Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in th elaw of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The law of the Lord is LOVE.

Thanks Brad.  I wish the points hadn't been so hard to learn, though.

Thanks Bobby, that's very encouraging.  God will get me there yet!  BTW, I love how the Bible tends to be the best commentary on itself. 

Jess -

Good post.  Logic comes from the mind, the intellect, and the place of ARGUMENT.  I took the "Way of the Master" course to help me talk with the unsaved about Christ.  Basic premise is based on how Jesus (the Master) spoke to people (like the rich young man, the woman at the well, etc.)

Use the Law to to point out that ALL have fallen short of the Glory of God

Due to breaking His commandments, we're all guilty

Due to being guilty we all deserve death and hell.

Using this to "shut down the arguing mouth" and allow their heart to be opened to the idea that Jesus died for our sins, and if we accept Him and repent, we can be saved.

If you want more info, I'd be happy to share.  It is an older evangelical principle that helps get away from the 'new ideas' that telling people that Jesus is going to make your life peach-keen once you accept Him.  When in fact, you're not Christian because you're guarenteed a happy life ,but a happy eternity with God.

Long story short, you're SOOOO right about the arguing not getting anyone anywhere, as it's arguments with people blinded by their sinful lives.   

:D 

Thanks Dave.  I agree, sharing experience lovingly is a great goal.

Thanks Growing in Faith.  I've noticed that listening to others is a great way to get them to open their ears to share the truth with them.  I agree that selling Christianity like a 401k isn't the best way to present Jesus.  I've also found that presenting scripture (not arguing it, but just saying "you know what, this is what the Bible says about that topic") is a great way to plant seeds.

Is it due to post-modernism that the rational logical argument seems ineffective? (Just curious.) Is there some evidence that this approach was once the pre-eminent method of evangelism? I don't know, I'd like to though. Interestingly, Paul used different approaches for different groups of people. He preached to Greeks far differently than he did to Jews, for example.

Hey Jess,

Good blog... do we do what we do because of love (Always an important reminder).

And to Marie (the high schooler), keep reading your Bible, asking the Lord to continue to teach you (as I ask Him to do this also).

Why?   Because many many times when others are talking  to us (unbelievers and enemies of God), we can relate to them how the Bible addresses what they are talking about (at least in principal).

When we can use those oppurtunities to sell interest (and wet appetites) for the Bible, that sometimes primes the pump in them... to check it out for themselves. -  However we can't do that very well, if we ourselves don't know our Bibles.

One guy I remember, became interested, but when I found out that he was tring to read a King James version Bible, I gave him an NIV, because it was easier to read and he hopefully wouldn't give up reading it.

Remove as many stumbling blocks as the Lord gives us oppurtunity. R...

Thanks Lara, that is a cool story.  I'm glad you emailed the gentleman back.  I have to agree, though, Jesus does want us to worship him (I think worship is much, much more than singing, though).

Two of satan's favorite tools are trick questions and "christian horror stories".

I have discovered that when faced with a "trick" question the best answer is "I don't know". And then follow with what I do know.

As for "christian horror stories", that terrible thing a christian did, I do not try to defend or analyze or explain. People can always find fault with things christians do but not with what Jesus has done.

I think one of the big reason people were drawn to Jesus was because Jesus listened. Beyond their words and to their hearts. People are still drawn in this way.

.....peace.....

Thanks Randy.  Yep I put on my Spock ears on occasion =D

Thanks apureheart.  Someone asked me this one (which I'm sure you've heard): Could God make a rock so big He couldn't move it?  My response: Why on earth would He do that? Trick questions are just obfuscation.  If they don't want to deal with God, they'll pretty much say anything.  I shouldn't say "they", because Christians do this too.

For Christian Horror Stories, I'll apologize to them.  It's funny how a horror story looses it's power in the face of God's love. 

Arguing just makes the other fellow defensive and more entrenched in his view.

Great blog. I especially liked this:  I ask what they believe about God, and then I listen to them. I don’t debate what they believe – I seek to understand them. Then I state what I believe, and they actually listen. When the person I’m sharing with knows I value them as a person, they will listen to anything.

A former pastor taught that we have to receive and value someone before they can receive from us. Same point, I think. But we have to really listen, not just be waiting for the chance to speak our truth. I often find that hard. Sounds like you have gotten good at it. That's encouraging. I'll keep trying!

Thanks Crazy.  It took me a long time for the message to sink in.

BTW, I tried to add you as a friend, but I don't know your email.

What an awesome blog! The debating issue is definitely a difficult one. We often feel as if we have to win people over, but it is God that saves, and once we realize that, we focus on doing our part, not His.

We are to draw them and He saves them. We draw them, not by arguing with them, but by showing a love, peace, and joy, that they simply cannot understand. When they want to know what it is about us, that's our opportunity to share the Gospel. The rest is up to Him.

You say you wish you'd learned it sooner, but some people never learn it at all, so I praise God that you had an open heart to receive that when God showed it to you!

Again, wonderful post! 

Thanks Minister Abby.  I appreciate the encouragement.

It really is so easy - show love to people and let God to the rest. 

Thanks jairah20,

Here's a story I heard while going to Calvary Chapel:

A young woman in southern California accepted Jesus.  A day or two later, she was on the beach, talking with a man about Jesus.  He kept coming up with argument after argument about why he wouldn't accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.  Her response to all of his points was to quote John 3:16.  He eventually got upset and left.
The next Sunday he went to Church and accepted Jesus.  He said when he got home that night, he had heard the gal quote John 3:16 so much, he couldn't get the idea that Jesus loved him out of his head.
Sometimes the best way to win an argument is to not argue at all.

John 3:16     (Amplified)
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.