How do you deal with this obstacle to evangelizing?

[KindredSoul]

I wrote this post on my blog: Longing to Be Liked.

This is one of the top two reasons, I think, for my being afraid to speak up more when it comes to truth, and that includes evangelizing when I don’t think it will be well received.

I don’t really have answers, in that post, so instead of ask readers to feel free to comment with suggestions that have worked for them.

You can answer the questions either directly in the blog comments, or here in this thread, but if you answer them here in this thread, please tell me in your post whether or not you mind my quoting you–by screen name, if you prefer–and copying it into the comments on my blog, so that readers there can see the suggestion too.

Thanks for giving it a read, and for any insights you can provide!

Blessings in Christ,
KindredSoul

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

I wrote this post on my blog: Longing to Be Liked.

This is one of the top two reasons, I think, for my being afraid to speak up more when it comes to truth, and that includes evangelizing when I don’t think it will be well received.

I don’t really have answers, in that post, so instead of ask readers to feel free to comment with suggestions that have worked for them.

You can answer the questions either directly in the blog comments, or here in this thread, but if you answer them here in this thread, please tell me in your post whether or not you mind my quoting you–by screen name, if you prefer–and copying it into the comments on my blog, so that readers there can see the suggestion too.

Thanks for giving it a read, and for any insights you can provide!

Blessings in Christ,
KindredSoul

You can tell the truth without being priggish. Many of the conservatives praised for being honest are needlessly offense and as such are less effective in saving souls.

I would not like to be quoted on your blog.

 

[JamalChristophr]

I don’t think it’s wise to speak until you’ve prayed first. Often it will not be well received and therefore you should keep your mouth zipped.

I think it’s a sense that comes from the Holy Spirit really. Most people want to know that you care before they care what you know. Build relationships first.

And it takes a mature healthy person that doesn’t need to be liked or loved by others to keep his or her fires burning. The good evangelizer is fueled by authentic charity and humility. And many of us lack that to a greater or lesser degree, I think.

Actions evangelize perhaps much more strongly than words do, and it’s all about timing when it comes to words.

 

[Nixbits]

To me, to be an effective evangelizer you need to be able to articulate what you believe but also, much more importantly, WHY you believe it. This is where intellectual honesty is most important. Believing something simply because your parents or teachers or priests told you it was true, or because you just ‘feel it in your heart’ are not good reasons and won’t convince anyone.

You need to have a solid background knowledge of the relevant history, science and philosophy, as well as theology, if you hope to be able to justify your beliefs. If you can’t give good reasons why you believe what you believe, then you won’t have any chance of convincing others.

On the other hand, sometimes the correct answer to a difficult question is “I don’t know. I’ll have to look into that.” An honest admission of ignorance will gain you more respect than waffling or obfuscation or an attempt to defend the indefensible.

Never be afraid to admit you were wrong. That is just saying that you are wiser today than you were yesterday. Also, sometimes by saying “You’re right. I was wrong.” you can completely take the wind out of the other person’s sails, allowing you to move on to other topics while they’re still off-balance (sorry for the mixed metaphor).

(If you find any of these words helpful, feel free to quote them.)