Your concern for upholding biblical principles is commendable.  So is your desire to befriend your sister and provide her with a Christian example.

The Scripture passage you cited is in the context of taking part in idolatrous worship with others and joining together with false teachers.  That does not sound like your situation at all.  I understand you wanting to re-establish and strengthen ties with a sibling—being a Christian example to her so that she can be influenced positively by your faith (Matthew 5:16).  Friendship with unbelievers becomes problematic when they influence Christians negatively.

By all means continue to show your sister what Christ and Christianity are all about.  God bless you and your efforts.

While I am a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), I do not teach there.  Since you were interested in knowing what Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary specifically teaches future pastors about evangelism practices with regard to “active, non-WELS Christians,” I asked for a response from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.  The following response is courtesy of Professor Daniel Leyrer, who is responsible for formal Evangelism instruction at the Seminary:

“Proselytizing (or ‘sheep stealing’) is the practice of making contact with and preaching to active Christian members of heterodox churches in order to move them from their Christian church into our Christian church.  It’s a practice we avoid for a couple of reasons.  First, it denies the doctrine of The Church by suggesting that Christianity can only exist within WELS congregations.  Such a suggestion is neither scriptural not confessional (cf. Augsburg Confession, Article VII).  Second, proselytizing violates the call the heterodox minister has to serve by seeking to sever the bond established by that call.

“However, I italicized the three words ‘in order to’ in the paragraph above to make a point.  The purpose or intent of our action is key in determining when evangelizing crosses the line into proselytizing.  Proclaiming the gospel to a Christian of another fellowship because I have been asked to give an answer concerning the hope that I have (cf. 1 Peter 3:15) is not proselytizing.  Proclaiming the gospel to the public at large through multi-media outreach is not proselytizing.  Serving my neighbor by providing good Christian education through my church school, and in the process proclaiming the gospel in that school, is not proselytizing.  And if an active member of a heterodox Christian church makes a decision to leave their church and join ours after receiving gospel instruction in our midst by their choice, I will chalk that up not to proselytizing, but the Spirit’s working through gospel proclamation. “

Your question touches on the subject of predestination (Acts 13:48; Romans 8:28-30; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:9; 1 Peter 1:2).  While God has revealed in the Bible that he has chosen his children from eternity, he has also revealed in the Bible that he brings the elect to faith through the gospel (John 3:5; Romans 10:17; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18).  For that reason, Jesus instructed his followers to “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

The confessions of our church summarize these points:  “For through the Word and Sacraments, as through instruments, the Holy Ghost is given, who works faith, where and when it pleases God, in them that hear the Gospel, to wit, that God, not for our own merits, but for Christ’s sake, justifies those who believe that they are received into grace for Christ’s sake” (Augsburg Confession, Article V).

Armed with this information, we strive to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all the world.

While I am a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), I do not teach there.  Since you were interested in knowing what Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary specifically teaches future pastors about evangelism practices with regard to “active, non-WELS Christians,” I asked for a response from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.  The following response is courtesy of Professor Daniel Leyrer, who is responsible for formal Evangelism instruction at the Seminary:

“Proselytizing (or ‘sheep stealing’) is the practice of making contact with and preaching to active Christian members of heterodox churches in order to move them from their Christian church into our Christian church.  It’s a practice we avoid for a couple of reasons.  First, it denies the doctrine of The Church by suggesting that Christianity can only exist within WELS congregations.  Such a suggestion is neither scriptural not confessional (cf. Augsburg Confession, Article VII).  Second, proselytizing violates the call the heterodox minister has to serve by seeking to sever the bond established by that call.

“However, I italicized the three words ‘in order to’ in the paragraph above to make a point.  The purpose or intent of our action is key in determining when evangelizing crosses the line into proselytizing.  Proclaiming the gospel to a Christian of another fellowship because I have been asked to give an answer concerning the hope that I have (cf. 1 Peter 3:15) is not proselytizing.  Proclaiming the gospel to the public at large through multi-media outreach is not proselytizing.  Serving my neighbor by providing good Christian education through my church school, and in the process proclaiming the gospel in that school, is not proselytizing.  And if an active member of a heterodox Christian church makes a decision to leave their church and join ours after receiving gospel instruction in our midst by their choice, I will chalk that up not to proselytizing, but the Spirit’s working through gospel proclamation. “

I don’t have all the details of your conversation, but it sounds like you were trying to underscore the grace of God when it comes to understanding life’s difficulties and problems.  That is a good subject to underscore.  King David did that when he made this observation about the Lord:  “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10).  We are thankful that God does not treat us as our sins deserve, but instead deals graciously and kindly with us.  Sending his Son to be our Savior is proof positive of God’s grace and love and kindness.

While Christians like you and I enjoy peace with God, forgiveness of sins and can look forward to heaven, still we are not exempt from problems and troubles in life.  Jesus, in fact, stated just the opposite.  He told his disciples:  “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33).  Jesus’ followers—then and now—are guaranteed troubles because of Satan’s relentless attacks, the unbelieving world’s animosity toward us and the difficulties our own sinful nature may create.  (But read the end of that verse from John’s Gospel.  Jesus went on to say:  “But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”)

God can do one of two things with all the evil coming from those sources:  he can prevent them from entering our lives (Psalm 91:10) or he can allow them to come into our lives for a loving purpose (Romans 8:28).

Your question touches on that last thought:  that a loving God allows troubles into the lives of his children for good reasons.  Here is where we have to bow in humility and awe at the ways and works of God.  We need to acknowledge that his thoughts and ways are not our thoughts and ways (Isaiah 55:8).  We need to confess that God’s wise ways are beyond our understanding (Romans 11:33-36).  We need to trust that God knows at all times what he is doing, and that he is doing what is best for us (Psalm 37:5-6).

In the midst of tragedy Jesus once told a man, “Don’t be afraid; just believe” (Luke 8:50).  That is good instruction for you and me today, because “No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3).  When tragedy strikes, we want to keep in mind that what we struggle to comprehend now will be clearer one day (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Finally, a review of the book of Job can be helpful in understanding better the presence of troubles in the life of a child of God.  God bless your witnessing efforts.

It certainly can be educational to read the “primary sources” of other religions.  In this case, such educational reading of the Qur’an can help equip Christians in their witnessing to Muslims.

If you are interested in a book that provides a brief overview of the Qur’an, accompanied by a biblical response of law and gospel, I can recommend this one:  “Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims.”

Your question is a good reminder of a practical way in which we can prepare ourselves for future witnessing opportunities (1 Peter 3:15) to Muslims or anyone outside the Christian faith.

When it comes to the disastrous conditions of Hosea 9 and 16, the people of Israel were reaping the fruits of their idolatrous ways of life. God had promised temporal blessings if the people followed his commands (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Additionally, God had threatened to make the people’s lives miserable if they did not follow his commands (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). By deserting the Lord and chasing after false gods, the people were suffering self-inflicted disasters. To me, this is evidence that God’s word is “perfect and unerring.” There were no surprises in what was happening in the lives of the people of Israel described in Hosea. God laid out an offer of life and death (Deuteronomy 30:11-20), and the people chose death.

The command in Deuteronomy 17 to execute idolaters ties in with the previous information. If problems were going to result from idolatry, then idolatry needed to be checked. That truth is even more apparent when we consider that the greatest problem people could have experienced was eternal death, eternal separation from God in hell.

If there are objections to the provision of stoning idolaters in Old Testament Israel to death, people need to keep in mind what God says, “See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life” (Deuteronomy 32:39). As the giver of life, God is the one who has the right to end life. He still authorizes governments today to act in his behalf when it comes to punishing criminals (cf. Romans 13)

God bless your witnessing efforts to your friend. Keeping directing her to God’s law which points out sin and the need for a Savior from sin (Romans 3:20). Keep pointing her to God’s gospel which speaks of God’s forgiving love in Christ (John 3:16).

There is a need to be born again because by nature we are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the need for rebirth, to be born again. “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again… Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:3, 5-6).

You notice here is where the work of the Holy Spirit enters the picture. Just as we have no control over and are not responsible for our own physical birth, so we are passive recipients of the Holy Spirit’s work when it comes to our spiritual rebirth.

The Bible makes it clear that rebirth is the work of God. In addition to Jesus’ words in John 3, consider these Scripture verses. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 3:4-6). “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ” (Colossians 2:13).

When it comes to evangelism resources, I would direct you to “What About Jesus?” This web site, maintained by WELS Commission on Evangelism, offers many resources that you could use in speaking to your acquaintances. God bless your efforts!

I will forward your suggestion to personnel in WELS Commission on Evangelism.

At the same time, I would point out the materials that are already available through “What About Jesus?” the web site maintained by WELS Commission on Evangelism.

I join you in asking God to bless our outreach efforts.

Fear and anxiety in showing our faith can result from different factors. There can be the fear of ridicule and verbal persecution. There can be the anxiety of wondering whether I will be able to come up with a response if someone asks me a question about the Bible or the Christian faith. Since I do not know your particular situation, my response will be general in nature.

Our God does instruct us to live our faith in our everyday lives. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Our God also instructs us to speak to others about his wonderful works. The psalmist wrote: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (Psalm 105:1-2). God even directs us to prepare ourselves for times when others ask us about our faith: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

I appreciate your question about whether “simply living ‘by example’ [is] enough for our Christian faith to be known.” If we do not speak to others about our faith, people could look at our lives and conclude: 1) we are Christians, or 2) we are nice, morally-upright unbelievers. When we have opportunity to speak to people, option number two will disappear.

Can you let your faith be known without soliciting or imposing it on others? Certainly. As you converse with people at and outside your workplace, you can build relationships with them. In the course of conversations, as natural opportunities arise, you can speak of your faith. That way of sharing your faith is quite different from a “soliciting” or “imposing” approach that gives people the message of Jesus Christ but without the context of a caring relationship.

Perhaps you could benefit from personal evangelism tools that are available from WELS Commission on Evangelism. This link will take you to those tools. God bless the witnessing that you do—in word and by example.

Your brief, important question requires a lengthy response—and probably lengthier than appropriate for this forum.

Probably the best help I can provide is directing you to a very useful book by the title of “Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims.” There may be a copy in your church library. If not, the book and a DVD Bible study are available from Northwestern Publishing House. Chapter 10 of the book will be helpful for you. It is titled: “Witnessing to Muslims.”

God bless your witnessing efforts!

A concise explanation is going to vary from one person to another, and the information I want to pass along to you would probably not fit the definition of being concise. In addition, the explanation of what it means to be a WELS Lutheran would undoubtedly be more meaningful to people if you came up with that explanation yourself.

With those thoughts in mind, let me pass along a couple of resources that summarize what we believe. The first resource is a section of this web site titled “What the Bible and Lutherans teach.” This link will take you to that section. While there are almost 30 different subjects that are treated, you could condense the list of subjects to come up with a more concise explanation of our faith.

A second resource is a book titled “Positively Lutheran: a simple statement of what Lutherans believe.” It is available from Northwestern Publishing House via this link. That resource would also give you content with which to formulate a concise explanation of our faith.

What you will probably discover is that the explanation of your faith may not be as concise as you would like. Why is that? Christian faith encompasses so many subjects that are in the Bible. But if you want to get really concise, you could point to the three solas (“alone”) of the Lutheran Reformation: by grace alone, by faith alone, by Scripture alone. God’s grace, his undeserved love for sinners, is the reason for providing salvation. We enjoy salvation only through faith in Jesus Christ and not because of anything we do or don’t do. Scripture alone is the source of our faith.

I hope this information will be helpful to you. Welcome to our family of believers!

This link will take you to a recent resource that offers some practical suggestions for your situation.

After you click on the link, look for “View/Open” on the left side of the page. Once you open the document, head to page 63. There you will find “Ideas for compassionate Christian friends and family.”

May God guide you and bless your Christian testimony to your friend.

By praying for her, you are doing much. Prayer is “powerful and effective” (James 5:16). Changing hearts is the Holy Spirit’s work. Keep praying that the Spirit uses any contact your granddaughter has with the gospel of Jesus Christ to change her heart. She cannot choose to believe in Jesus. No one can do that (John 15:16).

With the Spirit’s work in mind, do what you can to share Scripture with her. Maybe it’s a matter of emailing her a link to a devotion. The WELS web site has numerous devotions available. You will find good resources on the What About Jesus? web site maintained by our synod’s Commission on Evangelism.

When you do have face-to-face contact with your granddaughter, ask her questions about school and life. Your responses—with scriptural references and inferences—can be perceived as being more natural than sharing biblical truths without context.

Finally, don’t underestimate your Christian example. While the apostle Peter’s words are in the context of married life, his instruction about witnessing “without words” (1 Peter 3:1) has application in life in general. God bless you and your granddaughter.

We will not find a passage in the Bible that states specifically and succinctly: “Baptism creates faith.” We know that baptism is a faith-working act on God’s part by looking at several Bible passages and seeing how they relate to baptism. The Bible explains that people enjoy the forgiveness of sins and eternal life by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ his Son (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:28). The Bible states that baptism gives people those very blessings of life and forgiveness (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5-7; 1 Peter 3:21). Baptism gives those blessings because of the powerful word of God that is attached to the water. Since the Bible teaches that we enjoy salvation only through faith in Christ, and since the Bible teaches that baptism saves us and washes away our sins, we can rightfully say that baptism creates the faith that connects us to Jesus and brings into our lives all the blessings he won by his holy life, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.

Matthew 26:26-28, 1 Corinthians 10:16 and 1 Corinthians 11:27 teach clearly that the reception of the Lord’s Supper involves bread and wine, and the Lord’s body and blood.

Matthew 18:15-20 and John 20:21-23 teach that God has given his Church the right and authority to forgive sins. Individually, we forgive others (Matthew 6:12; Colossians 3:13). When our pastors announce forgiveness in a worship service, they exercise the Keys on behalf of the congregation which has called them to do exactly that.

When it comes to what the Bible teaches about fellowship principles, let me refer you to an appropriate section of This We Believe, a statement of belief of our church body. I’m taking this approach to your last question because the subject of fellowship involves an understanding of the holy Christian church and visible churches. That section of This We Believe will give you appropriate Bible passages and accurate explanations on the subjects.

God bless your witnessing efforts!

Speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) to your niece. With your words, actions and attitudes let your niece see that you are concerned about her spiritual welfare and her boyfriend.

You can remind your niece about the tempting situations her living arrangements present. The Bible urges people to “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). God explains that he “will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4). God provides this course of action for his followers: “But among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality” (Ephesians 5:3).

You can encourage your niece to think of others. What do her parents think of her living arrangements? While the fourth commandment changes in scope as parents and children grow older, the fourth commandment never disappears. You can lead your niece to think of how her actions might affect other family members, friends and acquaintances. Might her actions cause them to stumble spiritually (Matthew 18:6-7) and perhaps embolden others to follow her example? Love for God certainly drives our desire to live godly lives. Love for others is another strong motivator.

Finally, with the assumption that your niece is a Christian, you can remind her of the calling Christians have to live different lives from those outside the faith (1 Peter 2:9-12).

In your conversations with your niece you want to share God’s law that shows the path to godly living and also exposes ours sins. You also want to share God’s gospel that reveals the forgiving love of God (Psalm 103:8-14). You can encourage your niece with the news that God hears the cries of the penitent and responds with forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Listen to what your niece says and then respond lovingly with the precious truths of God’s word. God bless your loving witness to your niece.

You certainly have the right idea. As you think of witnessing to people about Jesus Christ, you want to know something about their faith so that you can ask pertinent questions and be aware of topics you might be addressing with them.

Because your question requires a response that would be lengthier than appropriate for this question and answer forum, probably the best help I can provide is directing you to a very useful book by the title of Speaking the Truth in Love to Muslims. There may be a copy in your church library. If not, the book and a Bible study with DVD are available from Northwestern Publishing House.

Among other things, the book will clearly explain that Allah is not the same as the God of Moses and Abraham, nor is there any similarity between Jesus and Muhammad. Chapter ten of the book should be especially helpful for you. It is titled: “Witnessing to Muslims.”

God bless your witnessing efforts!

The Jews forfeited that designation of being God’s chosen people when they rejected the promised Messiah: Jesus Christ. God chose Israel as the people through whom he would bring Jesus into the world as true man. God wanted Israel and all people to believe in the Savior he promised and sent. That still is God’s desire today (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

As faith in Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16), the Christian Church seeks to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with all people—Jew and Gentile included (Romans 1:16).

Peering into hearts is something only God can do (1 Samuel 16:7). We cannot see whether someone has hardened his or her heart; we cannot see if God has, consequently, hardened that person’s heart.

Certainly, being in the presence of people who are opposed to our faith can be dangerous if we adopt their way of thinking. On the other hand, associating with people who reject the truths of God’s word provides opportunities for us to share the biblical truths they need to hear and believe.

“Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) to your co-worker as you have opportunity. Pray that God blesses your words and Christian example, so that others can praise God (Matthew 5:16).

Finally, keep in mind that when you experience troubles and difficulties in life because your “religious beliefs bother” other people, that is what the Christian cross is all about. Jesus tells us to take up our cross and follow him in faith (Mark 8:34). May God strengthen you through his gospel to do just that.

Here are a few biblical examples that come to mind: the unnamed Israelite girl in 2 Kings 5, Daniel (chapter 6), Nehemiah, the healing of the demon-possessed man (Luke 8:26-39), Lydia (Acts 16:11-15) and the heroes of faith chapter of the Bible (Hebrews 11).

If the distance from your home to your congregation is a barrier to more frequent participation in worship services, do speak to your pastor. He can direct you to many resources that can supplement your devotional life. God bless you with the strength to let your light of faith shine brightly in your life.

I can suggest that you have your friend read a portion of Scripture like the gospel of John. Since the Holy Spirit alone can change hearts and minds, do what you can to encourage your friend to read the Scriptures and let God speak for himself.

Northwestern Publishing House has some valuable resources that may be of help to you and your friend. This link will take you to the appropriate section of their website.

Finally, continue to pray for your friend. Pray that God would change heart and mind to acknowledge and confess the truths of Scripture: most importantly, that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior (John 20:31). God bless your witnessing efforts.

How wonderful to hear what God worked in your heart and life a year ago! God bless your faithful use of his word and sacrament, that you grow and mature in the faith.

How can you—one person—help to bring more people to Jesus Christ? Here are some thoughts that come to mind.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Live your Christian faith in every area of your life. Let people see the joy, the hope, the confidence you have as a child of God. Live your faith, and then see if people inquire about your faith.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15). When you live your Christian faith and people ask about it, be ready to tell them who Jesus is and what he means to you. You don’t need to have all the answers; just letting people know about your Savior can spark their interest in him.

“Pray…that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored… (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Recognize that neither you nor I can change anyone’s heart. But God can, and God does through his powerful word. So, pray that God blesses those people to whom you witness. Pray that God changes their hearts, that they look to Jesus alone for life and salvation.

“We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth” (3 John 8). You are one person, yes, but when you pool your resources with others of the same faith and fellowship, much more kingdom work can be done. Your offerings and mine can support people to take God’s word to places that we cannot go in person. So, we give back to God, joyfully and generously, some of the gifts he has given us.

The Christian life will be less stressful if we keep our role in mind. We are planters and sowers of God’s word; only God can bring about positive results from the planting and sowing of his word (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). So, let’s do what we can—individually and collectively—and then trust God when he promises, “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

God’s blessings to you!

Conversion certainly is God’s work (1 Corinthians 12:3; Ephesians 2:8), but Romans 10:14-15 explains that God works through his word to bring people to faith. So, there is a need to share the word of God with people.

As you witness to other people about Jesus, you can encourage them to look to the Lord as their Savior. If it happens that they do, it is because of the Holy Spirit’s working in their hearts through the word of God and not because of any decision on their part.

When the apostle Paul answered the jailer of Philippi’s question about salvation, he said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16:31). Paul was not looking for the jailer to make a decision and invite the Lord into his heart. The Bible explains why we can’t do that and don’t want to do that by nature. Theologians have called a statement like Paul’s a “gospel imperative.” Statements like that direct people to action, but the words themselves contain the power to carry out the instruction. God alone is responsible for Christian faith.

Keep witnessing to your friends. God bless your witnessing of Jesus!

Not long before Jesus died on the cross, he promised the repentant thief: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). How could Jesus make that promise? The Bible teaches that when people die, their body and soul separate (Ecclesiastes 12:7). When Jesus and the repentant thief died, their bodies remained on earth, but their souls immediately went to heaven. Before he died, Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

While Jesus’ lifeless body lay in the grave, his soul was in heaven. On Easter Sunday, Jesus’ body and soul were reunited in the grave.

This is what the Bible teaches. You want to be aware that the official teachings of the Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Jesus Christ rose physically from the dead and that people have both a body and a soul.

God bless your witnessing efforts!

I commend you for your concern for your cousin’s spiritual life and your desire to increase her Bible reading and study.

What would be helpful for you is to know what your cousin means by wanting “to be more ‘Christian’ instead of ‘Lutheran.’” Are there certain doctrines and practices she is questioning or denying? If you know the answers to those questions, you can steer your cousin to specific portions of the Bible. If I knew the answers to those questions, I could recommend specific Bible study resources.

As it is, I can recommend some general Bible study materials that might address your cousin’s concerns. The first is Positively Lutheran. It is a brief explanation of what Lutheran Christians believe.

Another is Bible Basics. The book’s purpose is to help readers better understand the Bible.

The above books are available from Northwestern Publishing House. You could search their site for other books, including devotional books for women, that might be applicable for your cousin.

God bless your efforts to help your cousin!

It seems that the word “personally” might be an important word in your question. That word is defined as “in person; as a person; for oneself; and, in a personal manner.” Let’s see how those definitions might shape the answer to your question.

Can people meet God “in person”? One of our Communion hymns states: “Here, O my Lord, I see you face to face” (Christian Worship 315:1). Through word and sacrament, God comes to people. In the Sacrament of Holy Communion, Jesus’ body and blood are present in, with and under the bread and wine (Luke 22:19-20). In the pages of Holy Scripture, God himself speaks to readers and listeners (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

Can people meet God “as a person”? Certainly. God is not an impersonal cosmic force. In the Bible reveals himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14). In the Bible God reveals his names and attributes so we can know him in faith.

Can a person meet God “for oneself”? Yes. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The Lord promised, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). Jesus’ love is for every person in the world (John 3:16).

Finally, can people meet God “in a personal manner”? By all means. God does not speak in abstract terms in the Bible. He tells you that your sins are forgiven (Luke 22:20). He promises to hear and answer your prayers (Psalm 50:15). He gives you peace (John 14:27). He promises to be with you always (Matthew 28:20).

When it comes to knowing the God of the Bible, there is of course a great difference between knowledge and saving faith. There can be no faith without knowledge (Romans 10:14), but knowledge of God alone will not save anyone (James 2:19). Saving faith is trust in God and reliance on him for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life (Isaiah 25:9).

I hope these thoughts will be helpful for you. God bless your conversation!

I don’t know if I can pass along “the most simple way” you can witness to others about your faith, but I can offer some suggestions and resources.

Your attitudes and demeanor—your Christian character—can do wonders to attract interest in the Christian faith. Let your light shine before others (Matthew 5:16). When you do that, be prepared for questions or statements that might result (1 Peter 3:15).

If you want to take a proactive role in witnessing, you can engage people in conversation by asking them what they think of world conditions and how they deal with them. You can then explain the role of your Christian faith—and your Savior—in living in troubled times.

A simple way of explaining “the gospel to somebody on the street” is “God’s great exchange.” You will find a condensed version of that law/gospel presentation via this link on “What About Jesus?” The website, operated by WELS Commission on Evangelism, offers many more resources that might be of help to you.

You may also be interested in the resources “Praise and Proclaim Ministries” makes available for witnessing to others about Jesus. The ministry is an organization within WELS.

You asked a wonderful question! God bless your efforts in speaking to others about Jesus Christ, the world’s only Savior (Acts 4:12).

God reveals his existence by means of what we call the “natural knowledge of God.” Through creation (Psalm 19:1-4) and conscience (Romans 2:14-15), God makes it known that he exists. While people cannot bring themselves to saving faith, God’s purpose with this “natural knowledge” is that people would “seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27).

Apart from the Bible, people know that there is a God, they know the basics of the Ten Commandments and they have a conscience that reacts to their thoughts and words and actions. It is only in the Bible though where people find the answer to the question: “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) There is salvation only in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). What God reveals in the Bible is that faith in Jesus is essential for salvation (Mark 16:16). God also reveals that he brings people to saving faith in Jesus through his gospel in word and sacrament (Romans 10:14-17).

So, what about people who have not “been exposed to Christianity?” Through technological advances, the message of the Bible is reaching more and more parts of our world. Yet, there are people who have never heard of the gospel of Jesus Christ; some of those people may live closer to us than we think. What about their eternal fate if their lives on earth come to an end with an ignorance of the gospel?

Is God to blame for their situation? Not at all. We need to put the blame where it belongs: on people and not on God. There were times when the entire human race knew the gospel. Back in the Garden of Eden and after the Flood in Noah’s day, every person on the face of the earth knew the gospel. When we consider a question like yours, we have to ask: “When and where did communication break down? Where did communication of the gospel break down? Who dropped the ball in teaching the gospel to the next generation?” It does not take much for communication—and gospel communication—to break down, and the results are tragic.

So what we are left with is what God says in his word about the necessity of faith and the necessity to spread the gospel so the Holy Spirit can work through it and bring others to saving faith in Jesus. Your question is one that emphasizes how important it is to do what Jesus said two millennia ago: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).

I can probably help you the best by pointing you to the resources of Christian Life Resources, a WELS-affiliated ministry. You will find a position statement on abortion as well as numerous other helpful articles, such as this one:  “How to Frame the [Abortion] Issue by the Language We Use.”

All the materials can help us carry out the biblical directive: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8).

You know that as we defend our pro-life stance, we can expect to experience ridicule and rejection. That is the Christian cross, and Jesus instructs us to take up our cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24). God bless you as you continue to focus on the importance and value of human life.

What an interesting question!

I can imagine a response that includes statements like these: “My sign is the cross of Christ.” “I trust the God who made the stars and holds the future in his hands.” Bible passages that could accompany those statements are Galatians 6:14, Genesis 1:16, Psalm 8:3-4, Psalm 139:16 and Isaiah 46:10.

With a little more explanation from the Bible, you could let questioners know that you follow the “star of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). That prophecy pointed to Jesus Christ.

You have the right approach in that you want to “open a conversation” on the subject of astrology and horoscopes. At some point you can explain how the Bible warns of those practices (Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 4:19, 18:10-12).

God bless your testimony of Christian faith!

There is no official synod position on that evangelism program. I can pass along only personal observations.

The program is ecumenical in nature. The Alpha website states: “The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions.” Providing the same content is consistent with their stated philosophy: “The Alpha Course is created to emphasize the essentials that all denominations agree on. We believe that what unites us is infinitely greater than what divides us.”

That generic approach to Christianity leads to concerns like these in some of the videos I watched: a view of humanity that did not include clear biblical statements about having a sinful nature when life begins, decision theology, and speaking in tongues as the way to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Engaging people in conversations about Jesus Christ and the Bible is important. Not being able to customize the content of the program would lead me to look elsewhere for evangelism resources.

If you go to the very bottom of the devotion information, you will find ways of sharing devotions on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and by email.

Thank you for your question. God willing, it will encourage others who read this question and answer to share devotions with their friends and family.

Picture this: the CEO of the company is dictating a letter to the secretary. As the CEO speaks, the secretary takes down every word. When the CEO is done, it’s clearly the CEO’s letter.

At the same time, the secretary’s abilities, skills, etc. are sure to show through. For example, if the secretary has poor eyesight, the letter will probably be typed in a larger font. Yet the letter remains the CEO’s.

Although simplistic, that basically illustrates how we got the Bible. God is the “CEO,” and various human writers are the “secretaries.” God gave the writers the exact words which He wanted them to use. The Bible describes it this way: “All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Timothy 3:16). Similarly, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). Often in the Old Testament (written about 1400 – 400 B.C.) you’ll hear God say something like, “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you … ” (Jeremiah 36:2) These words are God’s Words.

Does Jesus agree? Yes! One time Jesus quoted a passage from the book of Psalms. After He did, He made a parenthetical, yet important, remark: “–and the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). He was saying, “These words are God’s words.”

The New Testament makes the same claim. One example is found in 1 Thessalonians: “… when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God . . .” (1 Thessalonians 2:13) Again, these words are God’s words.

And yet God in mercy chose to work through human writers, more than 35 of them. God used people like Moses, Isaiah, Luke, John, and Paul to write down His words, to be His “secretaries,” and indeed their personality/talents shine through. For example, Luke was a physician. In his books, we see lots of details, as you might expect from a physician. Paul was a learned man, so the books he wrote are often quite deep, even a bit more difficult to understand.

To summarize, God gave the Bible through human writers; we can learn a few things about them by reading their books. Yet they remained merely the “secretaries.” The words, finally, are God’s.

The preceding information is from the What About Jesus? website, a resource maintained by WELS Commission on Evangelism. The website has many other valuable resources for you and the people with whom you are sharing your faith.

Don’t let this experience discourage you. Keep taking advantage of the opportunities you have to point people to Jesus, the world’s only Savior.