Originally Posted by Robin
Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that I've been a moderator here for years, and a supporter of this site for longer than that...

My daughter and her suitor are both communicant members of solid bible-preaching churches, and have been examined not only by their parents, but by the elders of their churches. Neither I nor his parents would allow their children to court an unbeliever.

I was hoping for a little discussion on why so many people find it awkward and unnatural to put their faith into words; why evangelism training seminars are apparently necessary (and what the folks think of that kind of training - Evangelism Explosion, for example); and why many evangelicals rely on gospel tracts instead of personal personal evangelism. At least that's what I had in mind in the original post.

Just forget I asked.

On the contrary Robin I think it is an excellent question to ask, and I think your illustration using your child and her suitor was great. Now the fact that you were misunderstood not so great. Now me I get crazy, big surprise there right wink, when I see the word Gospel bandied about. Because I know what the Gospel is, but in this post-christian culture Gospel seems to mean anything the person using it wants it to mean. So for your daughter or her suitor to define the Gospel may take in a huge task including what the Gospel isn't and how to define it so that the post-christian culture understands. That can be an overwhelming task, especially for two people who want to court each other.

Peter

If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. Augustine of Hippo