Although
Mr. Miller is correct there are those who believe that blogging may
eventually go the way of the internet chat room and fade into
insignificance. If or until it does it holds the single greatest
potential for evangelism thorough the media since the advent of
television.
It has been said that if a college professor could
knock down the faith of a person in their freshman year, it wasn't much
faith to begin with. What is being thrown against Christianity on the
internet today makes the anti-Christian ranting of secular college
professors look tame. If you are going to march into that lions den
there are some important preparations that should be made first.
Although
it may sound a little too rudimentary the same rules applied to one on
one witnessing in real time applies to internet sharing. First know your
bible. If you are new to the faith then at the very least keep a
topical bible and a good exhaustive concordance around to supplement
what you don't know too well. Looking up pertinent passages will only
sharpen your bible skills in other areas of the Christian life.
Secondly,
stay prayed up. If you enter the blogs with a carnal attitude you will
be knocked off your guard quickly. Even worse you may resort to
answering in "the flesh." This will be sensed immediately by blog
respondents and will do harm to your witness. Ask God to always let your
replies be given in love and don't forget common decency and respect
for others at all times. Remember there is no offense in love and there
is no defense against it.
Thirdly, learn to depend on God's Holy
Spirit first and your wit, knowledge and all else last. Ask God to be in
you choice of answers and he will be. I could say it no better than
this..." take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be
given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Mt 10:
19-20
Fourthly, stay focused. If you are easily offended or if you
need to answer every little quip or reply that is made you will get
entangled at the speed of bloggercrash and you may not recover. The
gospel stands by itself. Jesus Christ died for sinners and rose from the
dead and is willing to take anyone into his Kingdom with a repentant
heart, this is the heart of the gospel. Regardless of what is said all
roads must lead to that point if your witness is to have any effect at
all.
Remember if your going to blog that all blogs are not created
equal. Christian blogs are where believers can find some fellowship
with like minds and perhaps learn valuable things to supplement their
faith. Other blogs are like war zones and can get out of hand quickly.
If for instance you decide to attend to political sites keep in mind
that some people think God and politics don't mix. They may believe that
partisan politics holds all the answers quite apart from God's word or
his commandments. These sites are not for the novice or the squeamish.
Choose your blogs carefully.
There is a point when saying nothing
says the most. Some sites are always lavished with heightened vitriol,
abusive and foul language and personal attacks. It is my belief that
these sites should be generally avoided. We can't forget Christ's
admonition to give our best witness to those who are at least listening
and who may respond. To wit; "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,
neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under
their feet, and turn again and rend you." Mt 7:6
Never forget that
we are not called to defend the gospel but only to proclaim it. Muslims
think they need to hurt or kill anyone who speaks a negative word about
the prophet Muhammad but Christ doesn't need any defense, he has
already overcome the world. (Jn. 16:33)
Another point Christians
must keep in mind is that when entering a heated discussion and taking
on either an offensive or a defensive position you have left the realm
of proclamation and entered into debate. Some debate is useful but
endless debate is not productive. The apostle Paul rebuked the
Christians at Corinth for engaging in useless debates. (2 Cor. 12:20)
Paul also said that endless debating was one of the hallmarks of the
unregenerate and disobedient. (Ro. 1:29)
If you have no skill at
sharing your faith you may want to get some. Google "Ray Comfort" and
take a look at what one of today's top evangelists has to say about
sharing the gospel. Some of Ray Comfort's methods may seem unusual but
they are among the most effective witnessing tools available in today's
climate of Christian bashing, hyper liberalism and pseudo intellectually
driven self justification.
The nature of witnessing is changing
as the last days approach. When you quote scripture or share your faith
you are drawing a line. The unbeliever doesn't fully understand what
that line is but they know it is being drawn.
If they ponder what
you say or if they already agree with it that is one thing but if
rejected it may be interpreted as judgment or a criticism against them.
One statement that occurs with great frequency on the blogs is "why do
Christians always try to shove their religion down our throats." The
most gentle and articulately presented scripture or personal viewpoint
can be seen this way. It takes more than language skills to know when
and where to say something it takes Holy Spirit powered discernment. Got
discernment?
Most blogs are an endless melee of opinions and when
someone comes into them quoting scripture the tone changes. You have
interjected an absolute that is often interpreted as too authoritarian
in nature. In fact, that's just what it is. No one should be ashamed or
reticent to quote scripture but it helps if you possess some fundamental
skills in diplomacy. Author Cullen Hightower said "Wisdom is what's
left when we've run out of personal opinions." We need not worry that
Americans will ever run out of opinions. Scripture is not an opinion and
it will never run out of wisdom.
Although blogs are not generally
the place for full personal testimonies of our conversion experiences
you may be able to get some or part of it told under the right
conditions. People will argue a point to the death but personal stories
are hard to argue with. In fact I might say that Americans are far more
open to personal experiences than any other people in the world. How you
met or came to know God is your most powerful tool in the end. It all
boils down to a saying I have spoken and quoted for over 40 years now.
"A man with an experience is never at the mercy of a man with an
argument"
Personally I rarely answer the blogs or the remarks made
about my articles. My approach is similar to Pontius Pilate's who is
noted for saying...What I have written I have written. (Jn. 19:22) The
times are calling for a more prophetic message than the previous general
calls of evangelists. Perhaps John said it best in the revelation of
Jesus Christ given to him while exiled on the isle of Patmos. "He that
is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be
filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and
he that is holy, let him be holy still." (Rev. 2:11)
No comments:
Post a Comment