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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 8:32 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:02 pm
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Many Christians aren't very good at evangelizing. This is... kind of normal, actually, among people who have strong faith but little in the way of understanding for how to express it to others. For someone who's not religious, it can look very weird when a religious person suddenly starts talking.
I think a good place to start would be thoroughly researching the basic subjects of Christianity, then asking your sister which bits, in particular, she things you're "too much on". Then do some more research on those particular things and get back to her to explain what they are and why you believe them... or, depending on what you learned, why she's right on a particular subject and you may have changed your mind on it.
People are generally much more willing to listen if you appear lenient, reasonable, and not utterly blinded by what they may think of as a dangerous, brainwashing ideology.
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:09 pm
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 9:10 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 12:36 am
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As a Christian, whether we are considered new to Christianity or not - spreading the gospel can feel scary because we know of potential bad situations that can happen like, "What if this person hates me for it?" We need to remember that the world hated Jesus Christ first and Jesus Christ spread the message many places and wherever he could. We should follow this example.
There is straight forward witnessing where we can tell people about God and everything and there is more passive ways such as handing out tracts and possibly reading tracts to people and then giving them the tract. Testimonies are useful tools as well, especially when someone thinks that since we are Christian - we have a perfect life and all that. We also need to witness through our actions and see to it that we are kind, patient, and every other action God would want us to be. Sometimes we need to go for it and I highly suggest praying ahead of time for God to give us the wisdom on what to say and to effectively reach others. If we witness to hundreds or thousands of people and lead one person to Jesus - that is what matters.
We also need to remember that it is not us specifically that saves people - it is God that saves people! Some Christians get caught up in thinking they are a failure if they can't lead someone to Christ, or think, "I saved that person!" No, God saved that person. As Christians, and servants of God we lead people to Him through our words and kind actions. We plant that seed of hope and faith in another person's soul. It is God that brings the sunshine and the rain to help that seed grow and blossom into something amazing!
Reaching out towards people is something I haven't done enough of and definitely need to go about it. I tend to neglect the responsibility because I don't know how to go about it or am shy. However, these aren't excuses - we need to do what God instructs us to do! So go for it and may God be with you!
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:45 am
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The only thing I ever found convincing about Christianity was the bible, not the people trying to explain it in everyday conversation. Looking back, these people weren't really prepared to explain much of anything. Many times, when people tried to explain the "religion", they kept using religious jargon that means absolutely nothing to a person that is worldly and, more likely than not, that vocabulary held negative connotations to the world, though the concept it represents may be positive and practical (once you study it out for yourself, but the people speaking to me didn't know diddlysquat on how to explain it to me). So there was a communication disconnect. I think that's the main hurdle for a lot of people.
Before becoming a believer, I heard many of the biblical concepts ridiculed so much to the point that whenever somebody Christian ever tried to explain it, I had all this prejudice / pre-conceived notions that wouldn't let me see/hear what the speaker wanted to communicate. And, as a result of hearing the religion ridiculed so much, I felt like I knew their religion better than them. Added to that, I had absolutely no desire for any spiritual edification; I felt no need. Perhaps this is where your sister is at right now.
Looking back at how I lived in the world, YHWH clearly was manipulating circumstances, conditioning me to stop being so prejudicial (about worldly things) in preparation to finally sit down and read the bible and he used the paranormal to bait me in so to speak. I could say "out of the blue" I developed an interest in reading the bible, but it began first by getting me to read the source material of a thing, before listening to opinions from others (whether haters or fans). Then when I passed that hurdle and learned that lesson (via two examples), I was ready to apply it to more spiritual things which is why I think he allowed me to go the New Age route first: it allowed me to see how full of bologna (and just plain dark) it really was, so when I experienced what the bible was talking about, I knew how to separate legit and edifying from wishful-thinking and demonic.
So, two things: either she develops an interest in reading it herself (which you could pray about privately) or you familiarize yourself with the bible to the point that whenever she has a question, you're able to give an adequate answer that fully satiates her curiosity using plain language. Personally, the proverbs and the prophets most convinced me, in that order. But I had to read it for myself. The desire to "know" has to be there or else it'll fall on deaf ears. The most you could do is pray that our Heavenly Father gives her discernment, understanding, and a thirst to read his words. In the mean time, keep reading scripture; not only will it benefit you personally, but it'll prepare you to answer whatever questions she may have one day. You won't be 17 forever, and she'll come to see you as an adult at some point in her life, as an equal. Study and pray until the opportunity presents itself.
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 8:39 am
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:10 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:31 pm
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:38 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:59 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:22 am
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