This is a great point. Ravi Zacharius says that he tries to answer the person not just the question. The bible says to "speak the truth with love". Sometimes just giving the cold hard facts aren't enough, they also need to see God's love.
Excellent Sean. Sadly I find most Christians so focused on their political position or seeing non believers as "the other camp" etc. that makes me wonder if they ever see how much they are loved. Paul said (forgive my paraphrase) That I can be as loud as a cymbal explaining God but have not love my message is nothing.
Any time we are in a position of counsel or counseling someone, there are 3 people in the room not 2. You, the other person AND The Counselor (The Holy Spirit)! Relying on The Holy Spirit is CRITICAL for being EFFECTIVE. Listening to The Holy Spirit as we interact with others. Only He has the true wisdom to truly know what to say or do to bring healing to people.
Great point, and very clear illustration. This is the difference between us sharing the good news and Jesus sharing the good news. Jesus already knew everything about the individuals and their motivation for asking various questions. He always met questioners right where they were. I think that's what we miss ... meeting the questioner rather than just the question.
This is such a great point and caused me to reflect on some of my encounters with family . I cant really think of a time I actually asked why this question.
I think for me, my first response is with a question: What do you mean by evil ? Has something happened to you ? Is there something I can help you with ? Tell me your story... from her tears you can see something bad has happened.
Yeah, I'm sure that anecdote really happened just that way, if at all. I'm highly skeptical. Apologists just love to tell these stories in which everything just transpires in such a way that it's a near perfect metaphor for the point that they are trying to make. But they are usually preaching to the choir, so many will believe it at face value.
Often God places us in these exact situations to improve our character and so that we can uplift the congregation. A similar situation just happened to me and I found this video which helped me realise what I did wrong. I guess you could say, this was God's plan.
It's not bad logic at all. The notion of there not being good without evil is making a point of the disparity of the two, you have to know of one to acknowledge the other. In Heaven, you can know what evil is without it being actively present in that set location. Evil doesn't have to be present for good to be present, it's the knowledge and conceptual grasp of its existence that is what's relevant. So, most people in Heaven theoretically would have lived on the Earth where evil was present, so they have prior knowledge of it, so they know truly what they were saved from.
@@universalis8208 By that logic "you have to know of one to acknowledge the other" I think it would be impossible for Adam and Eve to know the difference between obeying or disobeying God. They had free will, they had choice. But they were completely ignorant of the consequence of that choice, they had no way to reference that death and evil were bad that disobeying god was evil and obeying him was good. Also, if heaven is perfect and there is no more pain there, hell must not be known because it would be painful to conceive hell, especially for the millions of Christians with family members who don't believe.
I love that your friend could be that real with you!
Ikr
That's a wise statement, Dr. McDowell; thank you, Sir!
This is a great point. Ravi Zacharius says that he tries to answer the person not just the question. The bible says to "speak the truth with love". Sometimes just giving the cold hard facts aren't enough, they also need to see God's love.
Not a bad idea to ask God for wisdom before entering into a conversation. Ask him to show the person truth and love through you.
Excellent Sean. Sadly I find most Christians so focused on their political position or seeing non believers as "the other camp" etc. that makes me wonder if they ever see how much they are loved. Paul said (forgive my paraphrase) That I can be as loud as a cymbal explaining God but have not love my message is nothing.
Great point Sean. I needed that reminder. Thank you. 1 Peter 4 …. Above all things have a fervent Love for others…
Any time we are in a position of counsel or counseling someone, there are 3 people in the room not 2. You, the other person AND The Counselor (The Holy Spirit)! Relying on The Holy Spirit is CRITICAL for being EFFECTIVE. Listening to The Holy Spirit as we interact with others. Only He has the true wisdom to truly know what to say or do to bring healing to people.
This is one of the most important videos I think you've made.
Great point, and very clear illustration. This is the difference between us sharing the good news and Jesus sharing the good news. Jesus already knew everything about the individuals and their motivation for asking various questions. He always met questioners right where they were. I think that's what we miss ... meeting the questioner rather than just the question.
Man this just hit home..
Wow, powerful realizations
Excellent point my friend! I'll remember this. :)
This is such a great point and caused me to reflect on some of my encounters with family . I cant really think of a time I actually asked why this question.
Thank you.
Very imp lesson... Thank you sir
Very interesting, I've heard Sean say that before. Still great to listen to.
Thank you
I think for me, my first response is with a question: What do you mean by evil ? Has something happened to you ? Is there something I can help you with ? Tell me your story... from her tears you can see something bad has happened.
come to philippines and preach collaborate with other preachers here
Amen
I am really bad at this... Arrogance is my great vice...
Not me. I'm awesome at being humble! ;-)
@@jedaiahkramer1204 if you have to announce your humility....
@@kkb892 it was a joke
Maybe you go travel to spread the love and the good news. Asia.
E-PLURIBUS-UNUM
Yeah, I'm sure that anecdote really happened just that way, if at all. I'm highly skeptical. Apologists just love to tell these stories in which everything just transpires in such a way that it's a near perfect metaphor for the point that they are trying to make. But they are usually preaching to the choir, so many will believe it at face value.
Maybe or maybe not. I am skeptical also, specifically of the stories the Gideons tell. (Guys who distribute the Bible)
Often God places us in these exact situations to improve our character and so that we can uplift the congregation. A similar situation just happened to me and I found this video which helped me realise what I did wrong. I guess you could say, this was God's plan.
Messiah in O.T. proves He was God the Son.
No good without evil ? Bad logic specially if you believe there is heaven.
There is heaven, there is also earth and hell. So there still is evil.
It's not bad logic at all. The notion of there not being good without evil is making a point of the disparity of the two, you have to know of one to acknowledge the other. In Heaven, you can know what evil is without it being actively present in that set location. Evil doesn't have to be present for good to be present, it's the knowledge and conceptual grasp of its existence that is what's relevant. So, most people in Heaven theoretically would have lived on the Earth where evil was present, so they have prior knowledge of it, so they know truly what they were saved from.
@@universalis8208 By that logic "you have to know of one to acknowledge the other" I think it would be impossible for Adam and Eve to know the difference between obeying or disobeying God. They had free will, they had choice. But they were completely ignorant of the consequence of that choice, they had no way to reference that death and evil were bad that disobeying god was evil and obeying him was good. Also, if heaven is perfect and there is no more pain there, hell must not be known because it would be painful to conceive hell, especially for the millions of Christians with family members who don't believe.
@@merari1614 well, they DID know the consequences of disobeying God by eating the fruit...He said the day you eat if it you will surely die.