> Just a quick suggestion for Ryan:
>
> At 10:33 AM 7/21/99 -0400, Rasmussen, Ryan J. wrote:
> <SNIP material about understanding Genesis and the fall and evil in
> relation to modern science>
>
> >Im really getting frustrated because there are people in my life that I
> >NEED to witness to but all I have to offer at this moment is my own
> >frustrations... the blind tring to lead the deaf and blind I guess you
> >could say. Before I can proclaim to know the Truth... wouldn't it be
> >better if I understood the Truth? "Honest, everything in here is the
> >TRUTH... but you have to be a PhD in Biology, Physics, Ancient
> >Linguistics, Anthropology, History, Sociology, Geology, Archeology and
> >it wouldn't hurt if you brushed up on your Logic and Philosophy if you
> >are TRULY going to understand."
>
> I'd suggest that the primary "Truth" you need to witness to those around
> you is life, specifically new life in Jesus Christ. Sometimes we think
> we have to understand everything about sin and evil and creation or
> whatever so we can hit people with all sorts of doctrine and theology.
> While many of those things are not unimportant in the long run, people in
> general do not come to Christ because of our explanations of the problem
> of evil or because we do a good job in explaining Genesis [perhaps our
> poor efforts on that latter count give people an excuse to stay away, but
> that's another discussion]. They come because they realize they need the
> new life that Christ offers. Sometimes I think we add unnecessary
> obstacles to that by trying to convince people of doctrines which the
> "natural man" is going to have a hard time understanding. It's good to
> have answers on those issues if people ask, but too often we "lead" with
> difficult doctrines when our first and primary message should be about
> new life in Christ.
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> | Dr. Allan H. Harvey | aharvey@boulder.nist.gov |
> | Physical and Chemical Properties Division | "Don't blame the |
> | National Institute of Standards & Technology | government for what I |
> | 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80303 | say, or vice versa." |
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bravo Ryan and Allan! That's what I call Christiannity in action. Ryan
asked good questions in a very open and frank manner. They are questions
that are frequently asked by caring Chrsitians who wish to deepen their
undestanding of the Word. But however frequent they may be asked does not
mean they are easy to answer. Allan, you did a super job of explaining the
essentials of Christian living. The rest, for Ryan, as for all of God's
people, comes with time patience and endurance.
Guy Blanchet