A Near Conversion
Although last Sunday was my final one at Scots', I am still involved in the Introducing God course that we've been running, and tonight I had a wonderful time. I almost made a convert.
One Asian girl on my table seemed to come very close to becoming a Christian. She understood that there is a choice to be made between trusting Jesus and saying "No!" to God. She realised that trusting Jesus means not trying to get right with God by yourself, but by relying on Jesus to take the punishment that you deserve. She said that she wanted to trust Jesus.
I could have got her to pray the Sinner's Prayer there and then.
But I didn't. I decided to probe a bit further, and I asked her if she wanted the relationship with God that trusting in Jesus brings. Then she asked if she needed to stop being a Buddhist...
I could have had a conversion if I had only said that she could be a Christian as well as remaining a Buddhist. But I missed my opportunity, and she remains "not far" from the Kingdom of God. Please pray for her.
On a side note, she thanked me, and said that I listen to her and explain things clearly. It struck me later that this is exactly how I wish to carry out my pastoral ministry – listening and explaining. Some ministers are good at listening, but not good at explaining, while some are good at explaining but not good at listening...
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(Anonymous)
2007-11-27 15:06
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I will say that you are very good at explaining things clearly. Sometime Reformed people seem to forget that this is a good thing. Simple is sometimes best.
-Zan(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-11-27 16:54
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Dear John, Craig S sent me the link to your post. I'll pray for your friend. We find quite a few people 'dribble into the kingdom' in the next few months after the Introducing God course has finished. Yours in Christ, Dominic (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-11-27 23:43
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That was very helpful and very encouraging John. I suspect you will be useful in the work of the kingdom. All the very best in the new work you will be undertaking at Aspendale.
Regards,
George.
PS. I think I might enjoy a little bit of dialogue with your brother. If you read this Radagast, and if you are agreeable to it, maybe you could pass on your email address to John, who could then in turn pass it on to me. Regards, George.(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-12-15 06:21
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Dear John,
I happen to stumble upon your blog. I am a bit concerned about your comment that she could be a Christian as well as remaining a Buddhist. Please explain your stance on this.(Reply to this) (Thread) |
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(Anonymous)
2007-12-18 23:38
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You had me worried there for a moment. It is just the way you phrase your sentence that made me think as though you were disappointed that you missed the opportunity to 'convert' her by compromising on your stance. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread) |
| buddhist can't be a christian
(Anonymous)
2008-05-15 00:14
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Hi, I'm another anonymous stumbler onto your blog. Could I ask why you say this? I'm not expert on buddhism, just one who admires the buddhist path, and tries to follow it, though I'm not very learned, not spohisticated theologically. I wonder why you say that given that there are many people in the world who combine both paths, and so I'm just interested to hear your views on this, as I haven't run into someone who thinks they can't be concurrently done. Many wishes for peace to you :-) Equanimous of SOuth Australia (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread) |
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