| Greetings!
Clues about sharing the Good News come from our reading of Scripture, the influence of the Holy Spirit, interactions we have with those who don't share our faith, and even The Eleven Twelve Project. In fact, we're devoting this issue of our newsletter to the Good News Clues uncovered in the Drama on Craigslist.
You'll finally get to hear how the story ended, if in fact it did, in the last installment of Drama on Craigslist. In the Confidence Builders section, we'll review of some of the ideas we've heard from readers, and in Training Tools, I'll suggest a couple of practical principals from what we've learned. Finally, in my closing notes, I'll lay out a conclusion from the discussion so far.
So keep your detective gear on, tune up your thinking processes, say a prayer (highly recommended), and dive into The Eleven Twelve Project.
Sincerely,
Scott McIntyre
Share the Savior:
Someone You Love Needs Him |
| Good News Clues | |
Drama on Craigslist - Part V - How the Story Ends
March 3, 2006, in reply to my 'ad' on Craigslist directing people to an online article about the Christian message of Easter, I received this email.
Jesus is a myth, just like the Easter Bunny. Please stop posting your crap on Craigslist, you're not getting my money.
That was the complete message...short and to the point. I had no earthly reason to expect that anything would come from replying to him, but I did anyway. My reply definitely could have been the end of the story or perhaps the start of a war. It wasn't. In fact, the story is still being written. Here's how I responded.
You'll get no argument from me about your opinion of Jesus being a myth. Not because I agree with you but I accept your right to hold that opinion. I do have a question though. It's hard for me to relate to your statement since as an adult, I've never doubted Christ's existence so I was wondering...how did you reach your conclusion that Jesus was a mythical figure?
It took me almost 9 days to send that response, and his reply came back the same day.
Hello Scott, I appreciate your adult approach in this matter, most posters on Craiglist would be yelling or screaming. Since you're not screaming, I'll answer your question as best I can.
He posted a rather lengthy explanation of his spiritual background, which prompted questions in my mind. I asked if we might address some of those questions and he declined. After finding out we were about the same age, I switched gears and went in a different direction.
If we're not going to continue our spiritual discussion (and I haven't given up hope of that), how about I add you to my address book and fire off an email a couple of times a year to say hi? Who knows, we might become friends as we head into old age together.
I was pleasantly surpirsed by his answer.
We can chat/discuss some more, it won't hurt anything, and I can always use another friend.
Twenty-five days had elapsed between "Jesus is a myth...stop posting your crap..." and "We can chat...I can always use another friend". I think God must have been at work in my new 'friends' life; I know He was in mine. |
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Confidence Builders |  In the Classroom of God
We are enrolled in Evangelism 101 at the University of Love and Good Deeds. Knowing exactly what each day's curriculum should include, it is not uncommon for God to call on one of His many teaching assistants (any person He chooses), to share what He wants you and I to learn. God's TA's have been busy researching Good News clues regarding the Drama on Craigslist, and I want to feature some of them here. - Feed Them Potato Chips - Being honestly curious about someone's
disbelief of Christ is disarming and leaves a good taste in their spirit, like the right amount of salt in a meal.
- Don't Throw Salt at Them - Saying to that same person, "How can you not believe in Jesus?" is
more like pouring salt on an open wound., than giving them something
salty to eat.
- Antagonism is Not a Spiritual Gift - It's perfectly understandable why a non-Christian would be antagonistic toward God, they're at enmity with Him. But the Bible tells us we should be respectful in sharing our faith.
- Fools Rush In - Time after time people who heard about the Drama on Craigslist, told me they would pray before ever responding to the post. Our natural inclination all to often is to 'let them have it' when confronted by a critic of our Jesus. If we yield to that temptation, we will probably fail to love. Pray first!
- Their Thoughts Count - What you know you mean is only part of the communication equation. How they interpret what you say or how you say it, can be just as critical. Take some time to frame your comments in a way that acknowledges their world view.
- Choose Your Words Carefully - It's much harder to retract something in today's age of instant communication than it is to say it right the first time. Be slow to speak!
Perhaps my friend on Craigslist was acting as one of God's teaching assistants to some of us when he said, "I appreciate your adult
approach...since you're not screaming, I'll answer your question." Remember, as we speak the truth in love, may our words be seasoned with the right amount of salt; salt that God might use to make the listener thirst for Living Water. |
| Training Tools |  Pick Up the Principle
April 27th of this year, I emailed my friend, and he replied the next
day. It had been October, 2006 that I'd last heard from him, so there
was lots of catching up to do. Since our initial contact, he's told me
of his hobbies, retirement plans, health issues in his family, and a
lot about where he is spiritually.
That's Practical Principal #1 - Evangelism is more about People
than it is a Process. I'm called to love people, and when I do, I'll
stick around even if they aren't loving me back. When they demonstrate a
need that I'm able to meet, I'll bend over backward to help. Along the
way, it's possible that God will allow me the privilege of being part
of His plan to draw them toward Christ.
I've learned a lot from
the exchanges with my Craigslist friend, and even more trying to figure
out what would be appropriate to say, and how and when to say it. And
that leads me to Practical Principal #2 - Evangelism is as much about
God teaching us as it is Him reaching others. Our entire life should be
spent learning to love others like Jesus did. |
A Final Word
| We bruise easily. Our feelings can be hurt, and we can react by trying
to protect ourselves. We also reach conclusions about people based on how the treat us.
My discussion partner on Craigslist, who thought Jesus was a myth and that I was posting crap, concluded that I was not like the other yellers and screamers he was used to. It opened him up to continuing our conversation, and lead to our 'friendship'.
But what if I'd answered him like this..."Jesus
isn't a myth, he's God's Son and the only way people can be saved,
and there's no law that says I can't post that on Craigslist." I could rightly conclude that such a reply was truthful, but more importantly, would he conclude it was loving?
As the Drama on Craigslist draws to a close, here's the conclusion I've reached. Love is the most important ingredient in a Christian's evangelism recipe. It tells us how to act, what to say, and when to just listen. It doesn't guarantee we'll always be accepted or respected, but it does insure we'll be following the Father's will, and it means we'll hang in there with people who aren't God loving, sold out followers of Jesus.
I love this man, and want him to receive the gift of faith from my Father, that will enable us to spend eternity together. That's the ending I'm hoping and praying for.
Sincerely, Scott McIntyre Share the Savior |
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Review the Drama on Craigslist | |
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| Pause and Consider |  |
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If people point their hypocrisy radar at you, what reading will they get? |
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