tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18850707.post115423779447130265..comments2020-07-21T02:21:14.736+12:00Comments on Wellington Boots: Your mission should you choose to accept itJames Allawayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01488108384590758048noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18850707.post-1154509908718232632006-08-02T21:11:00.000+12:002006-08-02T21:11:00.000+12:00Hi James,that distinction is really helpful. I rec...Hi James,<BR/>that distinction is really helpful. I reckon that being provocative is also good. The litmus test is always that of "am I loving the person?" - I cringe when I think of occasions when I didn't care about the person. <BR/>Nevertheless it's still possible to be provocative <I>and</I> loving. The person knows that you have a clear opinion, but it's expressed in a winsome way.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13194661508498825103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18850707.post-1154324681980050802006-07-31T17:44:00.000+12:002006-07-31T17:44:00.000+12:00Hi Sam,Thanks for the encouragement and suggestion...Hi Sam,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the encouragement and suggestions (I've added a couple more thoughts to the post which I had last night). I can see where you are coming from but my concern is that "I don't care" becomes a means to shut down or avoid conversation. I would make a distinction between people who are busy (time & place issues/need to get to the librbay types) and people who are apathetic.<BR/><BR/>It is an example that is used many times I know but Jesus is quiet blunt with the samaritan women in John 4. Some people need to be challenged and I am beginning to wonder whether some times it is okay and necesarry to be a bit more provocative.James Allawayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01488108384590758048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18850707.post-1154280508781309692006-07-31T05:28:00.000+12:002006-07-31T05:28:00.000+12:00Hi James, I came to your blog via Andy's and keep ...Hi James, <BR/>I came to your blog via Andy's and keep coming back! I wanted to just comment on the question you posed - what do we do when people say "I don't care". This is something which I think about too. It's easier to write a talk entitled "why you should care" but in most conversations, it's not possible to give a talk. Perhaps one way is to have a set of clear arguments as to why one should care, and then to ask the person if they would listen.<BR/><BR/>A way of awakening interest is to be autobiographical and say: "I used to think that Christianity was boring and fraudulent too", and then stop there. If they are not interested, then they will say so.<BR/><BR/>Beyond that I don't think it's right to pressure people; not because the message isn't important enough, but because the God-ordained means are "with gentleness and respect." People experience evangelism as a form of religious advertising. Just like they don't want a new mobile contract right now, they feel like they don't want a religion right now. Getting to the library is more important.<BR/><BR/>I haven't got an answer. Perhaps we need to think of ways of reaching people who don't have time and don't care which meet them at the times when they are relaxed and interested - literature and web evangelism - banners on student websites.. beer mats in the student bar. Jesus went to the synagogues first, Paul went to the Areopagus - I believe we're meant to be creative and think hard about people's social behaviour and use it for the gospel. But at the end of the day, it is God's mission, and is seeking lost sheep.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13194661508498825103noreply@blogger.com