The doorbell rings. You peek through the window to see that it’s two guys wearing white shirts and black ties holding pamphlets in their hands. Oh dear… it’s probably the Mormons, you think, or maybe it’s Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs). It doesn’t matter. You know what they claim isn’t true. So, you don’t answer the door.
Then the guilt sets in. You realize that you probably should have opened the door. You should have corrected their false ideas about God. So you pray, asking God to bring someone else into their lives to share the “real Good News” with them.
That is okay. Plenty of us have done the same thing. Please don’t feel like you’re a lousy Christian because you didn’t witness to them. Thank goodness, God is full of grace! Yet, imagine how good you’d feel if you actually did open the door and engage those people with the truth! Even if you don’t change their minds, you could be blessed by knowing that you planted a seed of truth, trusting that God can make it grow.
So, how can you plant seeds of truth without feeling too pushy, or not loving, or simply fearful of how the other person might respond?
Ask Questions!
Sometimes as Christians, we think that we must have all the answers. But we don’t! Instead, what we need to do is to ask questions. Just ask two basic questions. First, ask them: “What do you mean by that?” This is to clarify a point that they made, for example, on how to be saved. Once you understand how they view it, then ask another question: “How did you come to that conclusion?” You’d be surprised at how many people can’t answer that second question! Most don’t have any evidence to back up their claims of truth.
TWO BASIC QUESTIONS:
1. What do you mean by that?
2. How did you come to that conclusion?
If nothing else, questions may make them reflect on what they actually believe. From a friend who was involved in the JW cult, she mentioned that JWs are caught up in fear that if they aren’t a JW, they will not be saved. They are not critical thinkers, she explained, and good reasoning usually doesn’t work with them. So, sometimes all we can do is put a “pebble in their shoe”; in other words, ask a question that may bug them for a while to at least question their assumptions.
After you have asked them questions, you can tell them about what you know to be true salvation—through faith alone, by grace, in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It’s not a works-based thing, you tell them. The only thing required is faith in what Christ did for us. And don’t forget to tell them Jesus loves them – that’s the best part.
It helps to know these verses, but it’s not required that you memorize them when sharing your faith. Here are the Scripture verses that state we’re saved by grace alone:
- “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8)
- “… knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ … for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” (Galatians 2:16)
- “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:20,23)
What is Christianity & why is it true?
1. Faith based, not works-based.
2. Backed up by evidence, not just personal, subjective experiences.
After sharing what true Christianity is (that it’s not works-based but faith-based), then you can share how you know it’s true. Where is your evidence? Yes, share personal testimony but realize that many religions claim personal experiences, too. For example, Mormons often say they’ve had a “warming of the heart” sensation. So, although your testimony may be convincing to some, others may not be as convinced. Some just want facts. Again, don’t forget to tell them Jesus loves them – that’s the best part.
Just the facts, please.
What are those facts? The Canonized Bible is reliable!
#1. Biblical reliability. The Bible is the most attested (authentic) ancient historical book! It has thousands of manuscript copies that have been analyzed by historians and textual critics. This means that scholars go back to the oldest copies we have and then compare them to our modern-day translations to ensure accuracy.
The Jehovah Witnesses’ Bible, for example, is not translated accurately. The JWs use the New World translation. This is NOT considered a credible translation of the Scriptures by credible scholars and historians. Why? It’s because they have interpreted a few words differently, and these changes have radically changed its meaning. This is the main point you should know about the JWs: their “New World Bible” is not correctly translated.
And for those Mormons, well, it’s a similar issue. The Mormons use a Bible, BUT they also use the Book of Mormon, and that book is based on Joseph Smith’s personal, subjective experience/testimony. If you want to listen to a podcast on how to share with Mormons, Jim Wallace of Cold Case Christianity, has great resources on the topic. He also has an excellent cumulative case insert you can download here that shows why our “Canonized” Bible is the reliable one.
The canonized Bible is reliable. It is the eye-witness testimony of the people who lived during the time of Christ to testify to the truth of what they saw (Acts 4:20). The accounts were also written down when they could be corroborated with witnesses living back then. Paul states that over 500 people saw the Resurrected Jesus, and many were still alive when Paul wrote about it to verify the accounts (1 Cor. 15:6). They spoke the truth, and some were martyred for it.
Skeptics who state that Christianity is based on legends or myths do not recognize that these people had no motive to develop such an elaborate conspiracy. Generally, if conspiracies develop, it is because there is a reason to make something up; a motive for power, money, or sex. None of these motives apply to the first Christians. They simply reported on what they saw, and they often died powerless*, poor, and celibate. The first believers had no reason to make this stuff up. Anyway, if they were lying, don’t you think they would have recounted (when facing death because of their belief) to save their lives? But they did not.
Remember, it's important to base belief on evidence, not just personal experiences. Share on XAgan, tell them Jesus loves them – that’s the best part!
These are just some of the evidences that Christianity is true: it is based on eye-witness testimony of actual historical events written down in attested, ancient manuscripts. So, when you’re talking to someone about what they believe, remember it’s important to base belief on evidence, not just personal experiences. Let’s be honest… personal feelings can be misleading. Even though we all love those awesome “God moments,” those moments are individual experiences, and not everyone has them, nor can relate to them.
Christians need to understand the evidence when sharing their faith, and to stick to the facts, not just the feelings. Jesus never meant for us to believe in Him blindly, which is why He performed many miracles and left behind evidence of His life on Earth, including the impartation of the Holy Spirit (but that’s a subject for another blog post).
I am a recovering “feelings-based only” Christian. Not to make light of my awesome God-experiences, but in the 30 years I’ve been a Christian, it’s only in the past few years that I finally began to study the facts behind my feelings. Thankfully, I discovered that the facts back up my feelings; not all religions do. I know that Jesus loves me – that’s the best part!
Learn the facts. Ask questions. Plant seeds. And know that only God can make the seeds grow.
(* Powerless in a worldly sense.)
Wow! These suggestions are excellent. We have a number of Jehovah’s Witnesses that come through our neighborhood. We recently completed a small group study to learn more about how to effectively engage in a loving but truthful way. Your ideas are spot on! I am so grateful for your work on evidence-based faith as opposed to feelings-based faith because that is applicable to everyone in any situation. We have a better chance of helping people at least consider Christianity as a viable world view if we can offer something more than personal feelings alone. God bless you and your ministry!
Thanks, Melissa! If you use some of these tipes on the JWs in your neighborhood, I’d love to hear how it went! God bless you, Lisa Q
This. Is. Awesome. Lisa.
I love how you said at the end that you’re a recovering feelings-based only Christian! 😉 I think we need a balance in the Christian life of grace and truth; love and truth. Jesus never once compromised the truth in order to love people or point them to grace. Our faith can’t be based on our feelings, and as you so wonderfully said, we need to know the facts about our beliefs. We need to know why the Bible is a reliable source for when we need to back up what we say.
Because the two groups you mentioned have been well-trained and are well-versed in what they believe. Asking the questions you suggest is an awesome way to have a discussion with them.
I’ve read and studied a lot of writings by Josh McDowell (met him & went to his house) and Lee Strobel’s, The Case for Christ. They have powerful stories and testimonies of how they both came to Christ on a mission to prove that Christianity was false.
Thanks for this great post!
Thank you, Karen, for the thoughftul comments. Bless you! Lisa Q
TWO BASIC QUESTIONS:
1. What do you mean by that?
2. How did you come to that conclusion?
Those are simple questions and easily draw the one you’re talking to into a real conversation. The facts based evidence for the Scriitures that you shared is also solid and gives the opportunity for more good conversation. I appreciate the thoughtful methods you share with us. You help prepare us to be ready to give an account for our faith and to defend it. Thank you, Lisa!
Thanks, Melinda! I hope it helps.
These are great suggestions for conversations anywhere, not just with those who knock on our doors. I think especially the first 2 simple questions: What do you mean by that? How did you come to that conclusion? I can imagine how that 2nd question can be a real conversation starter, even if they don’t really have an answer. Thank you for this post. It represents very practical apologetics.
Yeah, that 2nd question often stumps people but at least it will make them think more deeply about the views they hold. Thanks for the comment!
I love the idea of using questions when sharing our faith. And not just with those that arrive at our door. We can use the same technique with those we share with too. It is a good way to begin a conversation with an unbelieving friend. We don’t need all the answer but we can search together to get them.
Good point. We should use the questions technique with others we meet along the way, either in our workplace or neighborhoods. Thanks, Yvonne!
I have felt that way many times when the doorbell rang and, yes, the guilt soon followed. Good blog post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yeah, I’ve avoided it too. I think I wrote this blog to just encouage myself! (Ha ha ha)
Love the practicality of this post! Real suggestions for real life. Plus I really like that you are encouraging engaging in a conversation with those who have the views that are different from ours. So often when we share our faith we just want to preach on people, but it is so vital to ask questions to allow the other party to expand on their position, which not only shows our respect (which we should have even if we disagree) but also opes it to more questions and discussions.
Yeah… today’s culture of divisional views is one in which many have forgotten how to listen to the other side. We must listen and then perhaps we’ll be heard. Thanks, Galina!
Hello Lisa
It is a brilliant idea to ask questions – the best way to influence and persuade someone is by asking good questions and listening – as Stephen Covey said = Seek 1st to understand and then to be understood.
Having opened many a door to the Saturday Crew, I’ve enjoyed posing questions and comparing text.
Thank you for explaining this approach so well
Thanks, Bob!
Dear Lisa!
I really liked what you wrote here:
“Sometimes as Christians, we think that we must have all the answers. But we don’t!”
Often we, the Christians, are scared of asking the relevant questions. And often we’re not open to the solutions we need.
You made a great point there.
While reading your blog post another thought came to me; I’d like to phrase it as a question:
Is it a great approach to people, assuming that our beliefs are the right ones when it comes to non-empirical knowledge?
My own answer is no. But I’m not sure what your audience, and you, think? 🙂
I’m appreciating the differences we see among Christians in the online community. Some do a great job referring to the Bible in discussion, some (inclusive myself) don’t use that technique – I don’t use it because, as I’ve said earlier on your blog, I see it as one of the most dangerous activities for the continuation of Christianity to use Bible-verses as proof of anything – that’s not the way we read today.
I acknowledge that the Bible is God’s word, but I disagree highly with the approach many take to the Bible, and its use.
I think we lose opportunities to explore interesting elements of Christianity if we get obsessed with the idea to prove that Christianity is true (sorry for saying that to an Apologetic 🙂 I don’t expect an understanding of this point of view from you guys 🙂
As always, what I appreciate with your blog is that it makes me reflect, it has an edge, which invites to reflective commenting.
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Thanks, Edna, for a great comment and question.
You ask if it’s a “great approach… assuming our beliefs are the right ones when it comes to Non-empirical knowledge.” I don’t think that is a good approach at all. As Christians, we should point to the empirical evidence, not the subjective experiences, (i.e. non-empirical). Everyone has various experiences with moods, emotions, dreams, and visions, and so it’s best not to place trust in those kinds of “evidences.” Feelings are not a reliable source of objective truth; they only serve to be a personal truth for the individual, but we should not apply those non-empirical experiences to all people.
I’m glad that you acknowledge that the Bible is God’s Word, but I am not sure what disagreement you have to what approach? If you could clarify that, I’d be better able to address it specifically. Generally, however, the reason I defend it is to show how the Bible is unlike other religious books, and to set it apart as special. It’s important to do that because the Bible is under a lot of attack these days from scholars and others who think the Bible is full of errors or is contradictory in nature. If the Bible is not reliable, then how can we know much about Jesus? That is why it is important to know it is a reliable document from a secular point of view, and not just tell people “for the Bible tells me so!” That does not cut it in today’s skeptical culture – they don’t believe the Bible is the Word of God.
Bless you!
Lisa Q
Those biologist arguing that love can be reduced to a biochemical response do not understand the problem, but you’re right; many claim that to be true.
I’m not sure, or better I am SURE that reason is not the best way, as I see it, to convince non-believers. The reason I think this is because I see faith, religion, Christianity etc. as belonging to another category 🙂
I liked the example with your brother.
Another perspective on that would be that many scientists have severe difficulties to accept scientific limits, and thoughts that cannot be led back to rationality.
In short: Selling the gospel works exactly the same way as any other form of selling. It doesn’t involve much reason, but a lot of feelings.
Reason comes in secondly, but almost never in the initial phase 🙂
But let’s agree to disagree, I love that.
With love!
Edna Davidsen
Hey Edna,
Does faith and reason have to be one or the other? Why not combine the two and see that they can, in fact, be compatible? Just my 2-cents.
Bless you,
Lisa Q
I liked what you said about evidence at the beginning of your comment, especially what to exclude.
You asked what disagreement I have with the approach. I think my disagreement would relate to the way many Christians read the Bible. John X says Y; therefore Z is true.
Furthermore, I do not see any problem in the fact that the Bible is put together of different writings etc., and that something was excluded in that process. To me, that’s not an argument against the Bible being God’s word.
Furthermore, I doubt the whole project of ‘proving the Bible’ or ‘God’s existence’ – I don’t need proof, and I question the validity of proving something with logic that’s outside of what I consider as a rational category.
If I should translate that into everyday language, it would be just as meaningless as trying to prove that love exists.
You said the Bible is unlike other religious books. Agree, to me the difference is in the message.
You mentioned the discussion about possible contradictions in the Bible related to natural science. This is a point where I’m embarrassed by how many Christians try to ‘defend’ the Bible.
All this can be avoided if we acknowledge that God’s word belongs to another category.
I think it’s idiotic to deny contradictions in the Bible, but they’re not a problem if we read the Bible as we read other books. The allegorical reading method has proven by far to be the most used reading method in the Western world.
I know some, many?, Christians say Jesus walked on water, because ‘the Bible says so’ – those kinds of arguments do not help Christianity. They’re a result of an outdated reading method, just as all these Bible verses, which are taken out of context.
To me, the Bible is the most reliable book in the world, because it has so many relevant messages about almost any situation in life.
Many Christians see it as a huge problem when Historians and other scientist point to interesting elements related to how the Bible became the Bible. I don’t see this as a treat; rather I see it as very interesting, and not something we should fear.
Those were my thoughts today 🙂
Edna Davidsen
Hi Edna,
God bless you for challenging me – in a good, constructive way, of course! I hear you about how many variations there are to interpreting the Bible. You are correct in that one person may see something in a different way than another. But that goes for almost everything in life, from books, to colors, to food tastes, etc. Yet, there are some things within the Bible that are clear-cut and little variation in interpretation is needed. Like who Jesus is – it’s clear He is the Messiah. But, I guess it’s not that clear to everyone because then everyone would be believers. So yeah… it is a bit of a challenge, but one many Biblical scholars are up for! I love reading from the old church fathers and the wisdom I can glean from their studies and observations. It’s like a layering process – one learns a little, and then another comes and adds to that knowledge, etc.
I like your analogy about proving that love exists. I use that to show how the worldview of Naturalism (one that believes that only material things exist) is false. If only material things exist, then what is love? Is it a mere biochemical response to stimuli? Even though some biologists could argue that point, I think most people know from common sense (which is also immaterial) that love is not something you can put into a test tube of scientific inquiry.
You said you don’t need proof for God’s existence, either. That is a blessing of faith! But many don’t have that kind of faith, and so showing them some of the reasons why it’s more plausible to believe in God than not, apologetics a good thing for those who are not as blessed as you. I know my brother, who is a scientist, struggles with faith in the unseen. So, I like apologetics because it helps people (like my brother), and if nothing else, it shows him that my faith is not just blind faith. As my writing attempts to point out, there are good reasons to believe in a Creator who designed all of this.
The allegorical reading of the Bible is good for certain verses in the Bible, but not all of it. The Bible is actually a proven historical document. Many of the cities and names of people listed in it, for example, have been found in archaelogical site excavations. So, it’s not a pure allegory. That is what makes reading the Bible more difficult. People need to understand the various books in the Bible are different literary genres, from historical, to poetic, to eye-witness testimonies. And it’s not written like a novel in chronilogical order. So when reading the Bible, all these things need to be taken under consideration for the best comprehension of the text.
Thank for your thoughts – I love engaging with you in this discussions.
Bless you,
Lisa Q