Why is Jesus a taboo subject?

[babydane]

:wave i'm just curious, why most of us on this board talk about jesus 24-7 to probably almost everyone we see, everyday, while other people who say they believe, never talk about Him and get nervous and change the subject? :confused

i'm young. i need some wisdom from the wiser ones out there!! :clap

[Writesinme]

I think every Christian, at some point in their walk, has had a melt down in the face of a witnessing opportunity! Why it seems to be a constant problem for some is...I think...fear.

The Bible tells us that the cross will offend. That being the case, we never know what kind of reaction we'll get when we say the name, "Jesus." Will we be met with a smirk, a scoff, an awkward silence? Will we be labled a fanatic?

As believers, we must pray for boldness in our witness. And, we need to pray for discerenment in how we witness to each individual. Different strokes for different folks, as the old saying goes. What touches one person might send another one running for the door.

The more we speak of Jesus, the more we witness, the more we share our faith...the stronger we become. For me, now, speaking of my Lord is as natural as speaking English! I actually look for ways to weave His name into conversations.

Christians who don't conquer this fear probably feel very burdened--guilty, weak, ashamed of themselves. I've known some who try to rationalize it. For instance, I had a Christian boss once who scurried away from talking about Jesus because she said "the workplace wasn't the appropriate environment." I've known other Christians who say that faith is a personal thing, blah, blah, blah.

Anyway, just my opinion--I think fear of other people's reactions is the core of it!

[Whosoever]

Writesinme hit the nail on the head--"fear". It strikes even the most devout Christian at times, making them doubt and taking their focus away from God. Fear of rejection, fear of forgetting to say something important when witnessing, fear of mockery or the dreaded " :rolleyes " reaction when you mention Yeshua's name, fear of <insert reason here>. It can paralyze someone and prevent them from helping share the Good News with those who need it most.

When I was young I had a terrible experience at a "Christian camp", where they insisted you had to recite words/points from a tract they gave you when witnessing to others, and it didn't count if you didn't do it "just right". My camp counselor was particularly cruel, making me feel like I would never make a good witness for Christ. That fear stayed with me for years, and still likes to creep up when I least expect it. But God has helped me work through it, so now it's more natural for me to share Him with others. Remember, witnessing doesn't always have to be active--I've had friends and strangers ask me if I was a Christian when they saw me reading my Bible and wonderful conversations have occurred. I've shared the gospel twice to friends online. The outcome isn't always the one I'd hoped it would be, but God has let me see that He's the one ultimately in control of everything. I think that's the one thing people forget the most, which explains their fear-induced paralysis.

God has also taken away much of my fear of what others think of me. ;): After spending a year on an ultra liberal PC-loving university campus, I figure if anti-war and anti-Semitic supporters can gleefully thrust propaganda into my hand while babbling some memorized speech, I can at least tell people the truth about Yeshua without cringing. :D:

[Jayhawk]

Anyway, just my opinion--I think fear of other people's reactions is the core of it!


It is having a fear of people rather than a fear of God. We are to fear God and nothing else.

[Pendragon]

:wave i'm just curious, why most of us on this board talk about jesus 24-7 to probably almost everyone we see, everyday, while other people who say they believe, never talk about Him and get nervous and change the subject? :confused

i'm young. i need some wisdom from the wiser ones out there!! :clap

It is a human nature thing where we are afraid of rejection and what others think. It also comes down to not being educated enough in some instances to be able to answer and rebutt some questions and or statments. christianity is very complex with verses that are all interconnecting but in differnt places of the Bible. Such as Daniel and the 70 weeks in relation to Revelation and the 1260 days and the 1335 days and how those interact and work together in answering the question of Why do we belive there is a tribulation and then a GReat tribulation and where the dividing points are. Or the example in Ezekiel about the 2rd temple and why there is not a 3rd tmeple mentioned ion rebelation but only a temple. Unless you know what the verses are when you are witnessing you get caught off gaurd with questions and feel you have done more harm then good. Fence sitters interested in wanting a relationship with G-d and those that are totally unbleievers and call all christians hypocrites because they don't understand grace doctronie and the like have to have verses sometimes spoon fed to them to the point they run out of objections and turn over thier lives. It is our job as christians to educate and train ourselves everyday by reading our bibles and praying. Ask yourselves these questions those of you that have trouble witnessing. What is the first thing you do when you get up besides go to the potty? At what poiint in the day have your read one chapter of the bible and prayed over that? If you can say you do that daily with witnessing in mind then there is no reason to not witness to others Who cares if they don't like what they hear. G-d knows you tried and it is thier choice not to accept so forget the rejection factor. G-d said that we would be hated for proclaiming him and sometimes that is true. I am just glad that on sunday morining and throughout the week I have time at my church that I can spend with fellow believers which encourages and gives me support when I am out and about and have a chance to witness. Even though i might get shot down by some I know there are many out there that have heard the message. Nothing is more rewarding then to have someone sit down and say the sinners prayer with you and recieve that hug. Just remember it is not over at that point. As the sower we must also make sure the seed we have planted has the soil and nurturing to grow and take root. For me I love the way of the master site. I reccomend it to everyone for those who want to witness

The Way of the Master (http://www.wayofthemaster.com/)

[antsinmypants]

It is having a fear of people rather than a fear of God. We are to fear God and nothing else.
:nod

[babydane]

[QUOTE=Pendragon] It is our job as christians to educate and train ourselves everyday by reading our bibles and praying. Ask yourselves these questions those of you that have trouble witnessing. What is the first thing you do when you get up besides go to the potty? At what poiint in the day have your read one chapter of the bible and prayed over that? If you can say you do that daily with witnessing in mind then there is no reason to not witness to others Who cares if they don't like what they hear. G-d knows you tried and it is thier choice not to accept so forget the rejection factor. G-d said that we would be hated for proclaiming him and sometimes that is true."

:clap awesome...

[HiLaReE320]

I would agree that it is fear. I recommend you reading One Thing You Cant Do In Heaven by Mark Cahill (www.markcahill.org). It is a book on witnessing and it is fantastic. After I finished reading this book yesterday, I shared my faith for the first time -- by walking up to someone in Walmart! And I am NOT a chatty person. :):

I think that we, as Christians, are called to witness to people. Just like playing a sport really well takes practice, witnessing takes practice! The more you witness, the more you'll know what to say to ppl who roll their eyes, or want to change the subject, or whatever. It is our job to share the Truth, and their job to reject it. You never know how God is going to use you. I talked to two friends lastnight (I didnt know them) in Walmart, just asked what they believed, etc and they both knew my sister! So now I have my sister that can go in there and witness some more. You never know how God can put us together, it's awesome. You just have to trust Him and know that He will use you in every way possible to bring lost souls to Him.

After reading the above mentioned book, I realize that there are three possible outcomes to witnessing: acceptance, seed planting, or rejection. And they are all Win Win Win situations. The person who rejects the Truth, atleast has heard the Truth.

[blitzkreig]

I would hesitate to call it "fear" really, more shame. People are ashamed that they don't know what to say and that they don't know enough so would come off looking stupid or saying the wrong things and actually doing harm not good.

Folks I know are not ashamed of Jesus at all. And they aren't really "fearful" of talking to others about any other topic. But they are ashamed of their own abilities when it comes to the topic of faith.

That is why a forum such as this RR is effective. People are not concerned about looking stupid as no one can actually see them.

The way to combat this feeling of course is practise. Even practise here prepares a person so they can feel confident of their response when someone asks them something.

.

[babydane]

hilaree, i'm off to library to see if they have that book!
Blitz, thanks for the post.

[antsinmypants]

I would hesitate to call it "fear" really, more shame. People are ashamed that they don't know what to say and that they don't know enough so would come off looking stupid or saying the wrong things and actually doing harm not good.

Folks I know are not ashamed of Jesus at all. And they aren't really "fearful" of talking to others about any other topic. But they are ashamed of their own abilities when it comes to the topic of faith..

Yet shame is a type of fear. Even in repentance, shame is the fear that we will be punished.

Main Entry: 1shame
Pronunciation: 'shAm
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English scamu; akin to Old High German scama shame
1 a : a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety b : the susceptibility to such emotion
2 : a condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute : IGNOMINY
3 a : something that brings censure or reproach; also : something to be regretted : PITY <it's a shame you can't go> b : a cause of feeling shame
www.m-w.com

We're to have a ready answer, and if our answer isn't "ready"-- we need to say "I need to read up on this and get back with you, as I am unsure how to formulate/give my answer at this time. I know the answer.. but I don't know how to explain it"... and then follow up later :):

Selah.

[Sentient Zero]

Because, "Those who dwell in darkness hate the Light, for it is in the Light that their deeds are exposed."

[Writesinme]

We're to have a ready answer, and if our answer isn't "ready"-- we need to say "I need to read up on this and get back with you, as I am unsure how to formulate/give my answer at this time. I know the answer.. but I don't know how to explain it"... and then follow up later :):

Selah.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree with this. And also with the fear actually being shame that we might not know how to answer people's questions.

Back when I was single and in my 20s, I was neighbors with some awesome guys who were Greek Orthodox. They were very knowledgeable of their religion--deeply educated and active in service and in church. One guy's brother was a monk in Greece and his sister was married to a Greek Orthodox priest.

One night, we were hanging out and the subject turned to "religion." I began talking about Chritianity and my faith in Christ...WELL, did these guys ever slam dunk me!!! They had all kinds of arguments and challenges. They did NOT want to hear "what Jesus had done for me"...they wanted me to back everything up with facts.

At the time, I was not knowledgable enough to defend my faith in anything except a personal way--I did not have the historical, scientific, logical or prophetic knowledge that I have today. These guys ran over me like a freight train and I felt like I had really messed up. :(:

They later said they were sorry for attacking my beliefs and assured me that they were not raised to be so critical. I think this is when I realized that there are different ways of witnessing--what appeals to one group will not impress another, and that's why we need discernment...and why we need to educate ourselves on all the things that support the Bible.

We need to be armed--and one book that really helped me is "The Case for Christ" by Lee Stroble (I think it's Stroble--I;ve lent my copy out and can't refer to it right now. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

The Holy Spirit, over the years, has pressed upon my heart to gear up with historical, scientific, prophetic and logical defenses of the Word...and the interesting thing is...the people I;ve been led to witness to are the very ones who argue the Bible from those stand points!

These days, I don't get so flustered by challenges...now I'm like, "Bring it on--MAKE MY DAY!" :lol

[Benja32one]

:wave
1 Peter 3.15 is a passage you should study. Read the preceding and following verses carefully, and you will see Peter was writing to believers concerned with this very question. I think the attitude of the early zealous christians was "I will witness, after all if they kill me, I will go to Jesus."
:thumb

[babydane]

hey ben, thank you very much!! those verses help a lot. i skip over 1 and 2 peter a lot. i dont know why... thank you brother