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<DIV>Hi Rev. Ev,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I've been giving myself a few days to think about this before replying. I
have never been strong on evangelism myself. I never needed an evangelist, and I
have never felt motivated to be one. But I know plenty of people who did need
one, and I run into people who sure could use one, or something, so I know there
is a place in the world for evangelists.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I think what gets me about most of the people handing out tracts is that
they speak as if one size fits all -- what they are offering is what everyone
needs. And that isn't so. But there ARE people in the world who need, or even
are looking for, what each evangelist has to offer. And it is true, the only way
to find them is to talk to everyone you meet.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The other thing about tracts is, they mostly overlay some Biblical text
with what the publisher thinks it means. Seventh Day Adventists read the same
Bible as the rest of us, and teach that those who are not saved will simply die,
not be tortured for eternity. But some tracts say more about hell than about
Scripture. And I do not doubt, SOME people are saved because they believe it and
are afraid. Jehovah's Witnesses and Unitarians teach that the Trinity is a
man-made concept, and I tend to agree, but I have no more idea what the real
nature of G-d is [that was for you greenBubble] than anyone else. We are all
like blind men feeling an elephant. So if some people find their way by belief
in a Trinity, I'm not going to try to argue about it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I don't think the creator cares much about doctrine. Most church councils
spent their time trying to answer mysteries that were NOT made clear by
Scripture, and when their conclusions were questioned they said "It's a
mystery." So it is, and let's leave it at that.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I won't say every religion is equally true, but according to Matthew 25: 31
-- end, there are going to be a lot of non-Christians welcomed to their reward,
and a lot of professed Christians turned away. So, keep offering what you have
to share with the world. There are those who need it, and the rest of us need
for them to find it, while we are receiving whatever it is each of us
needs.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Siarlys</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT color=#800080 face=Heather
lang=0 size=2 PTSIZE="10">Hi Siarlys! <BR>I think I understand where you're
coming from. (Our evangelism group goes out in two's. While
one is talking, the other is listening and praying. This helps the new
ones to learn the how to's of witnessing - just an f.y.i.) <BR><BR>I know
that the Bible is the best source to get the truth and threats of hell may be a
turn off to the gospel. However, as an introduction to the Bible, a tract
is an excellent way to get the listener interested enough to go to there.
You have to get the hook in. Some people will not read the bible and
will run if you approach them with it but they will read a tract. Some
aren't going to read either. Scripture is just as true and powerful in a
tract as it is straight from the Bible. We are at war with a real
spiritual enemy so if we have to use tracts to infiltrate depraved minds, to
plant seeds, to water the dry, dead spirits of the lost, to open their
spiritually blinded eyes, then let's do it. One of my favorite scriptures
is 2 Cor. 10:4-5. I love it because it reminds me that this thing is not
about us but all about God and His power to destroy the works of the devil
through us. He has provided us with weapons, He has promised us victory if
we fight His way. Bible! tracts! worship! prayer! fasting! faith! love! -
fight! fight! fight! and WIN! <BR><BR>God bless you abundantly
today and always!<BR><BR>"Rev. Ev"</FONT> </FONT></BODY></HTML>