John wrote: > Let me get this straight. It is because this was > your first public message that you have trouble >seeing "friendship evangelism" there? Huh?
The point is that this passage, Is. 58, exposed to me how "friendship evangelism" was not enough. Up to that point in time, that is all I did. It was safe and comfortable. Public preaching is not. John wrote: > First, "friendship evangelism" is something Judy T > made up -- not me. I actually never use the expression. It is a term used by many Protestants to denote evangelism through friendship rather than preaching. Many churches give classes and seminars in "Friendship Evangelism," even though the Bible teaches us that God chose to use the foolishness of preaching to save the lost. If you don't understand what "Friendship Evangelism" is, then that would explain why you did not understand my comments about Is. 58. John wrote: > Isa 58:9-11 needs to be read by everyone on this forum > - especially the KJV (in this case, the most poetic of all > the translations). The passage presents one who is searching, > searching, searching for his God. The search is over, for > the sake of this passage, as one pours himself out for the > afflicted and gives himself to the hungry. If you don't see > the connection -- stop preaching. ............... immediately. I think you need to back up and read the chapter from the beginning. I see NOBODY searching for God in this passage. Isaiah is rebuking hypocrite religion. He is rebuking those who think God wants them to fast, and he tells them that the true fast is to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, to break every yoke, to share bread with the hungry, to bring the poor cast out into your own home, to give clothing to the poor, to not hide oneself from their close relatives. Then, if they did these things, they would find God. That is the point. Those willing to SACRIFICE THEMSELVES, to deny self, these are the ones who will find God. Some religious people think if they go without food twice a week that makes them close to God, but Isaiah here rebukes them, telling them to bring the homeless into their own home and sacrifice their personal privacy, to take time out to go to the park and feed the hungry and bring them clothing, etc. It tells them to break the bands of iniquity, which is done by firm rebuke (I learned this by the example of Jesus). This passage rebukes HYPOCRISY head on. It rebukes FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM. It teaches in its place a philosophy of emptying oneself for the poor and the wicked, and making sacrifices. If I were to teach any friendship evangelism class these principles and then try and have them all do it, the class would empty out within just a few weeks. They would all quit. Friendship evangelism teaches a different approach. It teaches you to invite your neighbor over for coffee and watch a movie together. You don't rebuke your neighbor. You make friends with him. Friendship evangelism is a way of building social clubs, not building the kingdom of God. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
