Being a Christian

[Artist4Jesus89]

Im a Christian and i want to stay on fire for God but it seems like i have issues with my faith i mean i beleive in what my church teaches and i beleive in God and ive been a Christian for 5 years and i was reading something in a magazine (sp?) called on course i think and it was like 19 things to do to break the ice and show 'em Jesus and one said figure out why you beleive what you beleive i cant really say or explain why i beleive what i do i just know he changed my life is that a reason?
I love Jesus and when i talk to people about him i want a good reason to say why i do beleive what i do.
Does anyone have any tips on witnessing i need some.

I have some advice though i heard joyce meyer say even if your scared you should do it afraid because God can bless you better.

[GhostontheNet]

Im a Christian and i want to stay on fire for God but it seems like i have issues with my faith i mean i beleive in what my church teaches and i beleive in God and ive been a Christian for 5 years and i was reading something in a magazine (sp?) called on course i think and it was like 19 things to do to break the ice and show 'em Jesus and one said figure out why you beleive what you beleive i cant really say or explain why i beleive what i do i just know he changed my life is that a reason?
I love Jesus and when i talk to people about him i want a good reason to say why i do beleive what i do.
Does anyone have any tips on witnessing i need some.

I have some advice though i heard joyce meyer say even if your scared you should do it afraid because God can bless you better.

So what are you goind to do about it? There's a vast amount of material out there giving foundations for faith, some fraction of it with which I'm familiar with.

[Eriana]

Im a Christian and i want to stay on fire for God but it seems like i have issues with my faith i mean i beleive in what my church teaches and i beleive in God and ive been a Christian for 5 years and i was reading something in a magazine (sp?) called on course i think and it was like 19 things to do to break the ice and show 'em Jesus and one said figure out why you beleive what you beleive i cant really say or explain why i beleive what i do i just know he changed my life is that a reason?
I love Jesus and when i talk to people about him i want a good reason to say why i do beleive what i do.
Does anyone have any tips on witnessing i need some.

I have some advice though i heard joyce meyer say even if your scared you should do it afraid because God can bless you better.

Pray about it, really go after and seek God, seek for His words of comfort and try to figure this one out. I ask my heart what I am truly doing, why I excepted God. God is the Light of the world, He died for me to take away my and everyone else's sins so that we might be forgiven! That is one of the strongest statements I have ever felt my heart bring up. Jesus loves you more than anything in the world, so how can you possibly ignore His love instead of returning all of your own?
Don't worry, when the time comes I think you'll be ready. God provides you with words and comforts your soul, trust me He won't let you freak out and be alone, He bring you the words. He's done the same for me before when I was lost on what to do and say. Remember, God moves in mysterious ways and He knows your heart better than even yourself! Don't worry about it, I have faith in you that the right answer will pop up eventually, just keep praying and hanging in there and I'll keep my prayer book open for you as well. Seek Him, I know you can do this!

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

The Holy Spirit helps to witness but just help others and through your actions they will see you are selfless. Then pray for oppurtunities to witness. Its not easy but its good.
Don't bash people around with Bible verses - talk from personal experience what Jesus means to you, how he's helped you - stuff like that. People are more inclined to accept what you say if its from personal experience. That's not to say the Bible isn't needed, it most definetly is but its possible to have some verses remembered and you can weave them into what you say to back up your reason for faith in Jesus.

[Kaligraphic]

Personal experience. You can hear evidence both ways, and you'll believe whichever sounds most convincing - but God doesn't want people to believe in him as in "yes, I believe God exists" - God doesn't want to be thought of on the same level as Bigfoot. God wants people to actually know him. He wants more than just offspring, he wants to reproduce his nature. He wants people who will walk with him in the cool of the day. It's intimacy with his people that God wants - not for them to know facts and figures about him, but for them to know his heart. That's what will draw people toward him - not stuff you memorize for the sole purpose of convincing others.

It's an introduction, not a sale. Focus on relationship, not just getting people to sign on the dotted line, so to speak.

If you don't feel that you can share right now, that's okay - you don't have to. Just spend time with God and people will notice that you're not who they thought you were. After a while, you won't have a problem any more.

[mitsuki lover]

Don't worry about it so much and don't turn it into something you have to do every day.Read what it says about the early Christians in Acts.
I think we turn witnessing too much into a MUST DO.If someone does ask you
about your faith always be polite and nonconfrontational and always be prepared to listen to their views as well.
Witnessing should never be just a one way street.

[starfire]

I've been struggling with this, somewhat, as well. I know what i believe, but why? I think it's great to challenge things, and to seek answers. A Christian mentor who's well established in his/her faith can really help you with these things and answer a lot of questions based on personal experience.

[GhostontheNet]

This thread is shameful in acting like Christianity is incapable of defending its dramatic truth claims with anything resembling adaquecy. Similarly, all the words to the contrary are not seeing the picture holistically - the God that acts within history and the world is one that learning facts about can indeed be profitable, and also the God who leaves His deeds open to testability. All the other suggestions altogether are in essence recommending assembling a puzzle with a chunk of pieces missing - possible but not entirely satisfying.

[starfire]

I don't think that's necessarily what anyone else is saying. (this could very easily turn into a flame war, hope it doesn't 'cuz it's a good thread)

Of course Christianity is logical and self proving in every way. But seeking guidance can never hurt. After all, Paul was Timothy's spiritual mentor.

For me, questions lead to seeking out answers in scripture. And, ultimately, that helps in witnessing. If you can give a straight answer to questions that an unbeliever is naturally likely to have, you have a better chance of leading him to the truth. At least the way I see it.

[Kaligraphic]

Sure, you can build logical arguments for God. Sure, you can convey facts upon facts, but to spend time doing only that is less profitable than simply spending time with God and conveying him.

In Matthew 9, Jesus tells someone "your sins are forgiven". To answer the thoughts of the others present, he could have shown them, scripture by scripture, how he was the culmination of thousands of years of prophecy, back to the beginning - but he didn't. He answered their doubts and ill thoughts by demonstrating who he was.

Wherefore think ye evil in your
hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be
forgiven thee]

And he arose, and departed to his house. But when the
multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given
such power unto men.

Hours leading people through prophecy after prophecy, or a few quick words with power. I'd prefer the power.

Yes, the acts of God can be proven. So can the acts of Congress. Just because somebody is convinced about someone else doesn't mean they've actually met.

You could prove by your arguments the existence of God. You could do the same for Bigfoot. Don't treat someone who is right with you the same as a mythical forest monster.

[GhostontheNet]

I don't think that's necessarily what anyone else is saying. (this could very easily turn into a flame war, hope it doesn't 'cuz it's a good thread)

Of course Christianity is logical and self proving in every way. But seeking guidance can never hurt. After all, Paul was Timothy's spiritual mentor.

I never denied they were pieces of the puzzle, did I?

For me, questions lead to seeking out answers in scripture. And, ultimately, that helps in witnessing. If you can give a straight answer to questions that an unbeliever is naturally likely to have, you have a better chance of leading him to the truth. At least the way I see it.

But sometimes, perhaps frequently, Scripture itself has only signposts in the right direction, rather than giving the whole of the solution. It is one thing to read the Scriptures concerning the resurrection of Yeshua from the dead, reading the lists of those said to be witnesses in 1 Corinthians 15 and Acts 1, and quite another thing to argue why one should believe these, which requires more extensive study, even outside of the scriptures.

[GhostontheNet]

Sure, you can build logical arguments for God. Sure, you can convey facts upon facts, but to spend time doing only that is less profitable than simply spending time with God and conveying him.

In Matthew 9, Jesus tells someone "your sins are forgiven". To answer the thoughts of the others present, he could have shown them, scripture by scripture, how he was the culmination of thousands of years of prophecy, back to the beginning - but he didn't. He answered their doubts and ill thoughts by demonstrating who he was.



Hours leading people through prophecy after prophecy, or a few quick words with power. I'd prefer the power.

Yes, the acts of God can be proven. So can the acts of Congress. Just because somebody is convinced about someone else doesn't mean they've actually met.

You could prove by your arguments the existence of God. You could do the same for Bigfoot. Don't treat someone who is right with you the same as a mythical forest monster.

And I suppose you have the power to do dramatic healings as well? If you can't, why should they think He did either if you tell them? It is possible that Bigfoot exists, but the evidence for him is dubious - all manner of dramatic but baseless claims are capable of pervading a culture. When we were young, our parents and the media had duped us into being good (possibly) around Christmas time by the legend of old Sandy Claws, of which all manner of faked evidence exists - presents under the tree and in stockings, lies from parents who claim they didn't buy the presents, consumed cookies and milk, reports from doppler radar of his progress. So then, if our message sounds like that, why should others take us seriously? Perhaps at best we would appear to be simply the equivalent of those who are being nice or perhaps unwisely naughty in the light of a new future Sandy Claws event.

[starfire]

Of course, prayer, fasting, and meditation can't hurt either!

Ultimately, yes, the answers have to come from God. He's the only one who can piece the puzzle together fully. I believe there are some things on this earth that we will never be able to understand. But that doesn't mean we stop trying. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."
Scriptures are a logical way to seek the nature of God and all his mysteries, the way I see it. But not the only way.
You've made a valid point. I admire your insightfulness. Myself, I'm working on learning to go where those guideposts lead me.

One thing's for sure...keeping up a healthy relationship with God requires a great amount of work.

[GhostontheNet]

[quote="starfire"]Of course, prayer, fasting, and meditation can't hurt either! ] That indeed, as the Temple was incapable of containing the God of Israel, the EVER-LIVING, neither is Scripture capable of containing Him. Also, some people are more knowledgeable for a better reading of the signposts than others - I consider Biblical scholars to be the best of theologians for example because they are capable of getting more in touch with the position of the original writers and audiences (remember, there is as much a horizontal aspect to scripture as there is a vertical aspect).