Quote:
Originally posted by AGDee
There are definitely ways to go about it and ways to not go about it. The person who I admire most in this area is from my kids' church. She runs the youth choir and babysits my kids when they are on summer break and school breaks. She LIVES Christianity more than anybody I know. She gives service to so many, houses missionaries who are in town for short periods, is non-judgmental of others, and extends a helping hand to anybody who needs it whenever she can. She evangelizes through lifestyle and truly is an inspiration to many, without ever criticizing others.
|
When I think about what a "true Christian" is, it's the description you gave of your friend. To me, it's about being good to other people--not telling everyone how good you are. It's about treating people how you would like to be treated. As I get older, I find that fewer and fewer people are Christians in the sense of performing good deeds. Jesus, according to what the Bible says, opened his heart to everybody--including society's outcasts.
I've had terrible experiences with people evangelizing to me. In (public!) high school, I had a teacher who would bring her husband (a Charisamatic Episcopal Rector) to come in and talk to us. This was the same woman who told me that I would join a cult if I went to a certain (very liberal) college for undergrad. I have a family member who is one of those snakewater Christians who believes that God doesn't love you if you're homosexual--but being materialistic and shallow is just fine!
He likes to use family gatherings as his pulpit--but I think we all realize that he's basically a con artist.