Comments | anti_nietzsche: no shame in being a christian

anti_nietzsche

no shame in being a christian

Mar 23, 2011 07:19

Last week's Monday I made a bad mistake. It was the first day in the clinic, and I was introducing myself to the other patients in my group. I told some things about myself and then I mentioned that I am a christian. But then I remembered how some people don't esteem christianity and made the remark that I am able to shut my mouth if people are not ( Read more... )

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pastorlenny March 23 2011, 06:23:16 UTC

I think it's silly to tell people upfront that one is a Christian. It has no positive relation to being a witness. In fact, just the opposite.

pastorlenny March 24 2011, 00:59:54 UTC

Yeah, those are letters to the churches. That has nothing to do with "othering" non-Christians as soon as you meet them -- which is a really bad move.

What might be better is to look at actual narrative in scripture -- such as the way Paul deals with the guys on Mars Hill in Acts.

honeygirl1946 March 24 2011, 01:03:34 UTC

I don't know what "othering" means. Please enlighten me :)

I will look at Acts tomorrow. Thanks.

pastorlenny March 24 2011, 01:14:16 UTC

It's saying "I'm different from you." And, when one introduces oneself as a Christian, it is generally heard as "I am a good person bearing the light -- and you are not."

It's a bit like saying to someone "Hi, I'm college-educated" or "My name is Lenny, and I'm from a well-to-do family."

If one really is a Christian, the best idea is to let that show through over time through credible demonstrations of God's life living in one's heart. It also might be good to listen to and understand people first. That's what Jesus did.

I mean, He didn't go up to the Samartian woman and say "Hello. I'm Jesus, your Savior."

honeygirl1946 March 24 2011, 01:28:12 UTC

Thanks, Lenny. I get it, and it does make sense. That is how it has worked in my life. As I get to know people, if we are Christians, we will find out without announcing it to each other. And if they are in need of the Gospel, that becomes apparent as well.

Why did Paul announce himself the way he did ?

pastorlenny March 24 2011, 01:56:19 UTC

Paul did not castigate ot "other" the pagans of Mars Hill because he had wisdom. :)

honeygirl1946 March 24 2011, 02:09:18 UTC

Ah... Tomorrow's Reading - Acts. Thanks, Lenny. Goodnight.

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