Yurii, Thank you for your authenticity and openness, will be praying for your progress in this matter.
Your Thoughts About Outreach (Witnessing/Evangelism/Apologetics)
- Thread starter Papa Smurf
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Hi Papa,Greetings Everyone, I'd be interested in hearing some of your thoughts about our Biblical call to witnessing, evangelism and/or apologetics.
For instance, how do you define "witnessing", "evangelism" and/or "apologetics"? Also, do you believe they are different from one another in certain ways, or that all of them are basically referring to the same thing?
Do you think that all believers are called to engage in one or more of these methods of reaching the lost, or do you believe that the Lord has given each of them as gifts to certain Christians, but not others (and if the latter, why do you believe it so)?
Finally, there seems to be a popular belief or trend in the church today, specifically, that being an effective witness/evangelist for the Lord is mostly about what we do/how we act towards others as believers, rather than what we say to them (and, in fact, that talking to others about the faith should only be done as a last resort). Do you think that this trend is a good idea, or not so much? Why/Why not?
(One last thought on this: The Apostle Paul admonishes us to "speak the truth in love". Can we truly love the lost if we choose not to do so?)
Thanks everybodyI know that it's a lot, so please feel free to comment on as much or as little of the above as you'd like to.
God bless you!!
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Great topic. I have been asking the Lord if there is someone that I can pray for when I go up the street. The other day while shopping in a nearby town I came out of the Chemist and sat on a seat next to a lady. We started chatting and after a while I asked her if I could pray for her. She thought and then said yes. So I did that. I now pray for her in my prayer times. She lives in another town and I don`t always get to this town, but God will have others to follow up with her.
When we go on our caravan holidays we often get the opportunity to make friends and share of our faith. We hope to go away again this year in a few months when it is colder here and thus head north to the warmer climate.
So, I believe we just need to work with the Lord and be natural in our conversation. These days of great trouble in the world is always a good opportunity to say how our trust is in God. People are fearing and need to hear that God is overall.
Marilyn.
Hi crossnote,
I wanted to thank you again for your prayers. They have truly made a difference in my ongoing reflection on sincerity.
Interestingly, my progress in understanding this issue came about, unfortunately, through my own sin this past week. I found myself in a situation where I withheld certain information from someone, and it later became clear that I had misled them and, in essence, lied. I deeply regretted this. However, the core of the issue goes deeper. By doing so, I created a false image of a situation in that person's mind, and every time they return to this matter, the lie will, in a way, continue.
This situation gave me a stark opportunity to look back at my past and realize that for a significant period of my life, I was literally entangled in a web of lies. This stemmed from instances where I told a small untruth and then systematically maintained it, or simply omitted information to appear better. This "Instagram life" mentality doesn't actually lead to a person becoming better or rising in the eyes of others; instead, it only causes one to sink deeper and deeper into the endless sin of deceit. I felt a profound disgust for this whole pattern.
I turned to the Lord and said, "Thank you, Jesus, for showing me all of this. I never want to live this way again; I don't want to feel this filth on myself. I understand that by placing me in this situation this week where I sinned, You gave me the opportunity not only to repent but also to understand my past behavior and, more importantly, the reasons behind it and what I need to do moving forward."
The Lord gave me the understanding that when a person has been maintaining these lies for a considerable time, it becomes incredibly difficult to break free from these cycles of continuous deception.
Good morning, crossnote and Yurii;
It's conversations like yours that bless me when I log on in the mornings. When we feel bad about things that we said or done and acknowledge the ulterior motive, this is beneficial for our own good. If we don't have a relationship with Christ, then most of the time we wouldn't think such things.
Meditating (thinking about) God through Jesus in our daily walk is a relationship with Him. At the same time He continues to do a good work in us, guiding us and picking us up when we get mud on our shirts.
God bless you, brothers.
Bob
Naturally, it wasn't me, but the Holy Spirit. Will continue to pray for you in this area.
My wife likes to say, they don't call it the web for nothing
Yurii, your comments are very thought-provoking. The "Instagram life" is a great definition of how most of us present ourselves to the world at large. I could not help but think of one of my former military commanders, Colonel Mallow. The man had it all. He was a West Point graduate, a successful and retired Colonel in the US Army, a tall and handsome man (ok, typing that was a little odd) and the head of a beautiful family.
Since retiring, I had not heard or seen him. Imagine my shock when I learned that he had taken his own life and had spent his entire life fighting with depression and, apparently, mental illness. This is something I would have never guessed on my own, because he just appeared to be one of those blessed people who had everything.
I have no idea why I just wrote what I wrote, but it just felt like I wanted to comment on it. I hear that the majority of is live some aspect of this "Instagram-life" and that is just not a good thing for us physically or spiritually. I too must do a better job of avoiding this box with a false bottom.
Shadow box
Army.Togetherweserved.com - Shadow Box Profile of COL Britt Mallow
army.togetherweserved.com
Dear crossnote and rtm3039,Yurii, your comments are very thought-provoking. The "Instagram life" is a great definition of how most of us present ourselves to the world at large. I could not help but think of one of my former military commanders, Colonel Mallow. The man had it all. He was a West Point graduate, a successful and retired Colonel in the US Army, a tall and handsome man (ok, typing that was a little odd) and the head of a beautiful family.
Since retiring, I had not heard or seen him. Imagine my shock when I learned that he had taken his own life and had spent his entire life fighting with depression and, apparently, mental illness. This is something I would have never guessed on my own, because he just appeared to be one of those blessed people who had everything.
I have no idea why I just wrote what I wrote, but it just felt like I wanted to comment on it. I hear that the majority of is live some aspect of this "Instagram-life" and that is just not a good thing for us physically or spiritually. I too must do a better job of avoiding this box with a false bottom.
Shadow box
Army.Togetherweserved.com - Shadow Box Profile of COL Britt Mallowarmy.togetherweserved.com
I am sincerely grateful to you for your such deep and open responses to my post. Reading them, I felt great support and understanding.
crossnote, your words about the Holy Spirit guiding us found a deep resonance in my heart. You are absolutely right. Initially, when I wrote that post about "Instagram life," I only had a feeling that I needed to share it, as if someone was prompting me from within. And now, thanks to your words, I understand that it was indeed the Holy Spirit who wanted this thought to be expressed. Your comparison of lies to a web is very apt – the longer a person lives in it, the harder it is to break free. Thank you for your prayers, they are very valuable to me.
rtm3039, your example with Colonel Mallow greatly impressed me and made me think. It truly confirms how deceptive the external image can be. A person who seems absolutely successful and happy can carry deep inner pain. Your honesty in sharing this story is very valuable. I completely agree with you that most of us in some way live this "Instagram life," and it really doesn't benefit us either physically or spiritually. Your desire to avoid this "box with a false bottom" is a very important step.
I am sincerely glad that this forum exists and gives us the opportunity to openly share our experiences, receive support, and rejoice even in the smallest steps on our path to God. You know, I read your messages about thirty minutes ago, and during this time many thoughts flashed through my head. I thought about how everything we share here can become support for other people like me, for those who, unfortunately, did not grow up in faith and are only now trying to catch up.
And you know, another thought dawned on me. At school, we were taught many things, but unfortunately, we were not taught the most important thing – how to live correctly and that God is the foundation of everything. And at that very moment, the Holy Spirit seemed to prompt me – "but you have a son growing up!". I immediately opened an internet search and typed "Christian school" and found one! Not far from us at all and with such incredibly positive reviews that I would never have expected to read about a school.
I thank God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for this revelation, for salvation, and for the wonderful life that He has prepared for me. I am beginning to understand that life is not only joyful moments, but also trials and tears – sometimes from happiness and sometimes from sorrow. But I can no longer doubt the fact that for the Lord, every tear of ours has meaning. He does everything so that in the end we come to Him.
Thank you both for your sincere hearts and for the fact that I am part of this community.
Sincerely,
Yurii
The truth of the matter, my friend, is that we are all broken, but some of us have better paint jobs.
This is a fantastic forum. I came here during one of the darkest times of my life. I am honestly not sure where I would be had I not found this place and people so willing to be supportive.
My wife is a teacher and I too work for our school district. Public education is what public education is. We appear to be focused on growing students not people.
I am still growing in my faith and find myself stumbling at almost every corner. For the moment, I embrace the below 10 Bibe verses that I stumbled on while doing some research on anxiety and year.
1. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9
2. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10
3. “…For He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5b-6
4. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7
5. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4
6. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” - Psalm 27:1
7. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” - Psalm 91:1-2
8. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” - Psalm 46:1-3
9. “Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” - Psalm 55:22
10. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John 14:27
And my favorite of all times:
Matthew 6:34 says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Ray
Hello Ray,
Thank you for your sincere and profound response. Your words about how we are all "broken, but some of us have better paint jobs" are very insightful and resonate deeply. Indeed, this forum has become a real support for many, and your story about how it helped you during dark times is very valuable.
Your thoughts on the education system are also important. Often, the focus truly shifts from nurturing a holistic individual to formal growth.
And these 10 Bible verses about strength, courage, and God's presence are an incredible source of comfort and inspiration. Thank you for sharing them. And your favorite verse from Matthew 6:34 is a wonderful reminder of the importance of living each day without burdening ourselves with unnecessary worries about the future.
Today, your mention of the Colonel Mallow story became particularly clear to me. Some time ago, I myself went through a period of deep depression, when at times I lost the understanding of the meaning of life. And just yesterday, talking to my wife, I shared how good it is that we are now walking with God and how my sense of life has changed. Her reaction made me realize that back then she didn't even realize the depth of my experiences. My desire to appear strong externally prevented those around me from seeing my inner struggles.
This morning, after prayer and before checking the forum, I opened Facebook, and God showed me a picture with several phrases. The first one struck me to the core: "Depression was invented by the lazy." And this truly reflects a common problem. Modern society often cultivates a cult of success, strength, and independence: "be productive," "don't whine," "everything depends on you." In this context, empathy and emotional vulnerability seem superfluous, weak, or even inappropriate. Hence this reaction when a person shares their pain and is not listened to but judged: "you're just not trying hard enough," "others have it worse," "you're too sensitive."
This leads to a person:
* starting to be ashamed of their feelings;
* becoming isolated;
* losing faith that anyone will understand or support them.
And the biggest irony is that almost everyone feels something similar, but they remain silent. We live alongside thousands of people, each of whom may be suffering, but the social norm says: "smile."
Therefore, what we are doing here – talking about it – is extremely important. It's a way to break the silence that keeps people in loneliness. One sincere dialogue can change not only a day but also another person's life. And sometimes even save someone's life. By opening our hearts, following Jesus, and loving others, we begin to listen to them and find time for them. We cannot change the whole world, but we can change ourselves, set an example, and thereby inspire others to open their hearts.
Finally, I was reminded of MOHAMMED QAHTANI's speech: The Power Of Words. In the context of whether we devote enough time to paying attention to the state of those around us, and especially how sometimes the words "I'm busy" from us at the moment when someone nearby is suffering can break someone's life. (Here is a link to the video -
Thank you again for your openness and support.
May God bless you and your wife.
Sincerely,
Yurii
Yirii, that was a fantastic video. This guy is both very funny and very insightful. Sometimes, as I try to "turn off" my brain to fall asleep, I will look around social media for what I call mindless entertainment. Last night, I came across the below image and it made me think of our conversation so much that I saved a copy to eventually post it here:
I can't help but to think just how similar the messages are between this image and the video you posted. It is true that it is all about presentation.
Ray
Hello Ray,
Thank you for your comment and for sharing that image. You are absolutely right, there's a very strong parallel between the message of that image and the ideas from the video.
Indeed, people often experience inner pain and difficulties but, for various reasons, try to show that everything is okay. This could be due to fear of judgment, a desire not to burden others, or simply an internal struggle.
Your observation about "presentation" is very insightful. How we present ourselves externally doesn't always reflect what's going on inside. That's why it's so important to be attentive and sensitive to those around us, to show kindness, and to remember that behind an outward appearance of calm, there might be deep anxiety.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention! It's an important reminder for all of us.
Best regards,
Yurii
Hello Yurii;
I blue and red-lighted a part of your post and watched the video. Both spoke to me and reminded me of James 3:5-8,
5 So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. - RSV
I participated in an outreach witnessing group and to be honest, the Scripture in James 3:5-8 was hard to swallow for many of us. The Old and New Testaments have many examples of uplifting words and caution for insensitive remarks or a harsh tongue. It's a work in progress for all believers.
Our Thoughts About Outreach (Witnessing/Evangelism/Apologetics) should keep in the mind it's the Lord who leads us to the people we witness to, especially those who don't know Christ and may be struggling with the points you made.
Many individuals who are not saved may have been damaged through broken relationships or first time encounters that can sting their personal well being such as depression symptoms, anger issues, loneliness, paranoia, etc...
I have to be honest, I don't really listen to many media videos but have to say, "good for you, Mohammed Qahtani, and your message."
A person who lives a life of high esteem and overcame adversity can be an inspiration to another in their witness for Christ.
One word in our witness can make the day for those who need to hear the gospel. But if we're not careful, one word in our witness can damage someone who is already struggling with their pain.
This is why it's so important to understand the Lord's anointing of His Words on our lips (example; A God to Moses moment in Exodus 4:15) is very profound throughout the Bible and in our witness.
God bless you, Yurii, and thank you for your constructive points.
Bob
Hello Bob,
Thank you very much for your wisdom and for sharing that important passage from James 3:5-8. Your reflections on the power of words, both positive and destructive, and the importance of sensitivity in our witness are very valuable.
Thank you for your time and profound thoughts.
In Christ,
Yurii