Sharing Vs. Debating, 1 Timothy 1:3-6

"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work, which is by faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk."

     It is important that when we are speaking with unbelievers, who often times will bring up seemingly unanswerable questions (from a human perspective anyway), to make it a point to stay away from debating and focus on sharing the gospel message, the message of Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and risen from the dead.
     It is ever-so-easy to get caught up in debating insignificant issues, issues that do not pertain to salvation, and to get so side-tracked that we forget to share the gospel with those we talk to. How will anyone ever come to know Jesus through debating or arguing with us? How will anyone ever have a chance to believe the gospel message if they never hear it because we are too busy arguing the finer points of theology?

     It is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict a person that the message of the Bible is true, that they are living in sin, and that they need Jesus for salvation. No amount of our debating, no matter how persuasive or well-prepared, is going to win a person to Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can convert a person, and only they can respond to that conviction.
     It is imperative, then, that when we are presented the opportunity to share our faith and talk about spiritual things with a non-believer, that we make the most of that opportunity by making every attempt to share the gospel message that the Bible declares.

     Sometimes we worry that just proclaiming the Gospel or sharing from the Bible is not enough to lead someone to Christ. We think we have to learn a certain tact or strategy. But this is to say that our own ideas and methods are more relevant and more effective than God's! This is simply foolishness.
     Not only are God's ways much superior to our own, but every person, every scenario, every circumstance is different. There is no way we could prepare a special methodology for sharing our faith that is 100% effective. On top of that, not everyone we share with, sad to say, is going to believe the message we bring. If that be the case, they have not rejected man, but God.
     God's word, the Bible, is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. Nothing we can do can add to its effectiveness.

     We must remember that it is not our good presentations or logical arguments that draw a person to the Lord, but only the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We are simply the instruments God chooses to use to proclaim His message. So go for it-- Share the good news of Jesus Christ!

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws