Interview with Priest

[evangelist6589]

It went well and I will thank him with a letter and some gospel tracts. I did not challenge him in the interview just asked questions and listened. He was nice and kind and the community at the church as well. I won't mention the church but he is at a Catholic hybrid type church. I think in his case he is just decived and therefore my letter will be one of apologetical skill and persuasion. No I won't go fire & brimstone on him, so this will test the apologist in me, and believe me open air preachers and apologists are very different. Since he holds to a works based Justification, does not hold to full inerrancy so I needed a gospel tract that was more apologetics based which I will model in my letter. I did some digging but I found this one

http://www.christianbook.com/all-ro...tt=118686&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

which may be the perfect choice. I cannot send a book or a booklet in a letter, so a gospel tract would be perfect in this case. I have built a small relationship with him so I am not a total stranger. Perhaps in the future this method may raise more voice to my letters and tracts. But I do believe in this day and age we need more apologetics in evangelism.

Way of the Master says only evangelize the conscience, but Tell the Truth by Metzger says evangelize both the mind and consceince so I will also have a Million Dollar Bill.

 

[Zenas]

We can't read any of that pamphlet but from the description given, I doubt if it contains anything that you and he would disagree on. Therefore, he won't be persuaded by it to change any of his beliefs.

 

[Rolfe]

He was probably glad that you went to Confession.

 

[JonC]

Way of the Master says only evangelize the conscience, but Tell the Truth by Metzger says evangelize both the mind and consceince so I will also have a Million Dollar Bill.

You've mentioned something like this several times, and I've never actually understood what you mean. At times you "evangelize the intellect," "evangelize the mind," or "evangelize the conscience." I understand evangelism in terms of sharing the gospel in a meaningful way to a person, but am at a bit of a loss in terms of the division. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate an explanation of the various internal targets of evangelism. Thanks.

 

[JonC]

He was probably glad that you went to Confession.

... no, he probably wasn't. :laugh:

 

[Rolfe]

... no, he probably wasn't. :laugh:

After he left the Million Dollar Bill in the alms plate? :laugh:

 

[rsr]

What is a "Catholic hybrid type church"?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

What is a "Catholic hybrid type church"?

:laugh::laugh: ....ohhhh welcome to the twilight zone:laugh:

 

[JonC]

:laugh::laugh: ....ohhhh welcome to the twilight zone:laugh:

That's what happens when you legalize pot ...hybrid Catholics.

 

[Jerome]

Hybrid like this?:

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Community (Denver)

In 2003, the parish of St. Elizabeth of Hungary became a community composed of both Roman and Byzantine Rites under the authority of the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Denver. One of the unique dimensions of this parish is that it embraces two different liturgical traditions and communities within its one parish family- Roman and Russian Byzantine.

 

[rsr]

Maybe that's it. I guess I was expecting something else as a "hybrid," not two liturgies but one dogma.

 

[Jordan Kurecki]

Something I learned recently Evan,

I was stuck on the way of the master approach for a while, and while I still believe it is a good method, I am now completely convinced that it is not a method that saved people, nor is it our bible knowledge or apologetic abilities. Basically we cannot do anything to get someone saved, it has to be completely God, now you might say that is obvious and we all know this, but God showed me that I didn't really realize this is in my heart; let me expound.

a few days ago I found out my roommate who grew up in a Christian home, is not saved, he confessed me to that he has played the hypocrite and knew he had never repented and been born again. I immediately told him that he needs to get saved and he knows what to do, he told me he's not sorry for his sins and that if he asked God to forgive him and save him he wouldn't mean it, I went through the WOTM approach to try and awaken his conscience, and I quoted tons of verses, but it didn't do anything, I finally realized that I could do nothing for him and that God's spirit had to work in him, I went downstairs and cried out to God in prayer begging him to convict and save my roomate, I came out of the closet I was in and he had been listening outside the whole time and after about an hour after we first started talking upstairs he finally said "I'm Ready". I then showed him simply "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" and expounded that short passage with it's context, he was still hessitant, and I started praying again and then he prayed out loud them most beautiful prayer for confession of sins and even prayed a prayer of surrender to God's will for his life all in one prayer of about 15 minutes.

I learned valuable lessons in this 1. We are absolutely nothing, and God refuses to use proud people, and we may never admit we are proud, but when we place confidence in our methods of sharing the gospel, or our intellect than God cannot use us.

2. We show that we are not proud and not depending on self by prayer, I noticed serious signs of conviction in my roommate as I was praying for him.

My point is Evan, We cannot look to specific methods or tracts, we have to be humble enough to pray hard and intensely and agonize in prayer for individuals to be saved and ask God to give us specific scriptures to share with them, I have been greatly humbled by God, and I realize he will choose to use those who are humble and depend upon him. I say this completely out of love, but you seem to place way to much stock in the methods and ideologies of men, you always refer to some book and and something, I too am guilty of following the methods of men rather than the still small voice of the Spirit. Evan I implore you to put down your evangelistic books for a bit, and not run to tracts, and make you sit down and beg God for grace, mercy, power and wisdom before you send any more letters, or make any contacts with these people.

With that being said.

I have always found that expounding the passage of the Prayers of the Pharisee and the Publican to be a powerful passage with Catholics.

 

[InTheLight]

Jordan thank you for that heartfelt, personal, and powerful testimony.

 

[Rolfe]

Well said, Jordan K.:thumbs:

 

[JonC]

Well said, Jordan K.:thumbs:

And said well. .:thumbs:

 

[Don]

Jordan - WOW.

God bless you.

 

[evangelist6589]

You've mentioned something like this several times, and I've never actually understood what you mean. At times you "evangelize the intellect," "evangelize the mind," or "evangelize the conscience." I understand evangelism in terms of sharing the gospel in a meaningful way to a person, but am at a bit of a loss in terms of the division. If you don't mind, I'd appreciate an explanation of the various internal targets of evangelism. Thanks.

Did you not read Metzger? What did he say?

 

[evangelist6589]

Thanks for sharing your testimony however I find it odd you are trying to distribute your own tract, yet have the nerve to tell me not to use tracts. This email also makes the assumption that I am not praying and not sharing scriptures which is completely false as my letters are loaded with scriptures! I do not send books, nor recommend someone to buy one, because I know they will not. Also I am not following the methods of men I am following the scripture and those whom God has gifted to the church (book of Ephesians).

I was listening to a certain pastor expound upon Jesus's teachings in the Upper Room or perhaps in the Garden to his disciples and Jesus himself warned of the hatred that would follow the disciples.

http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1556/Hatred-Without-a-Cause-Part-2

This is a great explanation of John 15 and related passages and it is clear that we need to be out confronting people about their sin, the coming judgment, and about Hell. Sure the world will hate us, but we need to obey God and trust in Him to grant faith and repentance to those whom he has called to salvation.

Every man born is born into this world as a part of Satan’s system. He is under the headship of Satan. His father is the devil, the god of this world. His life is centered around the things of Satan. You know, and it’s hard to get people to understand this but if you read Ephesians chapter 2 and from verses 1 to 3 where it describes it, it says it right there. It talks about the fact that we’re all dead in trespasses and sin. It talks about the fact that Satan controls our lives. The unsaved individual is ... has a Satan centered existence and when one man or woman comes to a knowledge of Jesus Christ by personal faith, he is then delivered from the world.

 

[JonC]

Did you not read Metzger? What did he say?

To my recollection he stressed communicating the whole gospel message conversationally and through our lives. I understood Metzger. I am trying to make sure I understand what you are saying. I am not arguing against your point - I don't understand "evangelizing the mind" vs "evangelizing the conscience" vs "evangelizing the intellect." I just would appreciate a little clarification. Like I said, I am familiar with sharing the gospel with people but am unfamiliar with those aspects you target. That's all...just asking.

 

[evangelist6589]

To my recollection he stressed communicating the whole gospel message conversationally and through our lives. I understood Metzger. I am trying to make sure I understand what you are saying. I am not arguing against your point - I don't understand "evangelizing the mind" vs "evangelizing the conscience" vs "evangelizing the intellect." I just would appreciate a little clarification. Like I said, I am familiar with sharing the gospel with people but am unfamiliar with those aspects you target. That's all...just asking.

Well in the Way of the Master book there are chapters on evangelizing with the cults and false teachers. Comfort says to only use the 10 commandments with them, and to not make arguments other than that. With atheists he says the same thing. This is a good approach, however the PROBLEM with it, is that Mormons and Catholics will admit to having broken the Moral law, but are still very lost, and also need arguments that refute their doctrine and this is where it is wise to also evangelize the intellect. For example this father that I spoke with I am preparing a letter that will not only address the moral law, but also the doctrine of Justification by faith alone (Eph 2:8-10), and the doctrine of the Bible, as he seems to pick and choose what he believes to be inspired, and verses that offend him he ignores and says they are not original. This is a great opportunity to use apologetics books defending the inerrancy of the scripture.
But regardless it is only God that can grant repentance and faith (2 Cor 4), all I can do is obey him and always be ready to give an answer (1 Pt 3:15). Does this make sense?