I'm from a generation that went to Sunday School every Sunday. Recent stats say that most people 30 and under don't know who Jonah or Noah are. They didn't go to Sunday School. That can be difficult to grasp. How a person witnesses depends on the persons age. If someone on this thread doesn't know the basics, I'd be surprised. They are on this thread because they've heard and either don't believe or disagree with interpretation.
I believe that people have differing levels of understanding and awareness. I believe that some people need to have "rules" - they need to have everything spelled out for them and when they are obedient to the "rules" as they *understand* them - they feel good.
I believe others try to live a loving life. They try to make choices and decisions based on living in the Presence of God - in constant communication with God within their heart.
I believe the latter group can understand and even have compassion on the first but that the first group cannot see beyond where they are. They cannot see outside of the set in which they abide.
I liken it to the Islamists. The lower, or extremist Islamists want all of life to be controlled by "rules". And those that obey are called "pure" and are praised. They have no *understanding* of anything beyond that - no understanding of freedom of choice - of love as the highest of all virtues. Forgiveness is merely a word to them. They have no eyes to see or ears to ear. They are usually very fearful people. And it is usually a waste of time to try and reason with them...but it is important not to let them kill you.