let myself down with witnessing

[dreadreadrea]

anybody ever lose a friend by witnessing to them? i wrote an email to my closest friends whom i have never witnessed to....meaning all of them. im nervous about the response i will get. i talked about the love of Jesus, and sin, and how we need Jesus and everything. i didnt point fingers, i generalized sins that people commit and such. but from the one response i have got so far, it appears i have offended one of my best friends. im really concerned that my friend(s) may get offended and end our friendship. i mean, it seems like when talking about sin, people are easily offended. i dunno, maybe i should have gone TWOTM route. i mean, originally i was terrifiend to push the send button, but realized i fear them going to Hell more than that. but now i have to wonder, will my friends take such great offense somehow, that they no longer wanna be friends with me? i really love my friends, and i care about their eternal life, otherwise i wouldnt have written them. im just feelin really down now. any of u guys ever lost friends after sharing your faith?

[theroc]

:hug you did the right thing by sharing the gospel with them, good job and praise our God. Now you pray for conviction by His Spirit.

I wouldnt say I have lost friends but i have become really seperated over the years from them. Friends dont last forever but eternity does!

[harvest]

I'm pretty sure most of us have had a similar experience unfortunately. I wouldn't be down on yourself, it's the work of the Holy Spirit to convict and draw them to Christ. All you can do is share your testimony and the gospel. Having evil deeds exposed by the light of the Word is what upsets them.

You also don't have to rely on TWOTM because God doesn't always work in a pattern.(by the way, i'm not saying it's wrong using twotm) Besides, the seed you plant now might be harvested by someone else. :thumb

[HeIsEnough]

anybody ever lose a friend by witnessing to them? i wrote an email to my closest friends whom i have never witnessed to....meaning all of them. im nervous about the response i will get. i talked about the love of Jesus, and sin, and how we need Jesus and everything. i didnt point fingers, i generalized sins that people commit and such. but from the one response i have got so far, it appears i have offended one of my best friends. im really concerned that my friend(s) may get offended and end our friendship. i mean, it seems like when talking about sin, people are easily offended. i dunno, maybe i should have gone TWOTM route. i mean, originally i was terrifiend to push the send button, but realized i fear them going to Hell more than that. but now i have to wonder, will my friends take such great offense somehow, that they no longer wanna be friends with me? i really love my friends, and i care about their eternal life, otherwise i wouldnt have written them. im just feelin really down now. any of u guys ever lost friends after sharing your faith?

In all honesty, some will hate you for it, expect it. Some of mine don't like me much (not overtly, just a general quick to be angry with me, I just don't give them anything to be angry with me over...I don't judge them nor provoke them) , but I don't stand against them or what they do. Be as gentle as a lamb, and let them stab without fighting back. They will soon tire of heaping hot coals on their own head, but you will gain valuable experience in presenting and uplifting Jesus Christ alone, and nothing more. (the most important part of the call)

[Mailman Dan]

In all honesty, some will hate you for it, expect it. Some of mine don't like me much (not overtly, just a general quick to be angry with me, I just don't give them anything to be angry with me over...I don't judge them nor provoke them) , but I don't stand against them or what they do. Be as gentle as a lamb, and let them stab without fighting back. They will soon tire of heaping hot coals on their own head, but you will gain valuable experience in presenting and uplifting Jesus Christ alone, and nothing more. (the most important part of the call)

I second that.

The bible is clear that the gospel will offend, and people might hate you because of it. However, the stakes are too high not to witness. I'd rather have made an effort in this world to share with them, than not have an excuse in the next as to why I didn't.

On top of that, when you share the gospel, it doesn't come back void. We don't have anything to lose, but people who belong to the world have everything to lose.

BTW, don't get upset if someone does get angry. John Wesly used to send out young men to preach in towns near the places he was visiting. When they returned, he only asked 2 questions. The first question was did anyone get saved. If they said no, he asked if anyone got mad at them. If they said no to that, he said they were not called to preach. :lol2

Either the gospel will convict and the person will convert to Christ, or the gospel will convict and they will get mad at you for it, rather than wanting to change and repent. This is not uncommon and bibical, so if you do see it, don't be suprised.

Dan~~~>made lifetime enemies, but also eternal friends

[ImHis]

I expect to lose my Catholic friends when I am finally granted the opportunity and courage to tell them the truth <SIGH>.

[God's Trombone]

It is just me, but I doubt that emails to your friends
is a wise move to present them with the Gospel.

I have been around the block quite a few times at my age and I just don't do that kind of thing.

Maybe I'm wrong. Evidently I'm out of step with most who responded.:thinking

[HeIsEnough]

I'm pretty sure no one is responding to that aspect GT. Just the subject in general.

[dreadreadrea]

thanks everyone. yeah, im feelin better now. and i get what everyone is saying. but yeah, i just dont see my friends these days, and its really the only way i get to speak with them anymore. in fact, the next time i plan on seeing them is in a few months. and i was really tired of waiting. anything can happen in a few months.

[seeHimsoon]

I second that.

The bible is clear that the gospel will offend, and people might hate you because of it. However, the stakes are too high not to witness. I'd rather have made an effort in this world to share with them, than not have an excuse in the next as to why I didn't.

On top of that, when you share the gospel, it doesn't come back void. We don't have anything to lose, but people who belong to the world have everything to lose.


Either the gospel will convict and the person will convert to Christ, or the gospel will convict and they will get mad at you for it, rather than wanting to change and repent. This is not uncommon and bibical, so if you do see it, don't be suprised.

Dan~~~>made lifetime enemies, but also eternal friends

I totally agree with all this. Jesus was clear we would be hated on account of Him. But many are brought into the Kingdom by God, through the preaching/sharing of the gospel. Some will reject, and some will repent and believe. We may not always know which, in this life, but seeds are planted, and God will do His will with His word sown. This is our job- we are His ambassadors: representing Jesus Christ to the world. We must not fret over the results of witnessing, but trust Him, as we faithfully (out of obedience and love for Him) share the gospel. The result is between the person and God. When a person reacts in anger and rage against you, because of being offended by the Word, after the initial hurt, the Lord will actually give you peace and joy that is indescribable, because it comes from Him, because you have suffered whatever loss or abuse, for Him.