An Effective Witness.
I woke up this morning to have the day free from work and other such obligations. Finally some free time to sleep in, relax, and try to finally kick this cold... Only problem was, my tongue kept drying out so I couldn't sleep, my nose was far too congested to breathe anywhere but through my mouth and I had this nagging feeling that I could do much more for the kingdom of God.
I was certain that today, I must leave my comfort zone and try and do some sort of witnessing. I gathered together some fast facts on evolutionary history, some apologetic material, my bible, some tracts, a notebook, and hit the road. I figured I would go to the library and spark some intellectual debate. After all it's cold and windy out so I'd rather be in a controlled environment. However, upon arrival it was evident that they were closed. So I hung a ringo and started out toward the college in search of some analytical skeptics. Unfortunately they too, due to winter break have been dismissed for the week. So as opposed to turning tail in defeat I decided to head over to the freezing fishing pier to do some effective witnessing.
Upon arrival, it was noted that the temperature had fallen a good ten degrees and the wind had picked up from a breeze to a steady blow. It was cold, and hard to keep my papers together... I decided to take the notebook for effect and leave the rest behind. I approached the gate, paid my entrance fee, and asked the gate keeper if she would like to partake in my study of an individuals view on creation. She replied "You do not want to get me started on that". I whimsically replied "Ohhh yes, Indeed that is what I am here for."
She started out by declaring her atheism, and stating that the existence of people and life as a whole was a joke. She believed in evolution and "NO EXISTENCE OF GOD." I jotted down her reply on my notebook paper, and asked her to substantiate her belief in the theory of evolution. Realizing that she had no response to back her belief, I kindly suggested that this be her "faith". I inquired then of her faith, and asked "If faith, then why not faith in God". Her answers became more and more empty and her eyes became more attentive. She then declared that she didn't necessarily discredit God in existence but "had issues with God".
I sympathized with her as she went on about her objections with God. I asked her if she believed God was sitting back, pointing and laughing at her, in her misery? She was apprehensive to say that he was, so in seeing an opening I eased in the fact that God is good, and what he created was good. He created people with free will so that we would love him as opposed to creating a race of robots. All of what God created was good, but when we as a people abused our free will to live for ourselves we invited the absence of goodness (or evil) into the world. Sin entered the world as defiance to goodness, and exists as we "miss the mark" of God. I also drew acknowledgement to the fact that a good parent allows a child to experience pain to learn a lesson. I related to her parenthood as such an example, and that sometimes it's in relaying a lesson that we allow our children to go through unfortunate circumstances and this is evident in God as the father.
All of these points seemed to hit home with her. She stated that she had never looked at God from this perspective in the past, and that she was never raised to believe in any other way. I kindly extended my hand, asked her name and informed her that I was there for her in her understanding. I expressed that I could not show her the existence of God, for he himself has been attempting to do so since day one, and I am not God. Finally I asked her what would happen logically, if she were to take the phone out of her hand, smash it into tiny pieces, than bundle it all together in a bag, and shake it for 6 billion years. "Would you pull out a perfectly good cell phone and make a phone call, or would you have a bunch of little shaken up pieces?" We both shared a laugh, and she agreed she would have nothing more than a broken phone. I gave her some tracts and made it a point that I was in no way trying to be offensive to her belief system and I am in no way telling her that she needed God or that I myself am held to a holier than thou stature. I provided my phone number and a business card to my church and invited her warmly, if she so desired to seek the truth amongst all misdirection. She smiled, and was very warm. Entirely changed from the initial presupposed atheist she had first declared herself being.
This was just the first person I spoke to out of 3 more groups of people. Ranging from catholics, to cranky fishermen, to students. I did eventually get the intellectual debate I set out to have. However, I will not keep you from your families on this day viewing this post. Ask me and I will inform you in detail, for the debate was intellectual yet full of blind faith and vague reasoning. Consider it a victory for apologetics. You too may speak with authority when guided by the holy spirit. Just be open and willing to go where he wants you to, even if it leads you to a frozen fishing pier on a windy day while your nose is running constantly down your face. To God be the glory, in the highest heaven, forever and ever, Amen.
I was certain that today, I must leave my comfort zone and try and do some sort of witnessing. I gathered together some fast facts on evolutionary history, some apologetic material, my bible, some tracts, a notebook, and hit the road. I figured I would go to the library and spark some intellectual debate. After all it's cold and windy out so I'd rather be in a controlled environment. However, upon arrival it was evident that they were closed. So I hung a ringo and started out toward the college in search of some analytical skeptics. Unfortunately they too, due to winter break have been dismissed for the week. So as opposed to turning tail in defeat I decided to head over to the freezing fishing pier to do some effective witnessing.
Upon arrival, it was noted that the temperature had fallen a good ten degrees and the wind had picked up from a breeze to a steady blow. It was cold, and hard to keep my papers together... I decided to take the notebook for effect and leave the rest behind. I approached the gate, paid my entrance fee, and asked the gate keeper if she would like to partake in my study of an individuals view on creation. She replied "You do not want to get me started on that". I whimsically replied "Ohhh yes, Indeed that is what I am here for."
She started out by declaring her atheism, and stating that the existence of people and life as a whole was a joke. She believed in evolution and "NO EXISTENCE OF GOD." I jotted down her reply on my notebook paper, and asked her to substantiate her belief in the theory of evolution. Realizing that she had no response to back her belief, I kindly suggested that this be her "faith". I inquired then of her faith, and asked "If faith, then why not faith in God". Her answers became more and more empty and her eyes became more attentive. She then declared that she didn't necessarily discredit God in existence but "had issues with God".
I sympathized with her as she went on about her objections with God. I asked her if she believed God was sitting back, pointing and laughing at her, in her misery? She was apprehensive to say that he was, so in seeing an opening I eased in the fact that God is good, and what he created was good. He created people with free will so that we would love him as opposed to creating a race of robots. All of what God created was good, but when we as a people abused our free will to live for ourselves we invited the absence of goodness (or evil) into the world. Sin entered the world as defiance to goodness, and exists as we "miss the mark" of God. I also drew acknowledgement to the fact that a good parent allows a child to experience pain to learn a lesson. I related to her parenthood as such an example, and that sometimes it's in relaying a lesson that we allow our children to go through unfortunate circumstances and this is evident in God as the father.
All of these points seemed to hit home with her. She stated that she had never looked at God from this perspective in the past, and that she was never raised to believe in any other way. I kindly extended my hand, asked her name and informed her that I was there for her in her understanding. I expressed that I could not show her the existence of God, for he himself has been attempting to do so since day one, and I am not God. Finally I asked her what would happen logically, if she were to take the phone out of her hand, smash it into tiny pieces, than bundle it all together in a bag, and shake it for 6 billion years. "Would you pull out a perfectly good cell phone and make a phone call, or would you have a bunch of little shaken up pieces?" We both shared a laugh, and she agreed she would have nothing more than a broken phone. I gave her some tracts and made it a point that I was in no way trying to be offensive to her belief system and I am in no way telling her that she needed God or that I myself am held to a holier than thou stature. I provided my phone number and a business card to my church and invited her warmly, if she so desired to seek the truth amongst all misdirection. She smiled, and was very warm. Entirely changed from the initial presupposed atheist she had first declared herself being.
This was just the first person I spoke to out of 3 more groups of people. Ranging from catholics, to cranky fishermen, to students. I did eventually get the intellectual debate I set out to have. However, I will not keep you from your families on this day viewing this post. Ask me and I will inform you in detail, for the debate was intellectual yet full of blind faith and vague reasoning. Consider it a victory for apologetics. You too may speak with authority when guided by the holy spirit. Just be open and willing to go where he wants you to, even if it leads you to a frozen fishing pier on a windy day while your nose is running constantly down your face. To God be the glory, in the highest heaven, forever and ever, Amen.
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