DaveH wrote: > IF you knew that denigrating the Koran would cause some > Muslims to riot and kill other innocent bystanders, would > you continue using obnoxious techniques to preach to the > Muslims? I think that is the question facing many journalists > this week, and I thought it would be interesting to pose it on > TT to a SP.
In regards to the Muslims responding to that article in Newsweek by rioting and killing: this response on their part reveals their barbaric and ungodly nature. Do we keep handling them with kid gloves? How much accomodation becomes facilitating their evil nature? Let me give you a little insight into the mind of this street preacher (me). I realize that preaching and teaching the unadulterated truth would cause people to riot and kill innocent people. Therefore, I temper what I say to try and give only what they can handle. At the same time, I have a calling to stretch people toward hearing that truth. Therefore, sometimes people do lash out, and I do not temper my message only because of that. Sometimes it is their lashing out that later causes the to realize the error of their ways. So the answer to you question is that temperance in delivery of truth is always practiced by me, but negative responses alone are not the deciding factor on whether or not to push an issue. I can give you one example concerning Muslims. If I were to teach that Mohammed is a false prophet, Muslims get VERY upset. Most of the time, I am not that blunt with them because I know they can't handle it. I will deal with other issues first. But sometimes I think it needs to be said, and so I may push this issue. There is some calculation about delivery concerning whether or not the offense of their indoctrination will be offset by their ability to hear what I am trying to communicate. Sometimes establishing some kind of dialogue helps temper an adverse reaction to blunt truth later. Here is another example concerning homosexuality. I believe that homosexuality is a capital offense and deserves the death penalty. The problem is that bringing this point out right up front might hinder any further teaching because the homosexual advocates find this idea so foreign that they will not hear anything else that would be said. I remember one young man at the University of Central Florida who was doing graduate work in Anthropology. We had talked for hours one-on-one in between some of my preaching. He enjoyed my science background and perspectives, and seemed to develop an interest in exploring the Bible more because of our common ground in academics. He admitted to being completely ignorant of the Bible and I provoked him not to ignore this important book as he pursues his studies. However, someone told him that I believed homosexuals should be executed, and he asked me about that, being rather upset. I explained my affirmative answer to him, but he simply could not handle that one bit of belief that I had. It disgusted him and he seemed upset with himself for having enjoyed our earlier conversations. He no longer wanted anything to do with me. I will still share this truth of Torah, that homosexuals should be executed, but I also calculate when and how to share such things to minimize the offense that others might have. The problem is that if I completely shut up because people can't handle it, then society will grow worse and worse. We cannot be silent. We have to live with the fact that teaching truth and preaching Christ will offend the wicked. There is no way around it. We will be persecuted and innocent people will get hurt. Our solace comes in understanding that God will judge the wicked for these evil deeds. We will be commended by God for standing up for the truth despite the adverse reactions. 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.
