Gracey,
What is your take on this poem?
I'm sure you agree with it being that you posted it.
Hello, Neil (street preacher).
I do agree with it, actually. I have learned from experience that people will listen and not close you off if you approach them with love....if you show them Christ by example, rather than by mouth....it's easy to talk the love of Christ, but Christ didn't just teach by talking....he set the example that I must live up to.
To me this poem doesn't say that I accept all those things I disagree with; or that I pat the secular world on the back and say it's okay; to me it means that I can accept the person with love, because Christ loved me first (sin and all) and then go from there.
How can you ever plant the seed if you don't get your hands dirty, and get on your knees?
The poem maybe has an overly simplistic way of saying it. But most of the people I have shared with become willing to hear the "curses" if they've first heard the "promises". Maybe that's not the way everywhere, and I think we must approach each individual in whatever way their nature will permit. If Christ did it, so can I.
I think that this poem encompasses much of what is wrong with the modern evangelism in the church today. Let's not give people Jesus unless.... Unless we accept their views mixed in w/ ours? Unless we are best friends first? Unless we can keep from offending them? And my personal favorite,,, until they ask us to tell them about Jesus....
I don't believe this poem is about making friends first....It's about attitude; it's about approaching your already friends and family; it's about approaching strangers as you would approach a friend.
Do you think that this poem is condemning certain types of witnessing? Is it telling me that I have to make friends w/ someone in order to witness to them and that witnessing to strangers is wrong? Is that what it means to "talk to people about my beliefs (Jesus Christ and his infallible gospel) and walk away". I talk to people about Jesus all the time and then walk away. That's what seed planting is. Does this poem condemn that practice?
I know what seed planting is....I do it all the time, not by preaching at people, but by helping people and speaking with them and getting "in" there....not standing on a soapboax (I'm not saying that you do, please don't get me wrong). I have seen so many people who "preach the bible", but don't preach the Word.
People who have little or nothing in life, people who have no hope, people who have no family or friends....they need more than that. They need a loving hand to touch them; a sandwich and cofee; a new coat or shoes; or just a hug, along with telling them of Jesus - in other words, they need to see "Jesus in action".
I don't believe this poem is condemning street preaching. But if the only thing you ever do is preach Jesus and then walk away without offering anything else, what does that say to these people about the love of Christ?
I am here to plant as much seed as I can until the day that God calls me home. Is what I am doing wrong according to this poem?
I don't see the poem as saying that is wrong at all. I guess I just see the poem as a way of reminding us that it's one thing to preach, and another to teach.
As for the part regarding being right and being wrong when I give you Jesus? When could I be wrong when giving someone Jesus? Giving someone Jesus is always right.
I don't believe the poem says that at all. I believe it's talking about personal opinion....certainly you've met people who think they are right no matter what the situation. I believe this part speaks to our being humble, instead of hauty.
As for giving someone Jesus being always right....I would have to agree, although there are those out there who preach a very twisted view of the word.
I will tell them the dangers and concequences of their opinion with a Holy urgencey.
In my experience "fire and brimstone" scares people and seldom wins a willing soul.
I just do not agree with the "friendship evangelism" approach to witnessing as the exclusive way to win souls.
I don't believe it's the exclusive way either, and I don't consider it to be "friendship" evangelism, but "love" evangelism, which, from the way I see it, is what Jesus taught us through His loving sacrifice.
We would have to say the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 was a "stranger" to Jesus. He didn't wait to establish a meaningful relationship with her in order to be able to speak into her life. He simply struck up a conversation w/ her and then spoke the truth in love to a woman who didn't even know who he was....and he was effective. The greatest sermon ever preached in Matthew 5 was spoken to the multitudes in the open air. Not to a bunch of Jesus' closest friends or to those hanging around the Temple.
I agree with all of this of course. I never said the poem was the most effective way for everyone; on the other hand, not everyone can witness in the same way. God has made ways for all of us.
Suppose it is Sep. 10 2001 and you are in NYC about to deliver a message to 1000 people working in Tower 2 of the World Trade Center. Your message,,,, The Gospel of Jesus Christ. You are fully aware of the attacks that are about to take place the following day and you have one chance to deliver the message to these souls about to step into eternity. How would you approach your message?
would you mention death, judgement, heaven and hell, concequences of sin, repentance, salvation through Jesus Christ? Even if meant offending them or "appearing" narrow-minded and judgemental? I certainly hope so.
It isn't about how we appear; it's about love. I suppose to some it might not matter (not saying this is you...not at all) why a person accepts Christ as their saviour, but the most effective warriors for Christ are definitely those who accept his sacrifice out of thanksgiving for what He did, not those who are scared they will go to hell when they die. I've known many people who accepted Christ out of that fear, and although they might be "saved" from the lake of fire, they are not living a Christian life, nor are they effectively witnessing to anyone. I guess if you only want to count the souls you win, then it doesn't matter (again...I'm not saying this is you...you is such a broad term...I just mean people in general). Helping to change a person's eternity is good (no more lake of fire, instead, blessed heaven). I have always felt the need (desire?) to do more than that though; to show them how they can live their life for Christ's purposes, and not our own. It's more than winning souls....but it does start with seed planting.
Some plant seeds, some water, some weed, etc. Does that mean the concept in this poem is wrong? In your post you said that "friendship evangelism is what is wrong with evangelism" (or something to that effect, sorry I'm doing this from the edit mode and can't look back at it). That's making a judgement on how someone else fits into God's plan. I think we all have a part to play and God equips us to do our part.
From my point of view, though, I don't ever win any souls to Christ....He does that himself. I just show them what Christ is all about.
I just do not accept this poem as the Biblical model of how to reach the lost for Christ.
Well, no one said you have to, but not everybody can witness in the same way. It is but one way that people can reach the lost and shine the light of Jesus on them. We are a varied and diverse people and I believe God uses us and gifts us in whatever way we will be most effective for His purposes. We are not all "preachers"....nor teachers....nor prophets.... I could quote the verse if I need to, but I suspect you already know it.
I know that your heart is pure before God. I certainly do not question that.I love you enough to be completely honest.
Likewise.
In all honesty, I didn't see that anyone would take that poem in the way that you had. Although the writer was anonymous, it was written by a teenager who had hoped to help other teens reach out and I felt it was very effective.
I appreciate your honesty and your opinions. Thank you.
In Christ
Gracey
