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It is no secrete that we Christians/church goers are living in a world of non-believers… many questions surface because of this very fact.  These may include… how do I witness to others… what missions should I work in… and so on… Likewise, it is on a daily basis that we have interactions with non-believers.  No doubt, I am not alone in wondering how to react to their lifestyle… which often includes some type of “twisting” of the truth…  Stumbling across the following story I could not help but believe this was the best approach considering the circumstances…

Two college students had almost completed the semester of Basic Christianity and were going into the last week of class, each with an “A” average.  Feeling confident they could pass the final examination, they decided to take off on the Friday before the Monday exam and head to a neighboring school for a party with some friends.  They stayed over too late on Saturday night and were unable to travel on Sunday.  They didn’t head back to their own school until Monday morning.  Even though they made it back in time for the exam, they decided it would be foolish to go into an exam without studying, so they skipped the exam.  Later, they went to the professor to plead for a make-up exam.  They lied and told the professor that they had a flat tire on the way back and therefore missed the exam.  The professor agreed to a make-up and had each one go into a different room with a test booklet and the test.  The first page of the test was a fairly simple question which was worth 5 points.  Both of the students answered it perfectly, and were sure the test would be easy.  As they turned the second page they read “Question 2 (95 Points): Which Tire?”.


How do you deal with non-believers/co-workers/friends/ etc. when you know that they are not being forthcoming in their statements/actions?

Oklahoma Howdy to Tony,

The method used by the instructor was pretty creative and probably worked. I'm old-fashioned, too blunt too often, and I had 25 years in police work to make that condition worse.   :D

I would tell them they are liars. I have mixed emotions about what many people do today, and I also struggle with what the LORD would instruct me to do. This is a matter of regular prayer for me. There are obviously multiple sides of this slippery coin. We live in a time where many people have not been taught or told what is right and wrong. It appears to be more important to be politically correct than tell the truth.

This is an important issue for Christians. Does the truth hurt, or does the lack of truth hurt? I subscribe to the principle that the lack of truth hurts. The method of how and when to speak up is a matter of prayer, asking God for guidance and wisdom to do HIS will.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Thanks for the input Tom.  Dully noted in every respect, I can relate to each of the points you made (with the only exception being the 25 years as a police officer…To fully relate to this I would have to of been doing the street patrols in my diapers… ha…lol.. ;D ).

Tony

Oklahoma Howdy to Tony,

 ;D  We were short on manpower and could have used you.

Love In Christ,
Tom

 ;D

Tony;
If you are unsure as to what to say to a nonbeliever – let your actions speak first; let everything you do be done in love & understanding.  Eventually (done right) the nonbeliever will begin to ask how you “how can you be such an ‘even’ and ‘fair’ and ‘kind’ and ‘friendly’ and ‘non-judging’ person?  You never gossip, everyone wants your advice, you're seldom grumpy…What IS your secret??”

Then you let in UNLOAD brother!  ;D

We all have different gifts – not all of us have the gift of “speak”.  We must let our actions speak first.  :)

  Just wanted to say that your post really touched me and makes so much sense!  Thank you.  You are appreciated!
  Bawilli

What if they got it right?  That wouldn't be very fair to the other students.

There is a 25% chance they'll get it right... plus, we also have to factor in the possibility that they may have talked about their story before-hand and picked which tire "went flat". The teacher's methods seem rather flawed.

Thanks for your thoughts.  To some extent, I believe you have a valid point.  The prof.  was rather generous in even allowing them to take the test at a diff. time.  Indeed, this, in and of itself is somewhat unfair to the other students.  I have taken several multiple choice tests.  Some fellow students didn't study, and thought it would be a breaze.  They were often suprised about recieving a low grade.  The story implies that they had not discussed the specifices of which tire.  Rather, that the excuse to be given was just a flat tire.  So, I believe the chances of them both picking the same time, when answering the test, would prob. be between nill to none.

Thanks again for your input.

Your Brother in Christ,

Tony

I have found the best way is what I constantly preach to my
church. Preach the word every day, and if you have to ...
use words.

 ;D respectfully yours in Yeshua:

ravenloche

Oklahoma Howdy to Ravenloche,

Brother, the profoundity of your statement is overwhelming.   ;D

Love In Christ,
Tom

who said that originally, anyway? (nothing to do with a debate...I just can't remember)

if you can't feel where people are hurting, you will never be able to relate to them or preach to them the gospel. Read the story in John 4, and how my Lord moves in with the utmost skill through his dialogue. He was brilliant in that dialogue.  I heard this exegisis from a preacher on how Jesus was the Master at that, that story was UNBELIEVABLE. IT Proved to me that my LORD Always found that soft spot where people were hurting and moved connected first through there!  
For example in this story, i could have asked the guys what grades meant to them first!

"THE PROBLEM IS NEVER THE PROBLEM"

you are correct, it is a borrowed statement!

originally---Evangelist Charles Finney

I have lots of friends who are non-believers and they make fun of me for my passion. I could easily dump them for this but instead I will stick it out being their friends should one of them decide to explore christianity. Don't kick a man while he's down and weak. Instead pick him up and help him through his weaknesses! Moral of the story, have patience with the non-believers and pray for them.

Tony,
I liked your story. The story gives very little detail of what was actually told to the professor, but have you ever thought that maybe the reason the professor was asking which tire was so that he could check them to see if they were telling the truth? Even if they had discused between the two guys which tire they would say, if the professor went out to check the tire only to find out they weren't tellingthe truth, uh oh busted!!! I think it just shows how easily people that claim to be Christians truly aren't Christians at all and find it very easy to lie about things. This is where we take the time to pray for them. We can talk to that person all we see fit but if he/she isn't ready to listen, then our words go in vain. We have to pray for that person and that God will open the door to allow that person to listen with the heart and not just with the ears. God will provide a way for you to talk to that person at the rightt time and place. He will also give you the right actions and words to say to that person. You are not alone when you are around non-believers. God is ALWAYS with you to help guide you along the way.

God Bless You,
Christina

ummmmm What's wrong with the Women Power?!  :D

Blessings,  \o/

KristiAnn

KristiAnn,

 :D  Sister, we had quite a few women on our department and still do. We didn't make any distinction between men and women officers. In this case, "manpower" would be a non-gender term.  We had women officers who could whip 2 or 3 at a time without breaking a sweat.

I think it would be most accurate to say that a career in police work is NOT the right career for the vast majority of men or women. There are many police functions that are done much better by women, but there is a desperate shortage of women who even try the hiring process. As a result, there is a desperate shortage of women in police work.

I think that the biggest problem is that nearly all departments treat men and women officers exactly the same. Everyone will be a cop, and the duty assignments are the same. Dispatchers send a cop to a call, not a man or a woman. I hope what I said made sense.   :D  Many things every day are life and death, and I will quickly say that I give thanks for serving with some OUTSTANDING women police officers.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Amen to that Christina...you made a valid point there.   Within the family of Christ the truth must be questioned as well. For in the New Testament it speaks of the comming of false prophets. You brought out a whole new thought within that story.

With Love In Christ,

Danielle