Evangelism: Clarifying Experiences

I did say it briefly, “we MUST know right theology and doctrine.”

I don’t want to sound as if I am discrediting biblical knowledge, doctrine, or theology; not at all. I love all those guys!!!

At present, I am a certified seller of Cutco knives. Who cares about (supposed) experiences various people have had with the knives (even if they have cut all their pennies, sliced smooshy tomoatos into paper-thin slices, and fit the form of their hand with great comfort?)

If they are not (truly) made with high carbon stainless steel, nickel-silver rivets, if they don’t have full-tang, and are not actually made in the factory in Olean, New York, what does the “experience” matter? It is not backed with truth. The experiences are not valid and will soon be discredited. You’ll get these knives and soon discover you were swindled.

We must know the facts about who Jesus is. We must know the facts of life. We must know what we believe and why. We must know theology and doctrine and why we believe. But what does it matter if we aren’t dedicated to these things? If we don’t live it? (James)
And, in the opposite viewpoint: what do these experiences matter if we don’t have theology and right doctrine to credit the righteous testimonies and discredit the false testimonies? (It all comes to vanity – a chasing after the religious winds.)

We have to be the “full meal deal”. We can’t just have experience – that can be too subjective.
We can’t just have a head full of knowledge – that puffs us up.
We can’t just serve – many good, unsaved people serve others.

We must have a relationship with our God that we can RELATE to others and SPEAK about with others.
We must have a love for His Word that infuses our minds, hearts, and actions with His Truth. (It is the TRUTH that saves us – not the telling of the experiences.)
We must have a heart to serve others because this is how we show love.

TRUTH, relationships, experiences.
PRAY then ACT.

I can relate it to my classroom:
If I want to teach something to my students, I first need to earn their trust and love. They need to know that I teach them because I care for them. (This starts the first moment they enter my classroom in September and develops in various ways through the school year.)
I then need to capture their attention. How can I do this? Through cool stories and/or quick projects that they can interact with and experience for themselves; this will heighten their curiosity and their desire to actually listen while I teach. Through the grace of the Lord, they will then want to discover for themselves. Once they know I love them, once they hear my testimony of how I love this stuff, I then begin the lesson – and they listen and learn – through the grace and guidance of Jesus. (Only through the working and the power of the Holy Spirit can the dead man raise to life!)

TRUTH, relationships, experiences – PRAY then ACT.