Woodlyn Fairee
Metal Wallflower
Actually... there's more to witnessing than door-to-door religion sales and preachin', guys... and you know I'm still banging my head against the wall trying to talk to my family (seriously? *rolls eyes*). lol But Yah says 'go', and by His grace... (polishes armor) I will... Oh, fer Pete's sake. How am I supposed to shine His Light and set an example with all this tarnish??? (polishes armor, then polishes everybody elses)
I didn't think that we were talking about 'religion?' Were we?
I thought that we were talking about Christainity and doing what Jesus instructed~ or rather commanded us to do which was to spread the gospel to the four corners of this earth.
Not to be a joy buzz but any one can be 'religious'. They can go say bowling every Tuesday and Thursday nights "religiously"; or a person can have their tea "religiously" at 10 and 3 daily.
I think that the hawk gave a good answer to your question about 'witnessing' in todays (May 30th's) Word of Encouragement in 'The Well's Guild'; when he wrote about "Words of Life' from the book of John 6:66-69, keying on verse 68.
To quote what he wrote "We accept those who are different from us and include everyone in our ministries. We invite others to walk in our midst so that 'BY OUR ACTIONS, THEY MIGHT' come to believe in Christ and have eternal life."
And again a qoute from it " OUR JOB IS TO SHARE THE TRUTHS ABOUT HIM AS A FARMER SCATTERS SEED. WE DON'T KNOW WHO WILL CHOOSE JESUS AND WHO WILL TURN AWAY, STILL WE PLANT."
Thats our job people as Christians. To share the gospel of Christ Jesus with the world and to scatter the seeds of Jesus as we go through this life, and as the Bible says 'some seed will fall on fertile ground, some won't';
But we still go on planting the seeds don't we?
Have a great Friday y'all!
Christian huggles,
~Lyn~
heart Oh, yeah. And I agree with what you're sayin', sis. Anybody can 'religiously' sit in a pew. Not everybody can listen. And not everybody can do what they hear. lol But, much as it grinds my gears to say so, people look at surface value more than the truth. And how they perceive the believer is the impression many are going to have. They're not going to 'see' those with the Truth, because they hear one word about Yah, and are thinking of those that last came to their door and beat them over the head with an indoctrinated scripture. Or the 'feel good' church down the way with the 'saved by grace' attitude that says it's o.k. to sin, because we already threw Y'shua under the bus, and He was cool with it. lol Only thing we can do at that point is to keep shinin', keep livin' His Torah to the best of our ability (thereby keeping the integrity of His children intact), and keep prayin' that Abba reaches their hearts as He reaches ours to enlighten us.
smile This world is all about looks (like I have to tell you that, sis *hugs*), and they 'see' religion. Time to let them 'see' Yah's Truth manifest, the way Yahushua taught us. You once told me you were taught that a woman should look her best, head to toe, before she greets her day. There's a lesson in that, and corresponds to Proverbs 31 - if we (men and women) dress each stitch and thought in the morning with a prayer to YHVH for His guidance as we sip that morning coffee that He blessed us with, find our center in Him before we walk out that door to meet the world, we've already put on our 'best', are 'putting our best foot forward', and living His Word to shine His Light. 'Religion', in just about any context, has just been kicked out of the running. lol
Now! To the OP statement... having said that, as we walk out that door and do our 24/7 Walk, if even ONE of those seeds planted finds good soil (in seeing our example as we follow Y'shua's), is it then worth the trouble?
smile On the other hand, if they see us mess up, and figure it's OK... have we inadvertently lead them astray with a thoughtless action? But, in our humility, let the seeds know that we're 'not all that'. And, that as a congregation, we strive for the Master's example, and nevermind. As individuals, we're fallible, but capable. As a group, we become a team to encourage each other in Yah. As a people, we're family, bound by His love. Thereby holding, as an assembly, our integrity as B'nai YHVH, and even slightly deserving of His grace. lol
Something to think about...
~MW
I need more coffee... and to wake up...
And, just because I can...
17"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18"For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19"Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.…
Matthew 5, King James Bible
…25Causing the omens of boasters to fail, Making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to draw back And turning their knowledge into foolishness, 26Confirming the word of His servant And performing the purpose of His messengers. It is I who says of Jerusalem, 'She shall be inhabited!' And of the cities of Judah, 'They shall be built.' And I will raise up her ruins again. 27"It is I who says to the depth of the sea, 'Be dried up!' And I will make your rivers dry.…
Isaiah 44:26
They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.
Psalm 111:8
I've really got to find a better program for reference...
You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
Isaiah 40:9
This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,
Isaiah 49:8
Now, a lot of people say that the prophets were talking about Y'shua exclusively. And, I can see that... but what if they were also talking about Yisra'el? I mean... if Yeshu came to teach the nations... then it was more about His Direction than about Him. Right?
Keep prayin'...
The. Entire. Book. Of Jonah. Humbling as it is awesome.
Esther. It fits... And Hoseah. Good reads. Heck, never mind. Just read all of it. lol
Disclaimer: For better understanding, please read whole chapters, to keep in context. Also see Abba for guidance, as some of it can read like stereo instructions and may be woefully incomplete in some transliterations.
Bonus note: It's Shavu'ot soon. The Omer Count is about over... and that means! XD We get to start reading over again, and All Night Study-Fest with Yah! Party...
(geek dance)