Arguing
with any Christian cult member in the
U.S. can be quite difficult and challenging if you are not careful with your words,
facial expressions, body language and overall demeanor.
All
of the books on witnessing and personal experiences that tell you not to begin
the conversation with the Trinity are probably correct. Often, people will put a barrier
up because they think it is the most illogical idea they have ever thought
about. The problem is, if you are well mannered long enough, chances are you
will have the opportunity to see them again… and again… and again. This is
actually a short-term goal, believe it or not. When we find ourselves
witnessing to Jehovah’s Witnesses, for example, we most likely will not win
them over instantly.
Think
about it. How would you feel about giving up Christianity? Put yourself in
their shoes. They do not want to leave. They are comfortable, they are
confidant, and they are committed in and to their religion. The same goes with
Mormons. For most of them, it is all they know and all they grew up around. It
is not only a religion, but it is a culture. Try to leave your culture. It is nearly impossible.
I
once stayed in Greece for a month and at the end of my time there, you could still
pick me out of a crowd, and people actually did just that. I even earned a
nickname at the train station and the chestnut roasting stand: “Cowboy.” On top
of all of this, I have red hair, so that probably didn’t help me blend in at
all.
My
sister lived in the southern U.S. states for most of her adult life, yet she
does not speak with a southern accent whatsoever. She also lived in France for some
time and is fluently trilingual! Yet, to me, she is still easily recognized as my
sister and does not at all speak with an accent. Her facial expressions, body
language and demeanor have never extremely changed.
The
point is, being in a cult is more than being in a religion, it is being in a
cult as well as a culture, which are related in that they both come from the
root meaning of the word cultivate,
which finds its meaning in the preparation of land for crops. In any event, I
think the point is clearly understood here and this issue seems to be part of
the problem in witnessing to Christian cults in the U.S. It is hard to get out
of our comfort zone. Consider this when speaking with those who do not know the
one true God.
Anyway,
as mentioned above, you want to continue seeing them or stay in contact. The
more they talk with you and realize that you are not a demon, the more they
will trust you and see that you have a brain inside your head and eventually
you may become a person of influence (The key to this is found in 1 Peter 3:15,
but also, I believe, in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22).
Get
on their level. The only way to do that is if you spend time with them. Sure,
you can plant a seed of doubt after one good conversation, but how many seeds could you plant after a hundred conversations? Your foundations in Christianity
will not falter because Christianity is the truth. This is the ultimate answer to the question, “Why are you a
Christian?” In any case, plant many of seeds of doubt. As Greg Koukl would say
in Tactics, “Put a stone in their
shoe.” Maybe keep on putting stones in their shoes…
So
the problem that arises with befriending a member from a different religion is
that eventually, one of you will break the ice and mention the Trinity. On a
basic understanding, we want to show them that yes, there is one God (Shema,
Deut. 6:4), and He exists in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (See Matthew
28:19–20; John 1:1–2; Acts 5:3–4; Colossians 2:9; Mark 1; et. al.). This is the first seed (or
stone). We want to give them something to stumble over theologically.
Ask
the question: “Why can’t there be One God in Three Persons? There is one
internet with billions of websites?” Explain to them that the websites are all the
“internet” yet they are their own website. When you are on Facebook, aren't you on the internet? When you are on Wikipedia, aren't you also on the internet? Yet in either case, you are also on one website.
I
know that trying to explain the Trinity by using some earthly analogies
are impossible. The Trinity is far beyond anything analogous found in this
universe, but maybe (just maybe) it will help members of other religions put
their guard down about the Trinity and open some hearts and minds. The goal is to put a stone in their shoe. Maybe an analogy like this will soften people up to the concept of the Trinity. Through this and showing them in the Bible that there is one God in three Persons, hopefully they will have something to chew on. Keep cultivating those seeds.
For more, see my book on Mormonism:
Written by Nace Howell through the grace of the Lord Jesus
© Nace Howell, 2016
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