Sharp swords cut better.

2. Sharp swords cut better. But even a sharp sword in the hands of one untrained in its use winds up being utilized like a machete. We’re engaged in a series of lessons intended to help us better utilize the sharp sword of God’s word to prick the hearts of men. We want to be better equipped to use the only offensive weapon God gave us, if possible, in a non-offensive and productive way, cf. Col.4:5-6;Eph.5:15-16. We’ve already discussed how to constructively deal with “Salvation by Faith Only,” “Once Saved, Always Saved,” and “Instrumental Music in Worship.”

3. Fencing #4 How to Constructively Deal with “It Doesn’t Really Matter What You Believe As Long As You’re Honest and Sincere”

4. “It really doesn’t matter what you believe (or practice) as long as you’re honest and sincere” is often put forth by someone who has just realized that: • He cannot answer a bible/spiritual question you’ve just asked or an inconsistency you’ve shown in his beliefs; or, • His religious beliefs or practices contradict the New Testament; or, • He does not want to have a spiritual discussion with you. Understand (but do not say!) that this is usually a defense mechanism based in either ignorance in or laziness with the Scriptures. It usually masks the real issue. Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

5. Our first tendency might be to turn straight to Matt.7:21 and show that: • It matters to God what one believes and practices; and that • These were lost because of pious (and perhaps sincere) but false beliefs and practices! As we’ve seen previously in these studies, it is probably best to resist this temptation initially, and do a little more investigation first. Remember to “lead sheep” instead of attempting to “drive cattle.” The “Sword of the Spirit” is still a rapier or saber- not a machete or broad ax! Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

6. Instead of the “straight to Matt.7:21approach,” see if you can lead them to it by asking why they are what they are religiously. This will: • Give you insight to their motivations in religion; and • Provide details that will allow you to “start where they are.” You’re probably going to get one (or two) of three answers based in: • Familial history- “My family has always been….” • Distorted Perception of Truth- “People just understand the Bible differently.” • Personal Preferences- “I/we like the programs there.” Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

7. Let’s take these one at a time. If the motivation for their religious affiliation is Family History, then it will sound like this: “My parent (grandparent- singular or plural) was the best person I’ve ever known, and he/she was a ________. If it was good enough for them, it is certainly good enough for me.” Stop, realize, and acknowledge: • This statement comes from a position of respect for right conduct. • The person making it respects the godliness of this relative. Therefore… • Do not discount or discredit this- use it! Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

8. How? Like this: • First, empathize. Share a relative or friend for whom you likewise have great respect because of their right conduct. • Second, identify other people they know and respect that are members of a different denomination. (This shows the denomination itself is not the reason for respect.) • Third, ask why the prospect thinks there are so many different religious groups. Then listen very carefully because you’re about it get to the real heart of the matter…. Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

9. Their answer will likely be (#2- Distorted Perception of Truth) something along the lines of: “People just understand the Bible differently.” • Whether this was their first answer to your question regarding why the prospect is what he is religiously, or they began with Family History as their motivation, this is the issue at the core of the problem. • You must lead them to a better understanding of understanding. How’s that again? Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

10. The prospect must be shown that “People do not and cannot ‘understand’ the Bible differently.” Why not? • God’s Word does not say two different things to two different people, John 12:48; Eph.3:3-5; 1Cor.3:18 – 4:6. How so? • John 12:48, We will be judged by Jesus’ words, not what I, you, they, or anyone else thinks/understands. • Eph.3:3-5, The very purpose of revelation/writing was understanding and agreement, 4:1-6. • 1Cor.3:18 – 4:6, Faithful stewards understand and do the will of the Master, 1:10ff. Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

11. At this point, the prospect will usually go back to Family History with, “Are you telling me my Granny is going/went to hell?” Careful here: • We do not judge anyone’s eternal destiny- God does. So, leave such to Him, Rom.14:10-12. • Someone doing what they know to be right never “condemns” anyone else. Judgment is not relative, Rom.3:23. • Judgment is individual and based on obedience, 2Cor.5:10. But additionally, ask: “Would your Granny want you to refuse to do what you know is right just because she might have had the benefit of the same knowledge?” Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

12. One more reason commonly given to answer why one is what he is religiously has to do with Personal Preferences- such as, “I like the ‘programs’ there.” • Do not immediately assume he refers to unscriptural activities sponsored by the church. • He may, or he may not- ask questions and listen perceptively. • Then proceed carefully. Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

13. But eventually, you’re going to have to point out that: • It should be God who determines the “programs” of His church, 1Tim.3:15. • If a “program” is such a great idea, then surely God would have thought of it and included it in the New Testament, 1Cor.1:18ff; 4:6. • Then, you might ask what the prospect thinks the mission of the church ought to be. Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

14. Now, you can follow with the spiritual nature and mission God gave it: • Spiritual Building, 1Pet.2:1-5 • Spiritual Birth, 1Pet.1:22-23 • Spiritual Sacrifices, Rom.12:1-2 • Spiritual Blessings, Eph.1:3 • Spiritual Hope, Phil.3:20-21. Given the spiritual nature of the church as God determined it, why would it have anything less than a spiritual mission of evangelism (2Tim.4:2), edification (Eph.4:11-16), and benevolence (Rom.15:26)? Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.

15. Conclusion: Where should we try to end up in these kinds of discussions? • Matt.7:13-24, It does make a difference- God determines what is acceptable. • 1Cor.4:6, We must “learn not to go beyond what is written.” • Isa.55:8-9, What “I/You” like, think, or want is not the point. What God likes, thinks, and wants is the point. We must not only content ourselves with this, we should be happy to do so! Remember our “How To” list from previous lessons: Use your love and care for souls to be kind & gracious; Use “The Bible says….”; Establish common ground as far as possible (Belief in God, Christ, the Bible, Salvation’s Requirements, etc.); Ask questions, listen perceptively, and start where they are; Use context to show the true meaning of their verse or passage; and, Harmonize their verse with other passages to provide a more complete picture.