We tend to ignore the elephant in the room or try to find some indirect way of dealing with the problem when I think we would often be better off just being honest and saying, "This is how I feel." That, and I think that the program-oriented nature of what evangelism has become leaves many of our people feeling like they don't know what to say because they haven't been through EE, CWT or FAITH. They may not even know all of the Scriptures in the Romans Road, and they can only remember two of the four spiritual laws. After all, those are the "approved" evangelism programs. We've lost the concept of what it means to simply sit down with someone and talk to them about what Jesus means in my life and why I follow him. Thanks for the helpful post. Honest communication is difficult, not just in evangelism, but in life. I regularly find myself having these sort of conversations with my wife when we’re talking about some difficulty we’re having with one of the kids or with a friend. We tend to ignore the elephant in the room or try to find some indirect way of dealing with the problem when I think we would often be better off just being honest and saying, “This is how I feel.”

That, and I think that the program-oriented nature of what evangelism has become leaves many of our people feeling like they don’t know what to say because they haven’t been through EE, CWT or FAITH. They may not even know all of the Scriptures in the Romans Road, and they can only remember two of the four spiritual laws. After all, those are the “approved” evangelism programs. We’ve lost the concept of what it means to simply sit down with someone and talk to them about what Jesus means in my life and why I follow him.

Thanks for the helpful post.

]]> By: stepchild http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1099 stepchild Sun, 23 Mar 2008 19:08:26 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1099 Bryan, Thanks. Don't worry, I find it helpful to hear in other people's words what it is they hear me saying. I think you got my meaning. In fact, yours was a bit better than mine... I think the second point you make (well, I tried to make) is the key. Maybe it is weird to share my faith with a friend; acknowledging that can only help to open the lines of communication between us. I think that's the kind of honesty we need. When it looks to the world like we don't know how strange and awkward we are, I imagine it's hard for them to relate to us (or want to). Thanks again. Bryan,
Thanks. Don’t worry, I find it helpful to hear in other people’s words what it is they hear me saying. I think you got my meaning. In fact, yours was a bit better than mine…

I think the second point you make (well, I tried to make) is the key. Maybe it is weird to share my faith with a friend; acknowledging that can only help to open the lines of communication between us. I think that’s the kind of honesty we need.

When it looks to the world like we don’t know how strange and awkward we are, I imagine it’s hard for them to relate to us (or want to).

Thanks again.

]]> By: Bryan Riley http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1098 Bryan Riley Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:48:20 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1098 I'm sorry for how I wrote that comment. I didn't mean to speak for you. I should have said that what learned or took away from your excellent post was.... I’m sorry for how I wrote that comment. I didn’t mean to speak for you. I should have said that what learned or took away from your excellent post was….

]]> By: Bryan Riley http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1097 Bryan Riley Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:43:57 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1097 I think what I like about your "advice" is that what you are really saying is two things: (1) live Jesus so that it is natural - the gap between belief and life isn't so far and (2) be honest - be humble - be real. When we do these things suddenly Jesus can start speaking through us, through our lives and through our words. I think what I like about your “advice” is that what you are really saying is two things: (1) live Jesus so that it is natural – the gap between belief and life isn’t so far and (2) be honest – be humble – be real. When we do these things suddenly Jesus can start speaking through us, through our lives and through our words.

]]> By: David Phillips http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1096 David Phillips Sat, 22 Mar 2008 12:07:56 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1096 Stepchild...Brenna and I stopped doing those cheesy evangelism things years ago. We make fun of those things as well :-D I have to say, however, that "Way of the Master" banana story works all the time...if I want to get a good laugh... Stepchild…Brenna and I stopped doing those cheesy evangelism things years ago. We make fun of those things as well :-D

I have to say, however, that “Way of the Master” banana story works all the time…if I want to get a good laugh…

]]> By: stepchild http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1095 stepchild Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:26:53 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1095 Camel Rider, They already have "Testamints." I think the market is saturated. Kari, I remember those "money" tracts. In those customers' minds, they were giving you something far more valuable than real money. Funny how unaware they were of what they were actually communicating... There was a house in our neighborhood growing up that gave out tracts instead of candy for Halloween. Trick-or-treaters usually ended up throwing eggs at the front door. That was real persecution, wasn't it? Brenna, If you had used that "worth a mint" line as evangelism with a stranger, I'd probably make fun of you. Camel Rider,
They already have “Testamints.” I think the market is saturated.

Kari,
I remember those “money” tracts. In those customers’ minds, they were giving you something far more valuable than real money. Funny how unaware they were of what they were actually communicating…

There was a house in our neighborhood growing up that gave out tracts instead of candy for Halloween. Trick-or-treaters usually ended up throwing eggs at the front door. That was real persecution, wasn’t it?

Brenna,
If you had used that “worth a mint” line as evangelism with a stranger, I’d probably make fun of you.

]]> By: Brenna http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1094 Brenna Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:42:40 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1094 Those little tricks usually work better for leaders and people already involved in the church. I've treated my leaders to appreciation dinners and given them mints, telling them "they're worth a mint." They definitely are worth more than a mint to me. They think the idea is cute and they appreciate the free dinner. Those little tricks usually work better for leaders and people already involved in the church. I’ve treated my leaders to appreciation dinners and given them mints, telling them “they’re worth a mint.” They definitely are worth more than a mint to me. They think the idea is cute and they appreciate the free dinner.

]]> By: Kari http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1084 Kari Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:10:25 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1084 Excellent post. I used to wait tables and hated those tracts that look like dollar bills. This in turn led to strongly disliking the people who left them (often without any 'real' money next to it)...and we were supposed to be on the same side! Excellent post.

I used to wait tables and hated those tracts that look like dollar bills. This in turn led to strongly disliking the people who left them (often without any ‘real’ money next to it)…and we were supposed to be on the same side!

]]> By: Camel Rider http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Camel Rider Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:03:51 +0000 http://missionsmisunderstood.com/2008/03/21/lifesavers-and-letter-writing/#comment-1083 Great story...sounds familiar. I was thinking we could start a movement..."Purpose Driven Candy" or maybe "The way of the Marzipan"....there are a lot of good options. Now you've got me thinking....the cheesier the idea the more effective....right? Great story…sounds familiar. I was thinking we could start a movement…”Purpose Driven Candy” or maybe “The way of the Marzipan”….there are a lot of good options. Now you’ve got me thinking….the cheesier the idea the more effective….right?

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