1) How can we share Gospel to peoples of other religions?
That's a good question! First of all, be sure and certain of your own faith. Without basic knowledge of your own faith, there is no way you can effort enough to share Jesus with others. Next, make habit of studying other religions in very basic manner. This doesn't make you accept their beliefs but just to gain knowledge! Remember even many PhD professors at college has some knowledge of the Bible but aren't Christians. Gospel is all about our sins as a core problem and Jesus as all solution! Its all about God's grace granted to us that has to be received through faith! However, the same approach cannot work for every environment while sharing the Gospel!
Simply take three religions: Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.
You don't have to struggle to show Jesus as divine to a Hindu world as typical Hindu world accepts avatars of one god coming in this world for some task but you have to struggle a lot to offer Jesus as the one and only God and Savior!
You don't have to prove God's existence in Islamic world and talk about Jesus' miracles as the Quran affirms both! But you have to struggle a lot to show Jesus as God incarnate and he died on cross and came to life again something which Muslims wouldn't believe!
You have to prove God's existence first to a Buddhist before directly presenting them Gospel! Either start from God to Jesus or just opposite way!
So, you can see clearly that Gospel can have various approaches depending upon your audience! So, engage more and study accordingly! Holy spirit is with You! 🤗
Biblical References:
2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (This supports knowing your faith well.)
1 Peter 3:15: “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (This encourages preparation and respectful engagement.)
Acts 17:22-23: “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: To an unknown god…’” (This shows Paul studying and using local beliefs to share the Gospel.)
2) Can you recommend some caution while sharing the Gospel?
Obviously! Here it goes some:
a) Don't get hurried to open the Bible and start reciting it. People might think its ours so it applies to us and not them!
b) Don't try giving devotional books. They aren't Christians! They need first conviction!
c) Don't abuse their religion and gods! They would otherwise begin a war with you! Keep aside logical discussions!
d) Don't go directly with Christian terms. They wouldn't understand anything. Rather start from certain familiar common grounds. You need to study a lot for that! Like, begin with God's common concept with Hindu and Muslims. Talk about human sufferings with Buddhists.
e) Don't try answering their every questions as if you know all. You should shift the topic often to remove distractions.
These are some helpful tips! 😊
Biblical References:
Colossians 4:6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (This supports respectful and strategic communication.)
1 Corinthians 9:22-23: “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (This encourages adapting to the audience’s context.)
Proverbs 15:1: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (This advises against abusive or confrontational approaches.)
3) Should I try reading their holy books? Is that against my faith?
No, it isn't. Its a good practice to read some major books of other religions that can enrich your knowledge and help to prepare some ways to reach them! Some Christians obviously suggest its bad, its demonic but you can even see Paul himself engaging with other sources while sharing the Gospel! It is only demonic when you read them and go with them or make them equal with Bible! Or, if you try blending them with the Bible! Many Christians have often done this like Acharya Vikas Massey, Ps. CP Sharma, etc.
Biblical References:
Acts 17:28: “‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” (This shows Paul quoting pagan poets to connect with his audience.)
2 Corinthians 10:5: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (This supports studying other beliefs to refute falsehoods biblically.)
Deuteronomy 12:30-31: “Be careful not to be ensnared by inquiring about their gods… You must not worship the Lord your God in their way…” (This warns against adopting other beliefs, supporting the caution against syncretism.)
4) If Holy spirit helps us then why do we need to do such effort?
Simple! The Bible commands us to do! 😃 Holy spirit obviously helps us! But we do have our part to act on! This shows our willingness in sharing Jesus with others and our genuine concern for the unsaved world! And we too have our free choices which is always at struggle and in battle with conviction of the Holy spirit! He is a person! He can be made sad! He doesn't force anyone! New testament is full clear regarding the necessity of preaching! It says how beautiful are feet of those who preach! It says, without anyone even preaching how could a person hear and without hearing how come knowledge? We do our effort because Holy spirit guides us! There is no boasting part because salvation comes through Jesus, not through us! 😃😃😃
Biblical References:
Romans 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” (This underscores the need for human effort in preaching.)
Ephesians 4:30: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (This supports the Spirit as a person who can be saddened.)
Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” (This commands believers to evangelize.)
5) What about enrolling in discussion and debates?
Well, healthy discussion and debates are good if and only if the audience have a genuine zeal to know truth! 😃 Although criticized, take example of street evangelist Cliffe! Discussion and debate gives us basic ideas about how people put forward their thoughts and where they seem lacking ! However, if debates are done intentionally just for sake of fighting and showing one's superiority then stay away from it! We aren't here for winning arguments and logics with peoples. Some Christians can argue a lot and win but they lose them! Conversely, some peoples can just come and have battle of logic with us. We must reject that environment as they can divert us from our real ambition! 🙂
Biblical References:
2 Timothy 2:23-24: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” (This warns against pointless debates.)
1 Peter 3:15-16: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience…” (This supports respectful discussions.)
Proverbs 15:28: “The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.” (This encourages thoughtful engagement over rash arguments.)
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