Comments on: Gospel Cowards

By: Headless Unicorn Guy

Headless Unicorn Guy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:59:01 +0000

Back in the Eighties, radio talk-show host Rich Buhler used to refer to “Not-a-Muslim Christians”, who didn’t understand Christianity except it meant they weren’t Muslim or something.

By: Headless Unicorn Guy

Headless Unicorn Guy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:56:19 +0000

“A fanatic is someone who has one piece of a pie and thinks he has the whole pie.”
– Pope John Paul II (anecdotal, from one of my local clergy who attended a Papal audience)

By: Headless Unicorn Guy

Headless Unicorn Guy — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 19:51:30 +0000

“Fellow student who spoke for ten minutes in weepy tones” wouldn’t last ten seconds at a Furry con. Or Hobby Day over at the local KoC hall. Or at my job or attempts at a second career writing SF.

And I always wonder what somebody who’d obviously been raised in Christian Bubble Wrap would call “pornographic”. I’ve seen the real thing. Most of what Christian Hothouse Orchids call “horrible pornography” doesn’t even come close.

If they’re so freaked out in their hothouse, what will happen when they step Outside and encounter the real thing? If footmen tire you so easily, what will horsemen do?

By: luke

luke — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:29:39 +0000

Ah, my bad.

I still think it’s a good quote. Preaching does not have to involve words by definition. From http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/preach it seems to be “1. to proclaim, or make known; 2. to deliver; 3. to advocate or inculcate in speech or writing”

So not every definition includes speech or writing … and that seems to ring true. Anyone see Wall-E? The first half hour of that movie delivers an incredibly powerful message about love with little or no speech or writing at all.

I don’t think it’s an issue of not *wanting* to speak as much as it is not *needing* to speak. There are some of those things we can only proclaim with words – like confessions, Scripture, etc. But who says we have to use words to proclaim God’s love, or God’s healing?

I have a bunch of friends who continuously go on medical “mission” trips to Africa. They’re not preaching Scripture and creeds over there – they don’t even know the language. They are pulling rotten teeth, draining and stitching infected wounds, etc. Do the patients learn about the doctrines of the Trinity or the revelation of Truth in Scripture? No. But they walk away knowing that someone cares enough for them to help them in their distress. And isn’t that the Gospel?

By: bh

bh — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:25:39 +0000

I’m using extreme examples here to make a point. I’ve been in my share or bars/pubs/clubs in my past life and they’re dens of iniquity. I’ve been invited by homosexuals I work with to join them for a private party at the local gay bar where people are drinking and doing lines of cocaine. I have friends who have invited me on numerous occasions to go to strip clubs with them. The question is this: Do we as Christians need to put ourselves in situations like this in order to witness Christ to these people.? I’d suggest that 99.99% of the time the answer is no. Also, when people are in these environments, they’re usually not in the best or proper state of mind to think seriously about spiritual things.

By: The Cowardly Gospel | CounterPoint

The Cowardly Gospel | CounterPoint — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:43:35 +0000

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By: KM

KM — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:25:28 +0000

Who are you going to share the gospel with if you avoid unbelievers?

By: jjoe

jjoe — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:27:16 +0000

What about sitting in business meetings with people focused on making as much money as possible with no regard for the societal consequences?

Just because a Christian is in a place where everyone is sober, has their clothes on and appears “normal” doesn’t mean much.

Prostitutes rarely are in charge of figuring out how to deny health insurance claims or lay a couple of thousand people off in order to pump up their annual bonus.

Hanging out with gay people in a dive bar or hanging out with AIG executives in their walnut-paneled boardroom – which group do we think Jesus would be incensed at?

By: iMonk

iMonk — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:30:12 +0000

The quote is not from St. Francis. That is a myth. Source is unknown.

By: Brigitte

Brigitte — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:40:17 +0000

This quote bugs me, too. Preaching by definition involves words. Teaching, perhaps can be done in a number of ways. Preaching, confessing, spreading God’s word, absolving, proclaiming God’s favor, involves by definition words. Not wanting to speak to me is “cowardice.”

The atheist, too, can be a nice guy/girl. My mother-in-law sewed and sent clothes to Mongolia for years to a nun from Australia, til she learned that she was a Buddhist nun. (She stopped sending things after that, which I don’t agree with.)