intro2faith said:
No, I was not advocating deception. I was beingsarcastic. The fact is, some of these people treat others like crud ALL the time, with never a loving word coming from their mouths, but they SAY that they care about the person they're trashing.
How would you know that is the case unless you can read minds? Do you think a spoon-fed morality delivered with a smiling face is always going to get the job done? You will discover, my friend, that people who are constantly crowing about how much they "care" are the most do-nothing indifferent manipulators you will ever want to encounter.
I have NO problem with pointing out that someone is going to Hell because they have not accepted Christ. None whatsoever. It would be horrible not to in fact.
God loves you. If you accept Him and follow His commandments, you will be saved to everlasting life. That's the message. Personally, I would never tell someone they are going to Hell. I don't know that for a fact and only God can judge the condition of an immortal soul.
BUT why take it one step further and swear at them and call them names and act like you hate them? I'm pretty sure that kind of behavior is not going to make the person being "witnessed to" think "Hey, these people are so loving, and they obviously care for my well being. I want what they have!"
People who do that are a mystery to me. Usually they are selling a particular denomination or church.
Bottom line: You can say harsh things (ex. - Do you realize you are going to Hell if you don't accept Christ as your Savior?) But you do NOT need to say it in a harsh manner.
I know what you're trying to get across here and it only partly washes. I do know people who interpret any, and I mean mean any, criticism of their actions or behavior as harsh, demeaning, debasing, etc.. They listen to the preachers of "tolerance" who, in a nice way of course, will encourage them in their fantasy world. Such is what the beanies are looking for. They want to be confirmed in their sin.
Hard to find that here on ToL.
