Thank you
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 13:4-13) we find a description of Christian love. One that I am constantly reminding myself.
“ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
My place in the would does not dishonor and create a right nuisance of myself, always remembering when they did it to me. My own brother sat on my front poarch till 1am attempting to convert me when all he had to do was ask if I believed… rather, and because of my past wicked crime filled ways he surmised me as being an enemy and he had to save me. He even came back to my house early morning and threw literature in my back seat of my parked car… apparently he did not believe that I was sincere. I consider that to be a considerable nuisance because it assumes Vs sitting, listening then knowing the heart… a rookie opinion based on nothing concrete. These are very dangerous people.
I don't know that I'd call them dangerous, lol. Probably better to look at the over-zealous as either new to the faith (and thinking that's the way it is done), or perhaps they are striving so hard because they think that in some way that ingratiates them to God or are "proving" their salvation to themselves.
I don't have a problem with those who do not find it necessary (for whatever reason) not to witness to others, or those who "witness through their life." In fact, I'd say there simply are some people who absolutely should not witness, because many of them are parroting errors they heard in church the Sunday before. Witnessing is something that should always be led by the Lord, and should be taken serious, because teachers will receive the greater judgment.
Having said that, though, I still say that we should witness to all unbelievers. I have met some very nice people that belong to cults, and as nice as they are, the one thing I know is that everyone needs Christ. I used to be just like your brother, lol, and in fact did a couple of things you mentioned. He called himself a Catholic, and associated with Catholicism because, well, we're Irish, so we must be Catholic (and don't ask me why he didn't understand there were Protestant Irish). I thought Jack Chick tracts would do the trick, lol, but they didn't. My wife and I ended up putting his son (and eventually his two daughters) through a Christian private school, and I think it was attending functions there that he eventually began to understand a little better about his relationship to God.
The big thing was just that he heard the Gospel. I think most of us, at least at some point in our salvation, think we are the voice of God to a lost world, lol. Eventually we figure out we aren't and start relaxing a little bit in our approach. but it is necessary for individuals to hear the Gospel, because we cannot be saved by the great lives of others.
God bless.
… this is my answer to those who can’t or won’t shut up.
