When witnessing to family using WOTM goes wrong...

When witnessing to family using WOTM goes wrong.

Q: Recently my husband and I tried to witness to my dad the way Ray Comfort does - going through the 10 commandments when presenting the gospel. 

It didn’t go as planned - he wasn’t willing to admit to being a sinner. 

My mom, a long-time church goer, was defending him and was making it harder rather for us trying to help us reach him. Plus, During the conversation she admitted to having many doubts about the faith which made us question whether she is a true believer. 

A few days before this she had returned 2 books I lent her, Mere Christianity & More than a Carpenter, and said they were really good & interesting. I was shocked that she could read these books and still have so many doubts and questions about the Bible, God, etc. 

I would love your prayers for my parents to come to faith and also, is there any book or resource you think I should consider giving or sharing to my mom, (or questions to ask her, etc)? 

My dad isn’t much of a reader but if you have any suggestions on another way to convey the gospel to him I would appreciate it!

A: I am so sorry to hear it turned out this way. Our spirits are usually really happy we found a way to share the gospel and those who jump in and try to reach family are hoping it goes how we plan, but if God was going to save them right then He would have. Idk God's plan for your family or anyone, but being in their lives we can, as family, minister to them in continual ways. 

First, I would've prepared your mom to let her know when the chance arrives you will share the gospel with your dad, and you simply ask that she will pray while you are sharing the gospel, and not to interrupt even if you dont agree with something, and promise not to poo poo anything you said or shared after you go home after the encounter. So as to not damage the witness, and to try to let what you say settle in their mind and mull it over... regardless if he received it, semi received it or objected to it. Noting we can all, in time, continue to plant seeds and water it, with the hope of it growing (and fruit of salvation brought forth at harvest time). 

Second, Since you found out your moms faith is not what you thought, you've found useful info from both of them, to help you minister in the future. 

Sometimes if folk arent open to being truthful, like your dad, and remaining willfully spiritually blind, God might be keeping him in that darkness, buuut might have a time later where  He opens him to be receptive, (and using the seed sown by you - are growing) by God's own grace & timing. 

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day."  John 6: 44

Daily prayer in both situations will be needed...and ofc cuz it's the right thing to do towards others, [whether an unbeliever, false convert included, or someone weak in the faith cuz they are not in the Word daily]. 

For your mom, here's some stuff to help believers with doubts and questions. 

1. Doubt faq has info on evidences for the faith, free videos from cold case Christianity (and related and expanded books at cost). 

It also goes deeper (pushes to evidentiary investigative area used to send atheists there but very good for believer and non believer). It goes over evidence, points to OT and NT reliability. Talks about the books Jesus quoted from (all 39 OT but Esther), and shows how the 66 are God's Word, plus explains (in a sentence) "Jesus revealed" in each of the 66 books. 

2. Atheists objections answered.

Some folk who claim to be Christian were duped by doctrines of demons and believe lies such as "A loving God wouldn't send anyone to Hell." And its likely because either they havent been in the Bible reading daily or are false convert. 

* How would we know theres a Hell and how would we know ppl go there if God didnt tell us. Plus how can we not know about that when 1. It is what they hear in sermons and 2. It is one of the reasons a person becomes a Christian; flee from the wrath to come & to live righteously.

FAQ link

3. If your family is active and see your social media page and regularly like or even comment... use it as the place to minister to them more than you can irl situations. No guarantee they will see it or most that you post, but they could scroll thru your page out of curiosity. *Post photos of family and updates in general life to use your page to continue to draw them there. 

You could do a 10 days to understanding sin & the Commandments posting series.

Post on one 10C sin a day.

Include a link to LW podcast for that violation. They'll go over how people violate it. Or you can get a copy of the transcript and use portions of it to post in that days post. Use it as educational ministry. Then on day 11 ask the reader to take the quick test to see how they would do on judgment day.

On day 12 You can explain why Jesus came and why he died and why as the resurrected one we can receive what we dont deserve and not get what we do deserve. And how God went to extreme lengths and at a immeasurable cost, to save some from His own justice (and eternal Hell). That we all only deserve Hell but since God made the way to escape Judgment, and the punishment against sin of Hell, and even gives us eternal life and a place in Heaven for eternity, how could anyone turn down that offer?

We are all wretched sinners, none is good but Christ, and none can savev us but Christ, so we need to repent to God and receive the free gift he offers. 160k die every day and your time might be today. 

That could be good to kick this continued ministry off. 

Also, since it is near Thanksgiving and Christmas right now, more people are online connecting with family. 

Then, prayerfully consider based on the convo how you can try to shine a light on the seed you planted, and ask your pastor and believers you know who do outreach, esp if your church has such a group, to get ideas on how to plow the hard ground in your particular place. 

Beyond that, you might pick a FAQ or "Did You Know" from the links and post on them regularly so family and friends are ministered to by you in the long run.

There could possibly be, in addition to the books in the link #1👆, def those books, but consider these also:

Tactics, by Greg Koukl 

Street Smarts, by Greg Koukl

Absolutely Sure, by Steve Lawson

Another Gospel, by Alisa Childers

>Read all these books for yourself, or use the audio books, and decide if the content is simply sharable in convos or if you should gift certain books (at diff times). 

In the end every person is accountable to God, regardless if that's an unsaved person or a weak believer who refuses to receive God communicating to them in the Bible cuz they dont read it to hear Him & obey. People cant hide from God. Apostles & Reformers gave their lives to ensure we have the true Word and access to it, and there's no excuse.

Prayer is necessary. And ask other believers around you and at church to pray for your parents. For some it's hard for a parent to hear truth/these things from their child. Even Jesus's own family didn't listen to him. When you pray ask for their hearts to be opened, and for other solid believers to come along and speak to them candidly on these matters.

I pray God uses you to lovingly minister to your family & circle of influence irl & online. 🙏

God bless

Resources for Maturing Believers

Footnote:

Quotes and transcript info in spotify is a new feature. This explains how to use a ai or gptchat to get that info. To help you save time and when researching. Use caution tho.