/christian/ - Christian Discussion and Fellowship

Pretty much.

It refers to the kind of engagement you have where some fedora will come up to you with a "HEY CHRISTARD! prove to me that God exists (but only using methodologies and criteria that I will arbitrarily define!" or "Hey um, you do know the Jeezuss doesn't exist and is just a facsimile of every ancient mythology ever made, right?" In that kind of argument it's OK to just flat out ignore it, or just engage with it passively like "OK, whatever". This is akin to when Pharisees and Scribes would accost the Lord and ask him "If you're the Son of God do this magic trick for us!" which He answered by just talking past the question.

Doing this just pours hot coals over their heads.

This is different from you initiating the conversation, whereby you just bring the Gospel to people but, if they won't take to it, don't hang about, but "shake the dust off of your feet" and move on. That said, you have to still try, don't just give up at the first hurdle.

In either case, you are to pray for these people.

>>636763

I should also clarify that in the first case, this is almost exclusively referring to those who will approach you with absolutely no intent on being proven wrong or "open minded" as they would say, but just do it to bait you or draw you down.

It is important to learn to distinguishing between cheap "GOTCHA!" questions or "concern trolling" and actual interest in the Faith.

>>636740

Imagine yourself arguing with a staunch atheist. Obviously it's not something you should do in the first place, but you've found yourself in the situation. How long will you continue to argue? Will you spend hours upon hours trying to browbeat this person into converting while they browbeat you into why they won't OR will you make your point and, when they don't capitulate, shrug and move on?

Everyone deserves a chance at salvation, even the staunch atheist; but you won't necessarily be the one who brings the light. Maybe someone else will say it in a way you couldn't and the atheist will come to Christ.

There comes a point where you just have to let go and let God.

>>636763

Exactly this. Don't waste time on people who can't even get out of grade school maturity. Part of the fault is really modern western culture it's really become just dumbed down, is really the only way to put it. For instance if i were to describe the modern western materialist, is *If i can't touch it see it smell it etc, and if it takes more than five secs to explain that it doesn't exist.*,my fav comparison is that we're just alcoholics that have been forced to work in a bar, and being told that there's no such thing as Alcoholism. Pick your debates/conversations, is the only thing i can say.

>>636766

>Maybe someone else will say it in a way you couldn't

This reminds me of when (((Bill Maher))) went to some Christian theme park, mainly with I imagine the intention of being snarky and making them look stupid while playing the, "Ohhh wow, what even is this, like, can you not? I can't even right now", but when he asked an actor playing Christ, >How could you say it's monotheism when you have Christ, God, and the Holy Spirit?

To which the Christ actor replied

>It's the same way you can have water, ice, and steam. It's still H2O.

And even (((Maher))) had to admit he liked it.

>>636840

>it's like how liquid, ice, and vapor are still water

That's modalism Patrick!