well, thats kinda ...Amateur-ish
It's reminds me of that one Bible story of the farmer that walks though his fields casting seed on the ground.
Remember how in the story it says that the farmer cast some of the seed on the rocks and it died, some got cast on the dry ground and it dies, some got cast on the ground and was eaten by birds. etc, etc, etc?
Most people in church that listen to that story in a sermon might think, "What a great story!"
However in the back row of the church you will find the real farmers sitting, and they listen to that same story and think to themselves something very different.
"
That farmer is a moron!"
"You cant go around planting your crops in such a manner and expect to not starve to death!"
"It's a waste of good seed if you ask me. Why didn't the farmer in the story Prepare The Ground beforehand ?"!
You get way better yields if you correctly prepare the ground before you bring out the seed to be planted.
(Clearly the bible story was from a guy who did not actually make a living in farming)
Let me show you a different way to write here that Saint Paul liked to try in his writings.
If you ever want to know what is the greatest lesson found within the Bible about
how to get your point across and
how to sway people to your side?.....
Its NOT found in the words spoken by Jesus, (he actually was not all that good at it)
But turn to the book of Philemon.
There from start to finish you will read from the hand of a true master how to get a point across with style, with power, yet with a very soft touch.
http://www.biblegateway.com/p***age/?search=Philemon+1
Paul is not just "telling the truth and then deciding that it's "all up to the other guy to decided to listen or not"
Rather Paul takes his careful time to frame his words, couched in hints dropped.
Paul builds his case...he applies pressurize with love....always with love.
He also leads by example...never lording over the reader.
Paul brings the other person on to his side, by showing that both you and the other person are actually on the same side..
I think that if a person were truly seeking to reach out to people of a different point of view, (or in the case of this Walter Martin Forum), or their different religion, you would NOT see them doing what I see is the main interest on this forum by many people - .(you know what I mean - picking fights, acting smart-mouthed, and making use of person information when and where it serves the best interest of hurting people, etc) Rather you would be a type of poster that would remind you of how Saint Paul acted in his manner of posting in the letter of Philemon.
drawing the other person close....not slamming them, not hitting them with your fist, but reaching out to them in brotherhood.
bringing them to your side with a calm spirit of union...
You speak of your responsibility
What is your responsibility?
|Your "responsibility" is to make better use of the tools God has given you.
The Bible is said to be a sword, but why do so many use the Bible to do little more than flick the ****ons of the other person?
Why by their nasty at***ude do so many make moot all the important things they tried to say?
Remember, "you" are the Bible the other person is reading first...not the text you fling at them ,
you are the text that they do stop to read.
if you act like a ****, then its not just yourself that is colored by this.
|Its also the religion you were seeking to promote that comes off looking like it's nothing more than a "****'s religion"
And if a person's religion has turned them into a ****, why would anyone seek to take it serious?