When was the last time you articulated the gospel to somebody?

[Izdaari]

It's amazing how much some people want to make themselves the responsible party for someone else's salvation. I'll just do my best to follow Jesus and Let Him do the saving.

it;s amazing to me how many people call themselves christian then sit back and pretend God never commanded us to go out and reach the lost........ following Jesus means going where He goes.... doing as He commands..... not sitting back doing nothing but criticizing others who are doing as He commanded..... 

Too much antinomianism or maybe mild hyper-Calvinism.

Hmm, antinomianism and mild hyper-Calvinism... both of those might describe me, though if I'm hyper-Calvinist, it would be of the hyper-Amyraldian version (anyone ever heard of a hyper-Amyraldian before?)...

... but still, I will tell the gospel to anyone who seems willing to listen. And most people I know, know I'm a Christian who is only too willing to answer questions about it.

 

[JrChurch]

Man o Man am I sorry I ever testified about seeing someone get saved.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Proverbs 11:30

 

[Castor Muscular]

... but still, I will tell the gospel to anyone who seems willing to listen. Amd most people I know, know I'm a Christian who is only too willing to answer questions about it.

Me too.  I have a friend at work who never stops talking about Jesus.  I love it.  And we chat frequently all over, including right in my cube.  So there's no doubt at work where I stand. 

Nobody asks me questions, though.  Like I said, I don't know anyone who doesn't know the Gospel.  Maybe it's because I'm in Texas.  Everyone around me is either a Christian or Catholic.  Most if not all Catholics (at least the ones I know) have heard the Gospel.  Some may not believe or obey it, but they know it.  I know several Catholics I am confident are saved. 

 

[Izdaari]

... but still, I will tell the gospel to anyone who seems willing to listen. Amd most people I know, know I'm a Christian who is only too willing to answer questions about it.

Me too.  I have a friend at work who never stops talking about Jesus.  I love it.  And we chat frequently all over, including right in my cube.  So there's no doubt at work where I stand. 

Nobody asks me questions, though.  Like I said, I don't know anyone who doesn't know the Gospel.  Maybe it's because I'm in Texas.  Everyone around me is either a Christian or Catholic.  Most if not all Catholics (at least the ones I know) have heard the Gospel.  Some may not believe or obey it, but they know it.  I know several Catholics I am confident are saved.

IMHO, Catholics are just another Christian denomination, though they hate being called that. (I mean they hate being called "just another denomination", not that they hate being called Christian. Their assumption is that they are THE true Christian Church.) 

In the Seattle area, one of the most liberal and secular cities in the USA, we can't just assume other folks are Christians. Most may believe in some form of spirituality, but it's just as likely to be some New Age or Eastern stuff as Christian, and I know plenty of practicing Pagans. A fair number of atheists too. I was a Zen/Tao/Vedanta Eastern syncretist myself, before I returned to my childhood Christian faith.

 

[Castor Muscular]

... but still, I will tell the gospel to anyone who seems willing to listen. Amd most people I know, know I'm a Christian who is only too willing to answer questions about it.

Me too.  I have a friend at work who never stops talking about Jesus.  I love it.  And we chat frequently all over, including right in my cube.  So there's no doubt at work where I stand. 

Nobody asks me questions, though.  Like I said, I don't know anyone who doesn't know the Gospel.  Maybe it's because I'm in Texas.  Everyone around me is either a Christian or Catholic.  Most if not all Catholics (at least the ones I know) have heard the Gospel.  Some may not believe or obey it, but they know it.  I know several Catholics I am confident are saved.

IMHO, Catholics are just another Christian denomination, though they hate being called that. (I mean they hate being called "just another denomination", not that they hate being called Christian. Their assumption is that they are THE true Christian Church.) 

I don't know any Catholics who say that, but maybe they believe it.  Wait, actually I do know one.

It annoys me when people call Catholics a religion of the anti-Christ.  They do a LOT of things that are unbiblical, but they don't deny Jesus is the Christ.  And that's one of the definitions of the spirit of anti-Christ, to deny Jesus is the Christ. 

I tried but couldn't get into Zen/Tao in my youth. 

 

[Izdaari]

Check out the Catholic Answers Forum sometime. Their Non-Catholic Religions sub-forum is our designated ghetto. That they are the true Christian Church is the universal assumption among the Catholic members. While they acknowledge Protestants as Christians, they think only they have "the fullness of truth".

 

[ALAYMAN]

I wonder if the predestinarian Paul was trying to make himself responsible for other people's salvation....


1Co 4:15  For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.



Stinkin' semi-pelegian narcissist that Paul.

 

[Holy Mole]

You mean that Jesus dies for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day?

....just now I suppose  ;D

 

[Castor Muscular]

You mean that Jesus dies for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day?

....just now I suppose  ;D

Cool.  Now just say this prayer and you'll be saved...

 

[rsc2a]

You mean that Jesus dies for our sins, was buried and resurrected on the third day?

....just now I suppose  ;D

Cool.  Now just say this prayer and you'll be saved...

Just as I aaaaam....
without one plea.....

 

[ALAYMAN]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

 

[rsc2a]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

 

[Holy Mole]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

whoa...

I used to battle the Uber-Calvies on the OFFF quite a bit, mostly Chad Fletcher though but had some others jump on me as well. It is my opinion, though, that you are asking if anybody has prompted a decision to receive the gospel...not just if anybody has articulated it.

I am not totally against what some may even call "decisionism" but am against the use of gimmicks, pressure and sales closes to get the notch wherever where one prefers to put it!

 

[ALAYMAN]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

whoa...

I used to battle the Uber-Calvies on the OFFF quite a bit, mostly Chad Fletcher though but had some others jump on me as well. It is my opinion, though, that you are asking if anybody has prompted a decision to receive the gospel...not just if anybody has articulated it.

I am not totally against what some may even call "decisionism" but am against the use of gimmicks, pressure and sales closes to get the notch wherever where one prefers to put it!

Where have I argued to pressure people into a decision?

The thread title is When was the last time you articulated the gospel to somebody? .  What evidence in this thread leads you to believe that I have advocated gimmicks and salesmanship?  And for the record, I do believe that in the evangelistic presentation that a person should attempt to "prompt a decision", as does the Scriptures....


2Co 5:11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

[Castor Muscular]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

whoa...

I used to battle the Uber-Calvies on the OFFF quite a bit, mostly Chad Fletcher though but had some others jump on me as well. It is my opinion, though, that you are asking if anybody has prompted a decision to receive the gospel...not just if anybody has articulated it.

I am not totally against what some may even call "decisionism" but am against the use of gimmicks, pressure and sales closes to get the notch wherever where one prefers to put it!

I'm sort of an Uber-Calvie, in the sense that I'm also supralapsarian.  That doesn't mean I don't share the Gospel.  To answer the subject line of the OP, it was during a Bible study at a church about a year or so ago to a Buddhist.  The leader of the Bible study looked annoyed.  I think he didn't like other people speaking up.  I never met her outside that one Bible study and never saw her again.  I don't visit that church anymore. 

Like I said, everyone I know knows the Gospel as far as I can tell.  I didn't know her. 

No, I didn't ask her to make a decision for Christ.

 

[ALAYMAN]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

whoa...

I used to battle the Uber-Calvies on the OFFF quite a bit, mostly Chad Fletcher though but had some others jump on me as well. It is my opinion, though, that you are asking if anybody has prompted a decision to receive the gospel...not just if anybody has articulated it.

I am not totally against what some may even call "decisionism" but am against the use of gimmicks, pressure and sales closes to get the notch wherever where one prefers to put it!

I'm sort of an Uber-Calvie, in the sense that I'm also supralapsarian.  That doesn't mean I don't share the Gospel.  To answer the subject line of the OP, it was during a Bible study at a church about a year or so ago to a Buddhist.  The leader of the Bible study looked annoyed.  I think he didn't like other people speaking up.  I never met her outside that one Bible study and never saw her again.  I don't visit that church anymore. 

Like I said, everyone I know knows the Gospel as far as I can tell.  I didn't know her. 

No, I didn't ask her to make a decision for Christ.

Just curious, how did the conversation go?  Specifically, if she was a committed Buddhist, what kind of angle did she take answering the claims of the deity and exclusivity of Christ?

 

[Castor Muscular]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

whoa...

I used to battle the Uber-Calvies on the OFFF quite a bit, mostly Chad Fletcher though but had some others jump on me as well. It is my opinion, though, that you are asking if anybody has prompted a decision to receive the gospel...not just if anybody has articulated it.

I am not totally against what some may even call "decisionism" but am against the use of gimmicks, pressure and sales closes to get the notch wherever where one prefers to put it!

I'm sort of an Uber-Calvie, in the sense that I'm also supralapsarian.  That doesn't mean I don't share the Gospel.  To answer the subject line of the OP, it was during a Bible study at a church about a year or so ago to a Buddhist.  The leader of the Bible study looked annoyed.  I think he didn't like other people speaking up.  I never met her outside that one Bible study and never saw her again.  I don't visit that church anymore. 

Like I said, everyone I know knows the Gospel as far as I can tell.  I didn't know her. 

No, I didn't ask her to make a decision for Christ.

Just curious, how did the conversation go?  Specifically, if she was a committed Buddhist, what kind of angle did she take answering the claims of the deity and exclusivity of Christ?

I honestly don't recall much detail.  All I remember is she said she believes she has to be a good person.  To get to heaven?  She didn't actually say that, but I think that's what she meant.  She pretty much only talked about what she believes rather than about what I told her.  That much I remember.  That, and the fact that the leader seemed very territorial about his Bible study.

 

[Holy Mole]

Leave it to the Calvinuts to take a perfectly edifying thread about the real conversions of souls and turn it into sophomoric humor.  And of course those same sovereign grace champions don't share any actual witness encounters of their own.

whoa...

I used to battle the Uber-Calvies on the OFFF quite a bit, mostly Chad Fletcher though but had some others jump on me as well. It is my opinion, though, that you are asking if anybody has prompted a decision to receive the gospel...not just if anybody has articulated it.

I am not totally against what some may even call "decisionism" but am against the use of gimmicks, pressure and sales closes to get the notch wherever where one prefers to put it!

Where have I argued to pressure people into a decision?

The thread title is When was the last time you articulated the gospel to somebody? .  What evidence in this thread leads you to believe that I have advocated gimmicks and salesmanship?  And for the record, I do believe that in the evangelistic presentation that a person should attempt to "prompt a decision", as does the Scriptures....


2Co 5:11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Maybe you should back away from the computer......I never said you did.

Why are you taking these statement all personally? They were meant in general against those who practice an easy prayerism type gospel. I have no reason to believe that that is you.......sheesh.

 

[ALAYMAN]

I honestly don't recall much detail.  All I remember is she said she believes she has to be a good person.  To get to heaven?  She didn't actually say that, but I think that's what she meant.  She pretty much only talked about what she believes rather than about what I told her.  That much I remember.

Yeah, sounds predictable, especially the "be good" part.  Of course that sounds like the average American pagan in many respects too.  The part about her ignoring what you said and attempting to indoctrinate you is eerily similar to my lone experience with witnessing to a Buddhist.  It was one of the most frustrating experiences I've had.  Of course that episode was complicated by the fact that the guy was oriental, and apparently had limited English language skills, so there may have been something lost in translation.  I just remember him saying that Buddhism had been around longer than Jesus.

 

[Castor Muscular]

Oh, one more thing I remember.  I tried to play off the passage we were studying to launch into the Gospel.  But I can't remember what passage it was.  It was in the OT, though.