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Opening Eyes

Here is a question that some of you might have. “I am increasingly being faced by family, friends, and acquaintances who state that all religions lead to God and there is no one source of written revelation from God. This attitude immediately dismisses anything I might share with them from the Word of God. What is a good approach with these people, an approach that will invite them to evaluate their false belief and leave the door open to more conversation?”

First, what the unbeliever wants to hear or not hear should not determine what the believer says. The unbeliever does not believe the Word of God. Of course he doesn’t! He has not heard it. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Before he can believe, he must hear the Word. It is the only source of faith.

We get our orders from God, not from unbelievers. However, that does not mean that we should force the word, for “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4).

There needs to be a pre-gospel opening of their eyes. “I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:18).

Here is a way that has been effective with many unbelievers. This Christmas, send the person a book that is not a direct declaration of the Gospel. (He is not likely to read a declaration.) Send him a book that he will read and will not be able to put down. Here are a few suggestions:

Peace Child by Don Richardson
And the Word Came with Power by Joanne Shetler
In Search of the Source by Neil Anderson
Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot
To the Golden Shore (a biography of Adoniram Judson) by Courtney Anderson
A Prisoner and Yet by Corrie Ten Boom

Unbelievers think they know what Christians, aboriginal people, and missionaries are. In reality, they don’t know. By reading the books you give, they may realize they do not know and want to find out. Of course, you should read the books first! If you have difficulty finding these books, please let me know.

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