Is it better to save feelings, or save souls?

[Riverwalker]

53 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

If you are rude to a person, they probably won't listen to you. If I am rude to you, you probably won't listen to me.

Define Rude

[Sower]

14 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

We are so programmed by society today to thinking that we MUST NOT OFFEND that I think many Christian's are modifying the message and the truth, so as not to offend. 

I would suggest this approach is doing more harm than good. To make someone comfy on the road to hell is not our calling. This world has veered so far off of Gods path that we have justified killing babies in the womb, verifying numerous lifestyle choices, and vilified those who will tell the truth.

I am hear to tell you that it is okay to be such a "Villain"

I see we now have "Rules of Engagement" for witnessing.
Would rather hear personal testimony of actual witnessing, what works.
I tend to listen to the spirit to guide me. Bottom line is presenting the word, and not self. Faith comes by the word.
        And the word became flesh.
If you have a burden for the lost you will automatically seek to draw them to truth, in love, with patience and prayer. And I believe there are times that love must be tough. God so loved the world, yet read scripture and see how tough he could get.
It was a seed planted by a stranger that ignited my spirit to seek more word. I can not remember the strangers attitude or his words of love, if any. By his action he purposed to share the word, and that I remember. He said I must be saved, I must be born again, to avoid eternal damnation, and be with God forever. He minced no words.
I learn by experience. When witnessing, I share brief testimony, then what I was saved from. Sin. For me it's important to let them know I sin, as does everybody, and the penalty (wages) is death (separation from God) Then move into the 'good news'.
I believe I need to get them lost first before I can lead them to the light of the good news, the word, Jesus, that saves them.
And eternal damnation simply cannot be buttered up.
I love them by going and  telling them the whole truth.


 

[Riverwalker]

22 minutes ago, Sower said:

I believe I need to get them lost first before I can lead them to the light of the good news, the word, Jesus, that saves them.

Before the can understand the good news, they have to know the bad news.

 

[johnthebaptist]

9 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

Define Rude

Forcing yourself on someone.

[Riverwalker]

2 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

Forcing yourself on someone.

Forcing yourself, or God's truth?

and is it forcing to promote it?

[johnthebaptist]

Just now, Riverwalker said:

Forcing yourself, or God's truth?

and is it forcing to promote it?

Understand this: Saving souls is more complicated than telling someone something you think they ought to hear. Think of the patience the Lord has shown you in teaching you his ways. And so you have to have patience with the souls you would save.

[Riverwalker]

21 minutes ago, johnthebaptist said:

Understand this: Saving souls is more complicated than telling someone something you think they ought to hear. Think of the patience the Lord has shown you in teaching you his ways. And so you have to have patience with the souls you would save.

There is no question that how it is said is important.  But more importantly is that it is said. 

Will the truth offend those who stand opposed to it?  Of Course. But it is not our opinion we are speaking but God's truth

1 Peter 2: 7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”

They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

And the spoken truth MUST be spoken even it it does offend.

Romans 10:

 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Israel Rejects the Gospel

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Because it is the WORD that saves our job is to merely put it in the ear of the hearer, to sow the seed, the sometimes hard truth (in love and not in condemnation.  That there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun and that certain activities will lead to destruction

1 Corinthians 6: 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor [c]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 

So let the word of God speak, in hard situation.  Jesus had no problem speaking plainly to people. The bible has no problem speaking plainly to people....It will be salvation to those with ears to hear, and destruction to those who will not.

But it will leave no doubt where one stands

So you can speak and help to save souls, or you can save feelings. But if you are doing it right, you are going to offend some

[Justin Adams]

Please explain the POINT of this topic.

[Riverwalker]

2 minutes ago, Justin Adams said:

Please explain the POINT of this topic.

A Discussion on two differing philosphies

do we

A. sit down, shut up and stop telling people that there is a heaven to gain  and a great many ways to miss it 

Quote

    1 Cor 6:9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor [c]sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God

B Or do we speak the truth knowing that it will offend the sensibilites, despite the likely wood people who disagree with you call haters, misogynist racist homophobe.

Because you cannot hope to speak the truth and not offend

Matthew 5:11

Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

 

Luke 6:22

Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.

[Selah7]

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus Christ tells us,  "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"

Jesus clearly tells us to “Go.” 

Edited July 19, 2021 by Selah7