Fraternising with outsiders
Wednesday, 11 August, 2004
Lately I've been having quite a bit of contact with outsiders (this is what Paul calls them and I don't exactly like the word “non-Christian”). There was that girl that Amanda and I met doing walk-up on the Duckpond lawn who was keen to read the Bible with us and think some more about who Jesus is. She met with us last week and we did one study from Mark and she's keen to meet up with us again. And there are the people who have been coming along to Introducing God which is being run by my church Bible study group, using the DVDs that Dominic gave me as a thankyou present for creating the site. During the discussions or the studies, I'm always amazed at how much these outsiders seem to agree with what has been said or written. They don't have a problem with it. They think God is being perfectly fair and just. It's not something they feel they have to argue against. That really surprised me. Really, it shouldn't, for God calls various people to himself in their own time. I guess I was surprised because it's the first time I've ever witnessed it. And I'm very grateful that God has given me the opportunity to see him at work with my own eyes. I'm seeing more and more that evangelism is a process; nobody says they want to become a Christian after they've heard 2 Ways to Live for the first time. But they might after hearing 2 Ways to Live several times, attending a couple of Bible talks, having heated discussions with various Christian friends. Dominic's comparison of “blind date, will you marry me on the first night”-style evangelism and a gentle relational take-your-time approach really strikes a chord with me. I know I'm not a natural evangelist the way that some of my Christian friends are. I'm not one of those people who ends up in all sorts of interesting conversations all the time and leads lots of people to Christ. But I do know that I can play my part in other ways—a conversation here, an invitation (even if it's refused) there, a choicely-picked phrase dropped here or there. It's nice to know that God does all the growing, not me, and that he uses my weaknesses. God-willing, these people will turn to Christ. Maybe I will have the privilege of witnessing God at work in that too.
Current:
Bible: Isaiah (ESV) 28/09/2010
seen: Tropic Thunder 26/09/2010
seen: The Life of Mammals 24/09/2010
seen: What a Girl Wants 19/09/2010
seen: Jerry Maguire 19/09/2010
seen: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 06/09/2010
seen: Tomorrow Never Dies 05/09/2010
seen: Nanny McPhee 28/08/2010
read: Mercury (Hope Larson) 27/08/2010
read: Spellcheckers Vol 1 (Jamie S Rich, Nicolas Hitori de, Joelle Jones) 16/08/2010
read: Solipsistic Pop Vol 2 (Solipsistic Pop) 16/08/2010
read: Chiggers (Hope Larson) 15/08/2010
seen: Josie and the Pussycats 14/08/2010
seen: Mr & Mrs Smith 14/08/2010
seen: Step Up 2 13/08/2010
Blinks:
How to recalibrate the home button on your iPhone.
Unsolicited manuscripts accepted by Pan Macmillan with certain conditions.
Thought Balloon is a group blog in which the writers tackle a new theme every week? month? with one-page scripts. This URL is for their Phonogram ones.
How to sew a zipper on a knitted garment.
Issues organised by tale.
Online magazine that publishes fairy tales that are not reworkings of old tales.
Journal that publishes fairy tale writing.
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Other comments
I don’t like the term “outsiders” - I think non-Christian reflects more that they don’t follow Christ! But hey we can disagree! I’m looking forward to Yum Cha with you!
On another thing, I don’t know where my blog has gone? Oh where, oh where, is it?
I like the term that a guy I went to uni with used…not-yet-Christian
Disagree with Paul, not me:
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (1 Cor. 5:12)
“Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say ‘lAmen’ to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?” (1 Cor. 14:16)
“If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all ... ” (1 Cor. 14:23-24)
“Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.” (Col. 4:5)
“... so that you may live properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” (1 Thes. 4:12)
“Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” (1 Tim. 3:7)
The Greek word is “exo” which, according to Vine’s, basically means “outside”. I wonder if it picks up on the idea from 2 Thessalonians 1:9 about being shut out from God’s presence.
George, where has your blog gone???
Fixed it by choosing new template. When I get a chance I’ll update my links - but it’s back.
And good point about Paul using it. I still don’t like it but that’s just me I guess