To be honest I’m not getting the answer I was looking for. Everyday I come into contact with people who use bad language and slander others. I would feel very uncomfortable admonishing them in their presence, and for example ( I’m 15 btw) if I hear an adult cursing do I have to admonish them?? If anyone could clear this up it would be great!
What a great question! I think that everyone encounters this type of negativity on a daily basis. It’s true that if you rush to criticize someone, especially in front of others, that you stand a strong chance of making matters worse for the other person and for yourself. Most people would get defensive. At the end of the day, you’d make more enemies than friends.
As the other posters have noted, our goal as Christians is to win back as many of God’s children as possible. So how do you actually do this and get the results that you want? The befriending scenario is a good idea as, often times, a good example will set things right. If you don’t swear, others will often not swear around you as a silent form of respect. Just being a good example is the best strategy if you don’t know the other person well. The light of Christ will shine through the darkness, right?
Yes, we all know that teenagers and young adults are tough to work with since immaturity and rebellion are strong factors causing them to act out. So, if you do get to know some of these people through friendships or acquaintances, again try to “show” them instead of “tell” them the message that you are intending to convey. Tell stories about YOU where slander has hurt you without making an accusation against them. Think of an example where swearing has made someone look badly in the eyes of others. It’s not easy to do this without preaching, but look for opportunities in casual conversation where it won’t seem like you are admonishing or preaching. Trust me, sharing personal stories evokes empathy in the listener, and they’ll start to understand what you mean without being told what to think. Preaching only pushes people away as the defensive reaction is almost instinctive.
Ultimately, you have to realize that you CAN’T convince anybody of anything! Each person has to conduct that process internally so that they will really make a conscious decision to improve their lives. Setting a good example and being a good friend in your casual conversations may win them over much easier than direct accusations and awkward interpersonal conversations. Show them that you don’t have to be a dork to follow Christ. You can still be a cool and confident person who is also strong in your faith in Christ.
Being a positive and confident Christian goes a long way towards influencing others. There are a few guys at work that I am slowly working on. It’s a very slow, uphill process, but I can see improvements in all of us from our interactions.
Honestly, guys, do you think that any teenage Christians or young adults are mature enough in their faith to act as accountability partners in mutually admonishing each other?
