Subject: Re: Does God love Sinners?
Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 14:06:12 +1100
From: Richard Kerr < 
Newsgroups: aus.religion.christian,aus.religion

Robert Wild wrote:
> 
> Richard Kerr wrote:
[snip]
> > ...we have two alternatives:
> >
> > 1) Spend time telling people their use of the word “sin” is wrong.
> > 2) Spend time talking with them about important stuff using words about
> > which there is no confusion.
> >
> > Since my primary goal is 2) I start there and 1) normally takes care of
> > itself.

[snip]
>  But to a reasonably well-off middle-class
> 30-something, how would you convey the idea that they do actually have a
> problem that needs to be looked at? One way is to get them to understand
> that we are all born under sin - that starts of with #1, and then goes
> on to #2.

But that reduces Christianity to a remedy for sin. 
It is that, but it is a lot more than that and people 
come to Christianity for lots of different reasons. 
If your first approach is always to “convict 
people of their sin” you will be unsuccesful 
with most people because it is not an approach that 
resonates with many.

Here’s a radical idea: Why not just get to know 
people? Why not genuinely become friends with them?

Let them see how the gospel applies to your life, 
and, when it is appropriate, help them to apply it 
to theirs in whatever way happens naturally?

This is spooky because it means you have to be 
transparent about your Christianity, but it forces 
you to be real, too.

-- 
Regards,

Richard Kerr            Ph: (02) 9351 8017
SUHRF 2000 Project      Fx: (02) 9351 7393
University of Sydney