For about the past 6 months I have been having quite a few conversations in person and via e-mail with a man from work who claims to be a Christian.
This man rightfully talks about how wrong the left wing agenda is, he has sent me many articles of examples of the agenda of the left. Some of these articles I think I have have also have found on the Highway. Although I appreciate where this man is coming from; I have come to realize that although he talks about these things being against Christianity; he does not actually bring up Scripture.
I thought I would try to ask him to bring up Scripture during these conversations, especially on how we as Christians should react. Since this did not seem to change anything, I decided to do it myself when I replied to him. I brought up Scripture such as Acts 7 where Stephen was brought before his accusers and preached to them, which lead to his martyrdom. I brought up Paul and a few other Bible characters, also to make the point how they all believed that God was sovereign over everything and they could face whatever life threw at them trusting God.
His response; was basically that Paul and Stephen were probably not married so they could afford to be “pacifists”. I responded that I do not believe that either Paul or Stephen were advocating “pacifism”. I also gave him a verse that has been a great comfort to me during health crisis and other things in my life; that verse is Roman 8:28 and exegeted the verse for him.
His response was asking me if someone was threatening the life of my wife, would I sit back and just pray, or would I physically intervene? I responded of course that I would physically intervene. He then responded, that is good, so you wouldn’t actually do what Romans 8:28 says, seeing God is sovereign?
I told him that Romans 8:28, does not in the slightest manner tell us to sit back and just pray in a situation like you mentioned. He looked at me like I had three eyes and said I am making absolutely no sense at all.
This is basically how the conversation has been going, and I have tried to explain myself to him in a number of different ways without any success, other than he still keeps bringing up the conversation.
I am beginning to think this is starting to be a waste of my time; however before I give up, I thought I would ask the board for their opinions first.
Tom