Foolish Atheist Agruments: How to deal with them?

Bobby Henderson in his protest to the teaching of Intelligent Design in Kansas developed the absurd argument that there is a deity that resembles spaghetti and meatballs. Its name? The flying Spaghetti Monster. This was meant to be satire but asserts that creationist claims that there is a God goes without proof and thereby makes an untestable claim. However, this is a false assertion. Spending some time in the scriptures would show them where the proof can be found.

"Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of the Lord." - Job 37:14

Mr. Henderson should consider the works of creation. God has put us here in the middle of all His creation and we still look around blindly and deny His being. Man will go so far as they need to, even to create false idols in the form of a spaghetti gods, just to remove the fear of future judgment.

"Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" - Hebrews 9:27

Mankind loves its sin and will do anything to keep it. If we can remove God we can indulge in any sinful pleasure without fear of judgment. Remember when dealing with people who want to argue the existence of God that they are really covering up sin. You could waste many hours of time going point by point trying to convince them of their logical failings. Instead, go for the conscience by using the law and allowing the Holy Spirit to do His work.

"Convert: From Adam to Christ" By Emilio Ramos

A promising book on the conversion experience

I’m excited about a promising book that is coming out mid-July from Emilio Ramos that is about the conversion experience. In today’s typical Christian bookstores you could reduce the inventory down to a kiosk after removing the fluff. I have not read Emilio’s book but the fact that someone is dealing with the topic of the nature of conversion I find refreshing. There is a lack of understanding about the working of the Holy Spirit in the conversion experience. This is reflected in most of the evangelist “methods” being employed by Christians. Without a solid foundation in this understanding we will try to force conversions. This is very tempting in our American society which has a deep rooted tradition is result-oriented expectations. But it is just this zeal for results that has would-be fishers-of-men pulling in dragnets of dead fish. From what I know of Emilio I expect a solid teaching of a desperately needed truth to bleed along the pages of his book. 

You can reserve a copy now at www.fishwithtrish.com

A Theme Park Bible

Over the past weekend I took my family to see a Pennsylvania landmark called Dutch Wonderland. Dutch Wonderland is an amusement park created by the late Earl Clark in the early sixties that has a theme centered on children. Among the rides there are some features that I believe are original to the park. These are all small buildings; a one-room school house, an Amish farm house, and a gingerbread house. Tucked up under a tree is also a small church building. Inside I found two benches and a stand containing a bible opened to the gospel of John. (Below is a picture) In this day in age I find it interesting in the middle of a commercialized theme park that a bible and gospel message would be on display. It may be only a matter of time before this is removed due to our ever increasing PC society. 

I tried to find some history and background on Earl Clark as to what motivated him and his family to include this as part of the attractions. I could find nothing. But regardless it stands as a reminder and contrast to what appears important and what is actually important. I watch people walk by absorbed in the fun of the day and focused on the next ride’s entertainment to the point that they completely missed this tiny church. Few ever entered it and when they did it was out of curiosity. When inside and faced only with God’s word they must think it’s a mistake. How is this suppose to be fun may be their thoughts. In the book of Proverbs verse 6:23 we read that God’s words are like a lamp and light leading to the way of life. This book hidden in the back of a tiny church building under a tree contains the way to eternal life. But because the world lives in darkness they cannot comprehend it. (John 1:5) Let us use all the opportunities granted to us to reveal God’s words of light to a world of darkness.

The Brother By My Name

Mall evangelism in the state of Maryland where I reside is not friendly to witnessing. We do not have the freedom as other states do like California to openly proclaim God’s message. Once I was even asked to leave a mall based Christian bookstore when in conversation with a professing Christian couple about what the gospel is. The message of the cross had offended. Nevertheless, this should not be viewed as an opportunity to ditch our obligation to proclaim the good news only that it needs to be done with care and compassion.

Once time when I was doing some mall fishing I met a man on a bench and asked him if he had received his million yet. I offered him one of the Living Waters million tracts. He indicated he didn’t want one so I then said I had something I know he would want as I gave him a different tract which I had placed a real dollar in. He took this without any hesitation and I walked away. Before I got too far off he called me back. We began to talk. Apparently he didn’t realize I was a Christian until he quickly read the tract with the dollar in it. He said he had been thinking about his life and death for a while and was thinking about spiritual things as I came to him. He had recently loss a brother who by a wild providence had my same name. Now my name is not common. I have yet to meet anyone with it as a first. To think God sent me to talk to this man whose brother just died who bore my name and that this man had been thinking about eternal life. I was able to share Christ’s wonderful message with him that day; a privilege I was undeserving to have.

We never know what plans God has for us. He only needs us to be patience and obedient. Go share your faith.

Servant Evangelism Examined

A recent buzz word I have ran across is a style of reaching the lost called Servant Evangelism which is credited to Steve Sjogren. I decided I needed to understand its teaching so the following is my thoughts on its biblical basis. 

The basic premise of SE as stated on Steve’s website is for a “straightforward approach to sharing God’s love in simple, practical ways” which is further clarified as a “no strings attached’ method.

I have some reservations and concerns about SE after doing some research. The lack of biblical support or a clear declaration of what the Gospel is on the website prompted the need to look to the biblical text to examine if SE is really evangelism at all. 

The first point of contention I have towards SE is that it equates “sharing God’s love” with acts of service like: handing someone a free soda on a hot day, washing someone’s car then paying them, or cleaning gas station restrooms. We should ask the question to ourselves, what does God’s love look like? Let look at Romans 5:8.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Here we see that God’s love equals Christ dying. So when we do acts of service and say we are sharing God’s love are we saying that God’s love equals getting stuff? Acts of service are good things but our good works are a result of our appreciation for God “sharing His love” towards us in the atoning work of Christ.

The next issue I take with SE as it is described is that it appears to discourage biblical evangelism. In the FAQ section of the SE website it states: 

“To give out a tract as we serve would defeat the concept of free. If we served and distributed tracts, we would convey conditional love”…“Be careful not to come across as though you have an ulterior motive. Pre-Christians can sense a mixed motive from a block away.”

Are we saying that to want to proclaim the word of God is “an ulterior motive”? Doesn’t the bible say that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”- Romans 10:17

Lastly, SE emphasizes charitable acts over gospel proclamation. This has an inherited logical flaw. Examine the quote below:

“We lay down our lives through service. Church members have many opportunities to serve. We can do small acts of kindness for our neighbors, take part in community service, fulfill responsibilities within our local congregations or contribute to the Church's large-scale humanitarian efforts. These actions, whether great or small, let us feel the happiness of connecting with our brothers and sisters and remind us that God often allows us to be the answer to someone else’s prayers.”

SE promotes small acts of kindness in an effort to demonstrate God’s love towards other. The idea seems to be that if they see God’s love in us they may come to know Jesus. But which Jesus? The Jesus of the bible or the Mormon Jesus, or the JW Jesus, or some other man-made image. You see, the quote above is from the Mormon Church. It could have been just as well from any Christian denomination. But what do you do if hand out free sodas at one red light and then at the next red light the Mormons are giving away sodas and a sandwich? You can’t compete on kindness in the worldly sense. Only the love of God as describe in the bible as the His payment for sin leading to eternal life is true kindness. The Gospel is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

But don’t take my word for this. Examine the scriptures as to what is the Love of God and by what means does God save sinners. If we do not follow God’s prescribed plan no matter how it may rub against the grain of worldly wisdom our efforts will be vanity.

Tips on tracts

A tract left in the floral department of Wal-Mart

Our Wednesdays in the winter consist of dropping the children off at the neighborhood AWANAS program and hitting the local area for an evening of tracting. We make it into a date night, enjoying each other’s company while serving God in order that He is glorified. Being consistent in tracting is very beneficial to your efforts in evangelism. First it develops a habit of evangelism and second it builds boldness. While I believe handing someone a tract is always better I also leave tracts for other to pick up. I have been doing this for years and have come up with the following thoughts on the do’s and don’ts of effective tracting that may help you in your witnessing efforts. 

In Stores: The best locations to leave tracts in stores are inside something that will be purchased. You can slip one through the handles of a boxed item, place them inside books, or put them in the pockets of shirts and pants on the racks. The object is that it is somewhere the buyer will not see until they get home. Why is this important? Think about this? Who is going to pick up a tract off the floor or shelf aside from kids? (Doing the floor drop works best in the toy aisle)  Most times these are removed by store personnel. The problem is these days with cameras people are afraid they might be accused of shoplifting if they pick something up and put it in their pocket. If leaving it on a shelf (which I have done) is your only option then by all means leave it there but try if you can to get it inside something. 

Restaurants: If you are going to leave a tract at a restaurant you have two options. Hand it to the waitress or leave it with the tip. But if you’re cheap with your tips then keep it in your pocket. I think you should leave a tip somewhere above 25%; the higher the better. 50% to 100% will stand out. Don’t leave a wimpy 15% and then sneak out when they are not looking. Remember its God’s money and not yours, use it for His glory.

A fast-food option that is really good is paying for the car behind you. When you get to the window you pay for the car behind and give the person at the window two tracks; one for them and one for the car behind. Just say to window attendant, “When the car that’s behind gets up to the window tell them that their meal is paid for and that this is a gift for them.”  Also, if you decide to do this don’t size up the family behind trying to ditch on it if it seems like a dozen kids in the car. This can be tempting.

Other Ideas:

1.       Don’t leave tracts in bathrooms. A bathroom is a dirty place where no one wants to pick anything up. I have left them at the sink counter many times but use your judgment.

2.        Leave tracts under the gas pump lever. This is a great place.

3.       Hand tracts with money to “homeless” at the street corners while you are waiting for the green light.

4.       At the coffee counters in your local 7-11.

In other words be creative in where you leave tracts, enjoy serving the Lord while you’re doing it and do it often. So get prepared with plenty of tracts in your car, truck, wallet and purse. Never be without one.

“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” -Colossians 3:23

Festival Evangelism

For the first time this spring I went out and rented some space at a local festival to set up an evangelism booth. I have done one to one witnessing at other local events but I thought it would be neat to put up a booth and have people come to me. 

I was excited about the prospects Saturday would bring. As I pulled in and meet the event leader I was showed to my setup location. To my dismay I was given the farthest most remote and least frequented spot imaginable. 

Throughout the day I saw many people come and go down amongst the vendors down the hill. Where I was setup there was nothing. It appeared the folks running the event had decided to put me out of the area of influence on purpose. But regardless of the intent behind the placement of my booth, the Lord had other plans. 

In God’s providence he had placed me next to another vendor who was an elder in the JW church. I was able to have a lengthy conversation with him and even convince him to accept a gospel tract. I explained to him how we must have a right understanding of who Christ is or we have formed an idol and our salvation is false. I also helped illustrate how different the JW Jesus is from the scriptures. He agreed with me that we did have a different understanding of Christ and that only one of the views is correct. We went through some scripture and I encourage him not to delay in examining to see which view is correct.  

I also had some very detailed witness encounters with half-a-dozen other people as well as handed out tracts to the few passer-byes. The fact is God is always in control and having the location I did helped to remind me of that. The people I met and witnessed to that day God had arranged to be there before the foundations of the earth.