dialog vs. shouting

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great article.

Why do people yell? Why do Christians stand on street corners and condemn people who are “going to hell in a hand basket?” Why do Christians say STUPID things like…

  • “Get saved or microwaved.”
  • “Get right or get left.”
  • “Eternity, smoking or non-smoking, the choice is yours!”

I think they do this for one main reason…

It’s Easy! No, seriously, it is easy to yell, scream and condemn people that you do not know…it is much harder to actually develop a relationship with someone who is a heartbeat from hell, be their friend, LISTEN to their story, ANSWER their difficult questions…and wait patiently for years as God draws them to Him.

THAT’S HARD! And so Christians have taken the stupid easy way out and just yell at people–and it does not work! Please spare me your e-mails on this! I have never asked someone, “How did you come to Christ,” and they replied, “Some really nice man with a megaphone yelled at me and said that my skin was going to fry like bacon unless I received Jesus.”

One more thing before I leave this point…did Jesus do this? NO…this is NOT CHRIST LIKE BEHAVIOR! Jesus did yell, condemn and put down the Pharisees, while He hung out with the lepers, prostitutes and tax collectors. (For those who don’t think Jesus did this–please read about Him clearing the temple–Jesus was passionate…but about the right things!)

We are called to reach people who are without Christ–NOT drive them away!!!



HT: St. Paul's at UConn

Comments

batgirl said…
amen. we can do this in a new way these days. cyber-yelling on our own little street corner blogs. thanks for the reminder: it's relationship, dialogue.
April 09, 2007
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