Introduction to Sharing you Christian Faith with people of other Faiths
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matt 28:19-20 (KJV)
Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples. Psalms 96:2-3 (NKJV)
Jesus is your model. The Bible is your ultimate textbook. Look through the Gospels at how Jesus always seemed to respond with such understanding and tact. He often answered with questions rather than straight out answers that forced people to come to the right conclusion for themselves. Yes, Jesus was the Son of God and divinely led, BUT the Bible says that Jesus is our example. We can learn to respond with tact as well, not to the extent of our Lord, but nonetheless with skill.
As you study other religions, seek reach a level of understanding to be able to understand their train of thought. If you can look at an issue or certain scriptural passage that a cult uses from the perspective of a Muslim, Jew, Biblical-Christian and or whatever then you can respond more wisely to those who are deceived.
Remember that ultimately, your battle is not with flesh and blood but with rulers, powers and authorities in high places, with the world, the flesh and the devil. The devil and his demons are behind all the “religions of the world.” There are only two religions in the world: Satan is the author of all that teach DO something to be Saved (all the religions of the world). Jesus is the author of the one Way that says salvation is DONE, PAID FOR, COMPLETE when you trust Him as your Savior and Lord.
All other religions than Christianity are of demonic origin:
They stirred him [God] to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded. Deut 32:16-17 (ESV)
What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 1 Cor 10:19-21 (ESV)
Can I Share my Faith too much?
I’ve had professed Christians tell me I talk about the Bible too much. You may have had or will have this happen as well. The main reason that this is said is that people are convicted by God’s Word and don’t like it. The Word of God exposes the heart.
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Heb 4:12 (ESV)
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit Eph 5:6-18 (ESV)
In Isaiah 55 the Lord tells us that His Word WILL accomplish that purposes for which he has sent it forth and in the book of Romans we learn that it is by the foolishness of preaching that men are saved.
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:14-17 (KJV)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:9-13 (KJV)
Yes, we need to be led by the Spirit and not by our own intellect, but don’t stop sharing your Faith just because some “Christians” don’t like it. Even Billy Graham has had many professed Christians angry with Him for talking about salvation and Jesus so much rather than other parts of the Bible. There are people who call themselves followers of Christ who are not; sadly, they believe another Gospel often one of legalism, cheap grace, seeker friendlism, or another false doctrine. The true Gospel is that all mankind are sinners and Christ died for all that if they would but receive His gift of Eternal life and surrender to Him as Savior and Lord then they would be saved from the Fires of Hell. That is the Gospel. Christ crucified for me a sinner and you for sinner and for everybody for everybody is a sinner. May you turn to Messiah Jesus, dear Friend, and surrender to Him as your Savior and Lord and graciously receive the free Gift of Eternal Life in Jesus Christ alone!
If you serve Jesus Christ, you are guaranteed persecution. The only way to escape persecution is to compromise.
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 2 Tim 3:12-14 (ESV)
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. John 15:18-20 (ESV)
Everyone who acknowledges me [Jesus] before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matt 10:32-33 (ESV)
For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38 (ESV)
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 (ESV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:7-10 (ESV)
In response the often misquoted passage of “don’t judge others or you’ll be judged” as a means to silence Christians speaking about Jesus being the one Way, I responded on social media once:
If it is judgmental to say that Jesus is the only Way, then, yes, all true Christians are judgmental. But in context the "do not judge" passage you mentioned teaches that we should not arrogantly judge someone else. Other passages clearly say test (put to the test, discern, try, judge rightly) all spirits and all things to see whether they be of God (1 Jn 4:1,1 Cor 1:10, Rom 16:1718, 2 Tim 3:5-6, Jer 5:1, Rom 12:1-2, Prov 24:23). The Bible is Jesus (John
1) and His Church (all who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord) are meant to be salt and light, the pillar and ground of Truth in society (1 Tim 3:15). Knowing the coming judgment, the terrible judgment that awaits all without Jesus we persuade men (2 Cor 5:11).
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)
“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12 (ESV)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matt 7:13-14 (ESV)
As members of Jesus Christ’s Body, His Church we are mean to be salt and light in this world. We are meant to be the pillar of truth in our nations.
the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim 3:15 (KJV)
Should people be afraid of Hell or overwhelmed with God’s love when saved?
Either one of those reactions can occur. One is not better than another. What must be present is that the person understands and admits (confesses) that they are a sinner and need Jesus Christ to save them. There is a lot of theological terms that could be listed here such as the fact that Christ’s substitutionary death must be understood. But the main point is this: there will one day be a Judgment Day. Every single person will stand before Jesus Christ and give an account for every word, deed, and thought. Hell is a real place and Heaven is a real place. Jesus Christ is the only Way to Heaven and a personal relationship with God. As the Apostle Paul said,
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. 2 Cor 5:1011 (ESV) And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10:28 (ESV)
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Luke 12:5 (ESV)
And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:22-23 (KJV)
Dear Friend, these are the questions that are eternally significant to you and those you study with and those you shall reach the Holy Spirit uses you to share the Gospel with others: