How do I reach out to liberal Christians?

The authority of scripture is key. You accept it, they do not. You cannot have a meaningful dialog with someone if they don't accept the same foundation of belief that you do.

I once had a discussion with a man about the role of women in the church, i.e. serving as pastors or deacons. I pointed to Paul's instructions in I Timothy. He advised me that he disagreed with Paul's interpretation of the Old Tesament.

Please see that he didn't argue with my understanding of what Paul wrote. He understood what Paul wrote. He disagreed with Paul!

I replied that Paul was an Apostle. He replied that Paul thought he was an Apostle.

I knew then nothing meaningful could come from the conversation because my focus was on scripture and he dismissed it out of hand.

Never grow weary stating the truth of scripture.

Peace to you

 

There are some questions, I think, of which can be asked.


The base question:
"If you were to explain to someone how to become a Christian, what would you explain to that person?"

"If you were to explain to someone how to know God personally, what would you tell that person?"

"If you were to explain to someone the gospel, what would you explain?"

"If you were to explain to someone how to know for sure when one dies, that one would go to Heaven?"

The purpose is to diagnose the person's spiritual need, not to argue.

Since you already know the Holy Scripture is not believed, the question might need to be asked, if you do no already know the persons reason for not accepting the Scripture as an authority, "What reason would you give for not trusting the Bible?" Or some other relevant question.

Three useful points about inerrancy. What inerracy is not: 1) Not the reader's interpretation. 2) Not the translation. 3) Not the known variant errors in the handed down Greek or Hebrew texts. What is inerrant is what God Himself actually gave His prophets and Apostles.

Also it should be remembered that genuine Christianity stands and falls on the NT texts. The claim of the resurrection is at issue. The actual history and basis for belief in the resurrection of Christ are the NT documents.

So a question might be asked then, "If you where to explain, why as a Christian, one should believe Jesus as the Christ, died for one's sins and rose bodily from the dead, and what evidence would you give?"

 

Excellent!!! I am not sure if you are familiar with The Alpha Course, but it is 'Christianity101' which gives overwhelming evidence of our Lord's bodily resurrection.

The last presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church claimed resurrection 'is the spirit of Jesus living within His followers today'. WRONG!!!

Liberal theology has led many souls to dismiss the reality of the NT witness. Christ came to save poor sinners (ALL OF US), He shed His blood on the hard wood of the cross, died and was bodily resurrected and lives. Romans 10:9

 

Not too sure you can, based on the posts from one “liberal Christian” on this board.
Seems this un-named LC is never able to simply and honestly explain how he/she can claim Christ AND unabashedly and vehemently, at the same time, praise & champion the fanatical & anti-christian beliefs of the d party.
In the same breath he/she accuses the R party of “worshiping the party as God”.
So, no, I really don’t think you can “fruitfully” witness to a LC unless theHS is leading you to do so.

 

The NT documents are the only real evidence of Christ's bodily resurrection. Any alleged secondary evidence is either fraudulent or are post the NT documents. And the NT documents being the word of God are self authenticating. (Like John 7:17).

 

Pray like mad is a great start. Prayer does tear down strongholds. And sometimes you may just be planting seeds. If they truly believe in God but simply do not grasp what the scriptures are saying, then there is room for God to give growth.

I have found that people that call themselves "LC" actually do NOT believe in the God of the Hebrews. They are more so those wolves spoken of in scripture.......those wolves in sheep's clothing, (Title of Christian only) but live nothing like a true Christian. I have had many, debates with them ,along side of all other religions and atheist . I have found that these "LC" are more in line with other religions and the atheist than True Christians. These same 'LC" on college campuses will stand more readily along side,the pluralism in the debate and atheist than actual Christians.

When I tear down the Atheist false narrative( that there is no God), I find "LC" (AKA PHONY CHRISTIANS) scatter like roaches and flee the debate. So, I have learned not to consider these "LC" as Christians at all . Therefore I do not approach them as Christians, but simply as wolves in sheep's clothing. They have no faith in Christ,they just go through the motions, they just simply act like stumbling blocks to people who may be weak in knowledge of Christ, and easily swayed by their rhetoric. A half truth is the greatest lie of all because it is meant to deceive. A bold face lie is as thus (Bold Faced) and is recognized, but a half truth is a maligned truth, in order to appear validated. Deception is its name and many are in that game, whether unawares or willingly.

"LC" once they realize you can not deny the existence of God, then the next step is to show how all the religious practices, since ancient times to now, are all the same. There is only one , from the moment of its inception that has been different from all the others.

They will argue "then quantity must mean truth, because of commonality. The math is there, the numbers speak for themselves". I have heard this after speaking with"LC". They are actually for co-exist and have a - Bahá'í Faith: it is a religion teaching the essential worth of all religions, and the unity and equality of all people. Established by Bahá'u'lláh in 1863, it initially grew in Persia and parts of the Middle East, where it has faced ongoing persecution since its inception. These people "LC" actually embrace things from all religions as true and even accept a lot of opinions of atheist. Whether they would call themselves a Bahai or not , you will find they do believe the same as this religion and therefore are not even Christian. They even support Jorge Bergoglio's approach of "I choose love", and embrace all.

WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?:
1. Establish the undeniable truth that God exist.
2. Show the obvious differences between our Hebraic Christian faith and other religions
3. How Christ fulfilled prophecy up to this point and what He fulfilled.
4. Once fulfilled prophecies are shown , then show how all else that follows will too come to past.
There will be no doubt as to the rest of prophecy because it will be clear based on all that has been, all that will be then, can be fulfilled by no other.

That is my process. I find I will only gain a few as oppose to the many. Not because I am proven wrong but because then people realize Christianity is no joke and is not for the cowardly. Those whom I bring to the faith I baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. I proceed to teach them the same truths I reveal here. They then fellowship with all the Christian denominations, Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant, and show no partiality . They adhere to the truths I have been graced to know. However, they seek to celebrate the Eucharist within a traditional Catholic Mass. If no traditional Mass be found and no priest is around who upholds the Traditional Mass,they celebrate at home between them and Christ, by using unleavened bread and wine and ask Christ to send His Holy Spirit to consecrate the gifts, they simply practice the faith as the First Church did.

 

I agree.

2Jo 1:9 KJV - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jo 1:10 KJV - If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed:

 

Ultimately, only Holy Spirit is able to convince these folks of spiritual truth. You must make sure you are firmly grounded in biblical knowledge to protect yourself from their influence on you.

Peace to you.

 

I think that what you will find is, that you cannot.

I know the situation seems dire, but the Lord will provide you good fellowship with a small group of brothers and sisters.
Just don't expect there to be many professing Christians "out there" who love Him and His words.

 

I don't reach out to them.
I Cor 5:11