My approach is very simple...
After starting a conversation, I'll ask the person, at some point, if they ever consider spiritual matters."
Depending on my read of the individual and or situation, I might add "you know like life after this life is over; that kind of thing..."
I find that most people have reflected on such things at one point or another.
Also, that many today do not connect that question to "talk of Jesus."
We live in a society unlike the 1st Century depicted in the NT; where everyone was well aware of "the Jews and their invisible God."
We live today in a society which, unlike 1st Century societies; in which every society not only had its particular "religion" but was aware of his neighbors brand of "religion" many today don't even have that much.
In this, I find my above question, all "the gimmick" I need to rely on.
Because the issue is the same; and as a result; man's basic problem and question are the same.
There are exceptions as to those supposedly in the know, but they often prove no better off than those without a "religion."
Why?
What too often passes for "faith" and "the faith" among today's "faithful" has been so dressed up to look like the word's celebration of itself: in the hope of getting it past the world's glorying in its hedonism unnoticed, that lost in translation is "the faith."
I'm just as often reminded of this every Friday I encounter Orthodox Jews looking like the very "peculiar people" their ancestors were set apart from the world as.
And yet, their numbers continue to grow just fine.
Based on the very fact that they do not compromise their path and its outward appearance in the hope the world will accept them.
And these are people who reject their Messiah's having already been here; having died for them; having risen again; etc.
Lost people carrying on like the Protestant Believer is called to but is too often betrayed as to this by what amounts to the fool's gold of so called "spiritual" leaders.
I was once at a Bible study in someone's home. The prayer; the songs, the actual Bible study.
When it was over, they pulled out the secular music, the alcohol, and all the rest, and proceeded to live it up and work on their dance club routines.
I excused myself immediately and left. Plain and simple.
At some point later down the road, the hosting couple left...for the world.
We kept in touch for a time...but the conversation was ever one strained by the temptation of too much of a compromise...We went our ways..
What's good enough for the lost religious person, by way of the following...should be good enough for the Protestant Christian....
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
For as the Apostle of the Gentiles put it as to this very issue faced by Believers way back in the 1st Century world's rampant glorying in its hedonism...
1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Musti, thanks for that link, bro.
But just like you, no thanks; I think I'll pass on that fool's gold.
We have an answer as is - in no way in need of a dress up.
