How Do We Say, "You're Wrong"?

 

Like most Christians, I've found a number of people who are eager to state "You are in a cult," or "You are accepting a myth as reality," or even "Your god is a psychopath." Yep, I've actually seen that one in print. Most of the time, we get kinder people who are willing to listen to a moment, then deflect religion with off hand comments while changing the topic.

There are reasons for Christian evangelism, specific verses, specific activity, and there really isn't a verbal expression of love required.

The really easy part of being a Christian is saying "I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to save people." People can gain church membership simply by making a public profession that they do have faith based on:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32 KJV)

Luke 12:8 says almost the same quote:

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: (Luke 12:8 KJV)

James gives us a good clue that there will be changes in our lives when we actually believe Jesus ministry, and the call to evangelize:

But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:25-27 KJV)

There is a difference in hearing and doing. For Jesus' ministry here, there was a lot He said. His disciples did follow Him, and were able to get into the "doing" part. Just before His death on the cross, He left somethings to be done:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20 KJV)

The four gospels give us Jesus' life. Except for Revelation, the remainder of the letters pretty much tell us how they did it, and how we should do it. If we don't read, learn, and do, we're no better off than Satan and his demons:

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17-20 KJV)

Careful, showing faith by works does not replace works:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

There is no weighing the amount of faith nor the number of works - we are saved by God's grace through faith in His ability to do just that. That is the faith we are to confess before men. Then quietly go about doing what God has given you to do - spread the gospel.

That's where we often have to give people information that they have not had while creating their worldview. Then we come along and have to get across the idea "You're wrong." Especially when we hear:

"There is no god, this is all myths from thousands of years ago." Actually, a lot of what we believe happened in the Bible has been found to be true. While we take a lot with faith, archeology has done an excellent job of confirming. Would you like to go over some of the verses, and the discoveries that confirm them?

"Jesus' disciples took him from the cross before he died. I read where he married a woman named Mary." I expect you read about findings from a tomb that dates from the first century with Jesus' family names. That really doesn't prove anything except the names became popular - we believe that could indicate a Christian family. May we look at what the Bible says about His resurrection?

God knew we would not be believed, but He provided what we needed when we follow His outline:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. (1 Peter 3:15-17 KJV)

How better do we show others our faith by sharing with them our desire that they be included in God's promise:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18 KJV)

Which is why I write this, just as John wrote his book:

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13 KJV)

(P.S.: If you use a digital Bible, and have the time, search for New Testament verses with the words "that ye may know." Or, look up: Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24, John 10:38, 19:4, 1 Corinthians 9:24, Ephesians 1:18, 6:21, Colossians 4:6. They make good reading, too.  Read before and after the verses so you will see them in context. God bless the reading of His word.