.....yet another sad, silly story
I'm really hoping I can communicate this stuff in a way that will grab some folks or help people understand how silly all of our evangelical methods of evangelism have become and how it has all been reduced to some kind of intellectual assent to doctrines about what Jesus accomplished at the cross. I expressed early on in these postings about Philip the flaming evangelist going out to save the world .... I could trick anybody into "God talk"....actually it was more like "God listen".... :)
usually within about 2 or at the most 3 sentences... whether they liked it or not.... off I went.... taking them down the Roman Road or right into the 4 Spiritual Laws! Oh... yes...was I ever good at it!
Never forget the poor guy from a car rental place in Chicago who picked me up at the airport and then was locked in the car with me for 20 minutes till we got back to his place where the rental was.... his first mistake was offering me the services of a young lady for the evening to which I responded... no thanks...that's not my bag..... Then came his second mistake... he asked .... thinking perhaps there was something else I might prefer that he could supply....... "So what's your bag?"
My immediate response was "Jesus Christ!" It was non-stop from there till I finally was off in my car rental. Of course, when I returned the car, the deal had changed a bit and I was being charged for an extra day..... so much for my wonderful witness..... Philip the spiritual giant lost it! I straightened him out right quick about his unrighteousness! :)
Remember what I said about being a witness instead of giving a witness. It was very easy for me to say the words.....to turn on my memorized version of the 4 Spiritual Laws...but...it was still the old Phil Wolff losing it and acting just like he always did when he straightened anybody out who needed straightening...... funny thing is..... it was never me that needed straightening.... it was always the other guy! :)
I mentioned in an earlier posting about some of the disasters of those who sometimes responded to my manipulation.....maybe they responded just to shut me up! :) ....my conversions.... all the ones Philip was leading to the Lord... as we say in evangelical circles.
So sad...so silly..... but it still never really registered.... the Lord even told me to stop saving people way back in 1969.... He said He would take care of that Himself and really didn't need me or want me to do it any more....period! But I still didn't quite get it.... it has taken me so many years.... to even begin to see this stuff because of all the ingrained teachings about this.....quite a journey..... like going thru withdrawal from any addiction..... guess I would like to somehow help shorten that journey for others who are still trying to help Him out and save the world for Jesus.
Maybe we could all work a little harder at being rather than saying.... might even find some folks who start asking some questions. I can't believe I spent all those years giving people answers to questions they never asked.
:)
usually within about 2 or at the most 3 sentences... whether they liked it or not.... off I went.... taking them down the Roman Road or right into the 4 Spiritual Laws! Oh... yes...was I ever good at it!
Never forget the poor guy from a car rental place in Chicago who picked me up at the airport and then was locked in the car with me for 20 minutes till we got back to his place where the rental was.... his first mistake was offering me the services of a young lady for the evening to which I responded... no thanks...that's not my bag..... Then came his second mistake... he asked .... thinking perhaps there was something else I might prefer that he could supply....... "So what's your bag?"
My immediate response was "Jesus Christ!" It was non-stop from there till I finally was off in my car rental. Of course, when I returned the car, the deal had changed a bit and I was being charged for an extra day..... so much for my wonderful witness..... Philip the spiritual giant lost it! I straightened him out right quick about his unrighteousness! :)
Remember what I said about being a witness instead of giving a witness. It was very easy for me to say the words.....to turn on my memorized version of the 4 Spiritual Laws...but...it was still the old Phil Wolff losing it and acting just like he always did when he straightened anybody out who needed straightening...... funny thing is..... it was never me that needed straightening.... it was always the other guy! :)
I mentioned in an earlier posting about some of the disasters of those who sometimes responded to my manipulation.....maybe they responded just to shut me up! :) ....my conversions.... all the ones Philip was leading to the Lord... as we say in evangelical circles.
So sad...so silly..... but it still never really registered.... the Lord even told me to stop saving people way back in 1969.... He said He would take care of that Himself and really didn't need me or want me to do it any more....period! But I still didn't quite get it.... it has taken me so many years.... to even begin to see this stuff because of all the ingrained teachings about this.....quite a journey..... like going thru withdrawal from any addiction..... guess I would like to somehow help shorten that journey for others who are still trying to help Him out and save the world for Jesus.
Maybe we could all work a little harder at being rather than saying.... might even find some folks who start asking some questions. I can't believe I spent all those years giving people answers to questions they never asked.
:)
