I’m a born-again Christian. I like to go out witnessing using Way of the Master techniques. The basis for it is how Jesus, Paul, Peter, and other men in the Bible witnessed and preached.
In Luke 18, Jesus talked to a rich young ruler. He asked the rich young ruler whether he had kept the Ten Commandments, and went through a few of them. In John 4, Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, where he only went through one of the Ten Commandments (adultery, #7).
In Romans 3:19, 20 it says, “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.”
God has provided us with the law to put an end to arguments, and show us what sin is. It makes us aware of our desperate need for a savior, and it’s a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. (Galatians 3:24).
I’ve only been witnessing since May, 2006, and I have a lot to learn. But, I hope that this blog will be an encouragment to you to share your faith, too. Philemon 6 says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” God has kept the promise he made in Philemon 6 in my life. Witnessing regularly has made the Bible more fascinating than ever; it’s made my prayer life much less selfish.
The majority of people in this world are going to spend eternity in hell. God has given me a love for them that helps me overcome my fear, and speak boldly. I’m very introverted, but I’ve been able to overcome my personality weaknesses. So, I have two questions for you.
- Are you going to be obedient to the Great Commission, or ignore it?
- Do you care about people spending eternity in hell enough to risk saying something?
February 16, 2007 at 8:51 am |
On fire so that others won’t be… i love it!
March 23, 2007 at 4:17 pm |
Going to put you on my blogroll. It’s great to see that there are other Christians who still think that it’s more loving to tell people about Jesus than to let them go to hell uninformed!
April 10, 2007 at 8:48 pm |
Ditto on the blogroll! Let’s discuss this evangelism thing!
April 10, 2007 at 10:16 pm |
Philemon 6 is so true! God gives me something new to think about each week. It has deepened my walk with God!
November 15, 2007 at 10:45 am |
There is no example in the Bible of that type of ambush evangelism. The examples you cite are nothing close to what WOTM does.
November 15, 2007 at 2:32 pm |
Rick,
Please explain how Jesus with the woman at the well (John 4), and with the rich young ruler (Luke 18) is so different from using “law to the proud, grace to the humble.” Jesus clearly used the law both times.
Thanks,
Bill
November 15, 2007 at 4:25 pm |
So you really think that Jesus walked up to people on the street and asked the set of questions that Ray Comfort asks?
November 15, 2007 at 4:45 pm |
Just to make sure you understand me — I am not against the WOM method. I just don’t believe that it is THE way it was done in the Bible. There were many different methods of evangelism used in the Bible.
November 16, 2007 at 7:39 am |
Rick,
The WOTM isn’t a set of questions, it is “law to the proud, grace to the humble.” Comfort provides an outline for a conversation, but no one claims that it is in the Bible. You can use your own questions, or just go with the flow of the conversation, as long as you use that principle. Jesus used “law to the proud, grace to the humble.” Paul, Peter, and Stephen used it, and there are many examples given. The law isn’t always used, becuase some people are already humbled, but those instances fit into the method.
We all would love to only preach about God’s love, and Jesus sacrifice and resurrection, but we are also called to warn people. Ezekiel 33:7-9 says, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.
Thanks,
Bill
January 25, 2008 at 2:40 pm |
Hi again Bill, and thanks again for commenting on my blog. I love to meet new, likeminded folks. I just read your about page and I again agree that the evangelistic methods taught by Way of the Master are very effective and gounded in the truth of the gospel. It is so refreshing to to see believers petitioning the lost to come to trust in Christ by showing them their position before a holy and righteous God. Then, Lord willing, you can show them that there was only one who was good enough to and kept the law perfectly. It is through the God/man jesus Christ that we have our hope of redemption. Thanks for blogging. Do you mind if I add you to my blog roll?
January 25, 2008 at 4:29 pm |
You can add me to your blog roll if I can add you to mine.
Thanks,
Bill
February 16, 2008 at 10:05 am |
Thanks again for visiting my blog Bill! Shame we can’t go out sharing Christ together. But on what one or two people have said, I came across some great quotes lately on using the law first. Wesley said this: Teach 90% Law 10% Grace’. Wow! Can you imagine how many an ‘Evangelical’ today would say, ‘You’re too negative man’ (whinge boo hoo)?
Blessings, Jim – keep on holding out the life which is in Christ alone bro!
February 18, 2008 at 3:10 pm |
Hi, My name is Michael Hichborn, media director for American Life League. I am currently seeking out pro-life bloggers willing to post our video reports and media updates.
Our latest video report can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRdM4NIeyRQ.
If you’re interested in posting pro-life videos and news from American Life League, please e-mail me at mhichborn@all.org.
Thanks!
March 4, 2008 at 6:32 am |
:)
March 16, 2008 at 4:58 pm |
I’m going to assume you are incapable of reading and are a haughty know-it-all. If you actually took the time to read my blog, like I took the time to read yours (common courtesy) you would know what I am dealing with at the moment. Oh but no, I get an email from you assuming I have repented of my sinful ways and took your advice.
I too, much like other readers, are not going to throw my pearls to swine. You seem a lot like the pharisees in Jesus day. Which reminds me, how could Jesus even pray to himself, if he himself were God? Logic people.
I’m strongly wondering if you can even read context? Following the letter of the law rather than the spirit of the law did not bode well for God’s chosen nation.
But regardless, the bible tells us it’s okay to be angry, just not to sin. I am angry, very much so with you and YOUR unrepentant ways, so I shall take my leave.
March 16, 2008 at 6:26 pm |
Andi,
I’m sorry if you’re going through a tough time.
Defending what you believe about the Bible is throwing pearls to the swine? I genuinely want to hear what Jehovah’s Witnesses believe and how they answer my objections. I’ve tried to get several to do so, but no one has been able to. They usually get mad and say I’m not worth responding to. This leads me to believe that they don’t have an answer, or they’re in a full-blown mind control cult, or both.
Please, for your own sake, at least get John 12:40-41 (cross referenced with Isaiah 6:10, and whose glory John says Isaiah saw) and whether you’re dead in your sins or born again. I’ll be praying to the Almighty Creator Jesus Christ (John 14:14) for you.
Maybe someday a JW will be able to respond in kindness, with a reasonable answer (1 Peter 3:15).
Thanks,
Bill
March 20, 2008 at 9:21 am |
Nice blog, keep up the good fight.
February 15, 2009 at 11:07 pm |
Hello, I’m a Bible college student and I have been struggling to finish this degree. Please visit the site I entered in the website and see if the Lord might lead you to help.
God Bless,
Beau
July 14, 2009 at 5:37 am |
Hi there,
I just want to thank you for visiting my site and leaving such a funny comment. You are great. So funny.
It’s a blessing that you have a heart for the people God has made, and you don’t want them to be separated from him.
Sometimes from within our Christian bubbles we have no clue how skeptical people have become to the “sales pitches” of Christian touting eternal life and escape from fire everlasting. It just sounds like another group with propaganda and an agenda to push–just like anybody else. Acorn, PETA, Greenpeace, MADD, you name it. What does ring true to the hearts of people is just what Jesus did, he developed genuine relationships with nonbelievers where they were at the time. Like Zaccheus in the tree. (He hadn’t done any repenting, but Jesus dined with him, and it was a great honor.)
As we build relationships where God’s love is truly coming out through us, trust is built, and God’s truth and plan of grace can be made known to them. How will they know we love them, and God loves them, if we aren’t loving them, and rather we are just telling them turn or burn?
Thanks for trying to tell God’s message of peace and reconciliation. The creation alone is testament to his abounding mercy and grace. Hope you are at peace, with God and all men.
Lisa
July 14, 2009 at 5:47 am |
Hi Lisa,
Sometimes Jesus built relationships with people, and sometimes he told them to turn or burn (Luke 13:5). The evangelism model we see in the Bible is over 80% of the time someone presenting the gospel to strangers.
Thanks,
Bill
July 26, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
Hi again,
Stats are funny things, Bill. I’m not familiar with that one, or what math you used for it. While I agree that many moments recorded in the NT depict evangelizing to “strangers,” since every one is our neighbor, I’m sure building relationships couldn’t hurt either, right? Don’t forget that all the epistles were written to the many churches who were establishing relationships in their communities. Those churches spun off more churches from those relationships, and so on. Untold, and innumerable non-stranger evangelism happened like it or not. Just b/c it’s not inked, at 65A.D. doesn’t mean it’s not one of the most powerful ways God reaches out to those he loves. When you are hammer, everyone starts to look like a nail.
July 27, 2009 at 3:22 pm |
Hi Lisa,
Thanks for your comment.
That statistic comes from this book: http://shop.onemilliontracts.com/product.sc?categoryId=16&productId=105
It’s only $3.50, because it’s probably only about 50 pages long. I highly recommend it to you.
I’m very much in favor of relationship building. However, I’m not going to hide the gospel from anyone while I try to get them to like me. I have plenty of non-Christian friends, and I’ve witnessed to them, and continue to witness, because I care about them.
Also, I would assume that while the early church built many relationships, many continued to open air preach and proclaim the gospel by any means necessary.
Why do you accuse me of being a hammer? It seems like you might be jumping to conclusions. I asked you if you’ve ever given the gospel to a stranger, and never really got a straight answer. Maybe you’re a relationship evangelism hammer. Are you? Do you think that building a relationship and giving someone the gospel are mutually exclusive?
Thanks,
Bill
September 10, 2009 at 6:55 am |
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.