[irishtenor]

***Imagine that you are first century Christian, without a bible in your hand, trying to convince an eastern barbarian that God is active to the point that this barbarian will be ready to be eaten by lions and be tested unto death for this faith! ***

Now we come to the heart of the problem...

You imagine it is a sound argument that “convinces” someone to turn toward Christ. This is a wrong assumption. It is the Holy Spirit that works in an individual to turn him from death to life ever after. There is no “Convincing” as if a strong argument will change a person, There is no slogan, or good work, or positive thinking involved at all. If this were so, all it would take is a great campaign slogan and maybe give them a few dollars and they become believers. You would have as much success in a graveyard as you would anywhere else.

[kosta50]

You imagine it is a sound argument that “convinces” someone to turn toward Christ. This is a wrong assumption. It is the Holy Spirit that works in an individual to turn him from death to life ever after

Then why do you need a Bible? Why did Christ send off his disciples saying "teach all nations and baptize...?"

Why not just let the Holy Spirit do all the work and convert those whom he will convert and dismiss those whom he will dismiss?

If this is all done by the HS, why all the preaching? Feel-good? Why all the convincing? Feel-good? If faith comes from God, then you don't count! So, leave it all in God's hands and be done.

You would have as much success in a graveyard as you would anywhere else

Please tell that to all the tele-evenagelists and missionaries.