ISEMA Newsletters
Witnessing to Skeptics
Dear Christian friends,
Earlier in this century, most Americans believed in Jesus Christ even if they did not serve Him. Today, we have seen a rapid change in our nation. Many if not most Americans no longer believe that the Bible is God’s Word or that Jesus Christ died for our sins. Some are atheists or agnostics. Some have an Eastern or new age concept of an impersonal god or force. Many are involved in occultism–astrology, yoga, channeling, etc. Many who are critical of Christianity will accept Eastern and occult teachings simply because they sound good or seem to line up with some subjective experience they had.
The word “skeptic” comes from the Greek word “skeptikos (inquiring)” and means “one who habitually questions matters generally accepted” or “one who doubts religious doctrines.” How are we to witness to people who tell us they don’t believe in Jesus or the Bible? In Acts 17, Paul spoke to the people of Athens, who were not much different from today’s skeptics. These Athenian philosophers, it is written, “spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.” Some have argued that Paul must have been out of God’s will in his witnessing that day because there was no indication anyone was saved. However, the scripture gives us no basis for such conjecture. I believe, rather, that this incident is given as an example for us of how to witness to the intellectual skeptic.
I would like to point out three things about Paul’s encounter with the Athenians. First, he was extremely kind, gentle, and patient with them (see 1 Corin. 13, 2 Tim. 2: 23-26). He didn’t rebuke them as many modern preachers would. Instead, he acknowledged a limited truth to their beliefs, but said he had come to bring them to a fuller knowledge of truth.
Also, he explained the gospel in terms these people could understand. He talked about the unknown god, about God as creator of all and not an image to be worshiped, and even quoted from one of their own poets to make his point.
Finally, he didn’t give them more information than they could absorb at that time. He didn’t try to explain the entire gospel to them or give an altar call, but he wanted to lay a foundation for them to understand the gospel in the hope that some would eventually be saved. He spoke of judgment and resurrection as facts they would need to deal with. In speaking to calm, reasoned, intellectuals, he didn’t give a passionate appeal to the emotions, but rather an appeal to the intellect, to their desire to know truth.
Peter exhorted us to “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” (1 Peter 3:15). The Greek word used for “answer” here is “apologia,” from which we get the term “apologetics,” which is the study of evidences for the Christian faith. When people ask us to “prove that the Bible is God’s word or that God exists,” they expect us to put Him in a test tube and conduct an experiment. Obviously, this is impossible, but it is possible to give people various kinds of evidence that Christianity is true.
Finally, I suggest you get hold of three books and begin reading them:
- Know Why You Believe by Paul Little (Intervarsity)
- Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis (Macmillan)
- Evidence that Demands a Verdict (Part 1) by Josh McDowell (Here’s Life)
Of these books, the third is the most difficult, but well worth reading. All should be available at your Christian bookstore.
What Will it Take?
by Michael Siemer, 810 Lower Mill Rd., Hixson, TN 37343
I called a friend tonight. He invited me to come to his church meeting. He said, “We have some anointed singers coming and it’s going to be good. I told him,”That’s good, but when you guys get done having a good time up there, why don’t you bring the whole church out on the streets where they belong.” He knew my heart and said, “We win some in church, Mike.” I said, “I know, but there’s multitudes perishing outside.” He then said, “Where are you going to be tonight, Mike.” I said, “I feel the Lord wants us to go to Diamonds and Lace Strip Bar. It’s the main stronghold in our city.”
One hour later we are standing beside the entrance of the strip bar. The bouncers are getting furious. Little John and I are standing on both sides of the entrance with our crosses, praying and hoping to snatch some out of the fire. The strippers are standing outside watching our crosses. One of the bouncers yells at us that we are not allowed on their side of the road. I said, “We are standing right here and are not moving.” He called the police….Immediately after that a black man in his 30’s came up to me and said, “You see that car up there with the flashers on. Those are my friends. They wouldn’t stop so I jumped out to see you. Man, I’m addicted to cocaine. I’ve been stealing money from my family and I want to stop.” I prayed that God would break the yoke of addiction off of him. He prayed and received Jesus Christ into his life.
Just then the police showed up and told us we were all right where we were standing, as long as we did not block traffic going into the bar. A few minutes later a demon possessed old man yelled, “You better tell that black friend of yours to stay away from here if he wants to live.” Then a truck came flying up the street, took aim at Little John and tried to run over him and the cross. He swerved, barely missing him. The driver, who was a bouncer for the strip bar, slammed open his truck door and almost knocked John down. He ran towards John, slammed his cross to the ground, and screamed, “You’re not coming around here no more.” Then he jumped into his truck, floored it in reverse, and tried to drive over me. I barely got out of the way in time. He jumped out and began screaming at me, threatening to kill me.
Question: Will we have to pour out our blood in the street before people will stop playing church, and start being the church? Zech. 13:7-9
Coming Events
Sat. April 9, 16, 23 Worship Rally and Outreach, San Francisco. 3-6 PM. Meet at Powell St. BART Station. Contact SOS Ministries, Box 27358, Oakland, CA 94602, (510) 531-5325.
Sat. April 23 Fiesta Outreach, San Antonio, TX. Contact Rev. David O’Dell, 3400 W Park Blvd. #2117, Plano, TX 75075, (214) 519-0195.
April 30 – May 1 San Diego Evangelism Conference and Outreach. Ron and Judy Radachy. Larry Rosenbaum. Contact George Elias, 12443 Metate Lane, Poway, CA 92064, (619) 679-7706.
May 6-7 Kentucky Derby Outreach, Louisville, KY. Contact No Greater Love Ministries, Box 263, DuQuoin, IL 62832, (618) 542- 4503.
May 19-21 National Street Ministries Conference, Pacific Northwest. Portland, OR. John Dawson, Mario Murillo, Tommy Barnett, others. Contact Scott Hinkle Outreach Ministries, Box 380306, Duncanville, TX 75138, (214) 283-3900.
May 27-29 Indianapolis 500 Outreach. Contact Christ in Action, Box 4200, Manassas, VA 22110, (703) 368-6286 or No Greater Love (address above).
Sat May 28 Riverwalk Outreach, San Antonio, TX. Contact Rev. David O’Dell (address above).
June 17-25 SOS-San Francisco Outreach. Guests include Chuck Girard. Contact SOS Ministries (address above).
June 28-July 1 North America Conference for Itinerant Evangelists, Louisville, KY. Christians from 40 denominations participating. Affiliated with Billy Graham Assn. Write Box 94, Minneapolis, MN 55440.
FORWARD EDGE is sending outreach teams to Cuba, Central America, Europe, Vietnam, and several other places. For more information, contact them at 15121-A NE 72nd Ave., Vancouver, WA 98686, (206) 574-EDGE.
Ministry Needs
Several times a month SOS Ministries in San Francisco has been holding a worship rally at the Powell St. BART station. This is our best outreach location, with thousands of people passing through this area — rich, poor, middle class, tourists and locals, people from every nationality and ethnic group. This week, as I called about our May permits, I was told that we may not be able to get any more permits here. In an attempt to raise money, the city wants to lease this area to an espresso vendor, who wouldn’t want us to be there. Please pray that we would continue to get these permits, as this location is vital to our outreaches. If the permits are denied, we may be able to go to court, but this is a difficult and time-consuming process, and we would need a good lawyer who would not charge us.
Please continue to send us outreach reports and information about upcoming events in your community. We are thankful to each of you who prays for us and supports this ministry financially. Also, we want to encourage you to renew your ISEMA membership for 1994, or to join ISEMA if you haven’t already done so. ISEMA is the only association of street ministries, and your membership fee helps us to continue to serve those who are laboring in the gospel trenches.
Our Tape of the Month is “Evangelism and the Local Church” by Sammy Vasquez. Sammy is the Youth Director for the Northern California District of the Assemblies of God. This teaching, from an ISEMA conference, will help those of us who are evangelists understand and cooperate better with local churches.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
