Reaching Others
Do I have to lead people to Christ?
Every Christian should be leading people to Christ. We’re God’s sheep, and sheep have lambs. The question is not "How bold am I?" but, "Is Jesus really my Lord?" About 97% of Kalgoorlie is in real need. What stops us is fear of rejection and ridicule. And the fear is because we are proud, not humble. We can become very insular. If we really care about others, if we really have love and desire what God wants, then this will happen.
For example - Patrick’s experience is that when he would preach in the cribroom at work he was ridiculed. But later those same people would individually ask him for advice, as they respected what he stood for.
How do I start conversations?
Actively seek ways to share. God sets things up and brings people across our paths, so take opportunities as they come. Ask good questions:
- Do you have an interest in God things?
- If you died tonight, would you go to heaven?
- For someone with a need: Can our church pray for you? (This is a good tool, use it!)
- For a fisherman: Prawns don’t know where they are going - they don’t know they’ll end up in a pot. Do you know where you are going when you die? Would you like to go to heaven?
- For someone working in a mine: Ever met the devil down there? What, not deep enough yet? Well if you’re not going up, you’re going to meet him sometime?
- For a stranger who you’ll never meet again: the best thing is to talk directly about Jesus, e.g.
- Do you know what it means to have a relationship with God?
- What do you think about church?
- For someone who says the church is full of hypocrites: So then, what do you do to help people? The church paid for Mother Teresa’s work. Are you really interested in those poor people in other countries? If so, become a Christian, go to Bible College, become a missionary, and go there and work. No, most often it is those who think the church is hypocritical who are hypocrites themselves.
- For someone who says the church is too wealthy: Well, if you had been in business for 2000 years, you too would be wealthy. Go on to ask them who they give their money to - many people give huge amounts to institutions dealing in gambling, alcohol, other drugs, possessions, travel. We give to our God, they give to their god.
- Bad events such as the World Trade Centre attacks are a golden opportunity to discuss with people: "Satan is nasty, he’s using people to do his dirty work, see his fingerprints all over it."
- For people who are staunchly anti-Christian, ask: "Why are you so opposed?" The answer can’t hurt you, but it can help. "I hear the hurt in you, I want to know." Atheists are not interested and you have to leave them go, but 99% of people will talk about it. Say "someone must have done something really hurtful to you once", and press on with " I’m really interested in your answer" and "I’ve got as much time as you need" if they try to back off the topic.
- There is the example of Bill Driver: a man with a speech disability, but he brought many to church. He would say things like "I was talking to Jesus about that yesterday and he said . . ."
What about atheists and agnostics?
An atheist is one who claims "There is no God." An agnostic is one who says "I have no knowledge of God."
Did you know there is no such thing as an atheist? Here is a conversation with an atheist:
Do you have infinite knowledge?
No, of course not.
Then there are things you don’t know about?
Yes.
One of those things might be God?
Yes.
So you are not really an atheist, you are an agnostic.