The post that just won’t die. The question today is not about Paul. The question is about telling my story. Why not tell my story? In order to start to answer this question, let me tell you Troll’s story; it is much more interesting.
Once upon a time, stories about trolls always start this way, there was a troll that lived under a bridge. You would think that he’d get an apartment or something from all of the cash he’s made from blogging, but this was once upon a time, and that implies that it was long ago, before blogging, before the internet, but not before roast mutton sandwiches with a thin slice of tomato. Troll was minding his own business, collecting tolls and eating things, when an ogre came to his bridge. The Ogre started to tell him a story about why Troll shouldn’t try to eat him. For one thing, there was some doubt as to which would do the eating. Secondly, Ogre was feeling nauseous that day, having gotten hold of some rather rancid pork, and he just wasn’t up to fighting. Troll had not had that experience with pork, in fact, pigs and hogs were more like appetizers to him, hardly worth chewing. There was just no way that Troll was going to be able to have the same experience eating pork that Ogre had. So, Troll was getting ready for a good old fashioned melee. Ogre was determined to deter Troll, because not only was he nauseous, but had a ham bone stuck between his teeth, and it was giving him a headache. Finally, Ogre decided to tell Troll that he could have eternal life in Jesus. Now, Trolls live particularly long lives, longer than most empires last in fact. But Troll was intrigued with this Jesus fellow. Ogre talked for a long time and Troll began to understand about justification and imputation. He learned about sin and reconciliation. Ogre was very elegant and thoughtful in his presentation…for an Ogre. Troll realized, not quite of his own choosing, that there was truth in the Words that Ogre spoke. Later that week, on Thursday, a bit after 7 in the evening, Troll was Baptized, right there, under the bridge, by a passing bishop with whom he bargained for the sacrament. Now, a few decades later, Troll insists on telling the Gospel to any who chance upon his bridge. It is a steep price for travelers to pay, listening to Troll talk, but it is far better than being eaten.
Let’s analyze this story, shall we? Is there anything particularly profound about Ogre’s story? Troll wasn’t impressed. It didn’t seem likely that Ogre’s experience, while impressive to Ogre, was going to be shared by Troll. In much the same way, our own experiences are not likely to be duplicated by those to whom we witness. Every person is unique. The sharing of experiences and feelings recruits the listener to share the experience and feeling. What if they can’t have that feeling? What if they have the feeling, or something that sounds like it might be the experience, but that feeling is gone by next Tuesday? What sort of argument is an experience or a feeling?
The Gospel is external to us. It is historical fact. I know that some will argue that it is easier to defend a personal experience than a fact. True. But what does a personal experience of yours prove to me? Nothing. Facts might prove something. Facts require a bit of work, yes. You have to know the facts. You have to have build a system of facts that is logical and can stand up to argument. You have to learn how to build an argument and defend an argument. My goodness, that’s starting to sound like work! Yes, it is.
Let me show you something amazing. Acts 2. Peter appeals to scripture. He appeals to fulfilled prophesy. He testifies to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is Peter! Name a person, just one, whose personal testimony you think just might be fairly persuasive. Is Peter pretty close to the top of that list? Sorry, then. Peter thinks talking about fulfilled prophesy and the resurrection is more important by far. That is the proper example. That is the testimony that is Worthy of Christ. Yes, it is the harder road. Yes, there just might be an amazing conversion experience at the end of it. But when the warm fuzzies fade away, there will be a sound structure built from scripture and historical facts left in the listener.
For completeness, let me lay out one more negative thought of personal experience, just a little thicker. Oh, the arrogance! You have the story of the greatest life ever lived on earth at your disposal, and you think that your life has greater significance?! Really? You think that because you are so special, talking about yourself is actually going to move someone to read about some other guy that neither of you has met. You would have a friend build a relationship with someone based upon your experience with that someone without your friend having any significant knowledge of that person. Please! I want you to tell me that you would marry a person without learning anything about them based solely on how you feel about them. Yes, I know, it is done. What are the odds of those relationships lasting a long time. What if you marry someone that you’ve known a long time, someone who is becoming your best friend? What are the odds of those relationships lasting a long time.
The example of the Apostles is my point. Lay out your argument. Use scripture. Use facts. Appeal to Christian evidences. Tell the Gospel. Leave the pronoun “I” out of it. If it is the Greatest Story Ever Told, then tell it. You may not have time to tell it all in one encounter. It may not be your encounter that the person remembers later. The Holy Spirit does NOT witness about you. The Holy Spirit witnesses about Christ. Tell the Gospel. It is the best argument you have going.
--Ogre--
No comments:
Post a Comment