I Proselytized To A Native American, Here's How It Went.

Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

In my last post, I talked about how I felt the pull of proselytizing to people.  Today, I actually did it.  Let me give you the background in what led to me doing it, and how it turned out.

Last night, as our family was watching Star Trek: Discovery, I pondered on the idea of talking to people.  Weeks ago, I went to a certain gas station early in the morning to get some gas, where the manager (whom I am technically extended family with) carried on a conversation with me.  She asked me about my job, and how long I've worked there, etc.  I asked her something like, "Are you curious about working for the school district?"  She replied, "No, just making conversation." 

It hit me:  I'm terrible at making conversation.  I haven't tried to "get to know" people since I stopped trying to find a wife (I'm a pretty biased person).  The last time I recall having a genuine conversation with someone outside family (initiated by the other person, that is), was with Gates McFadden at Planet Comicon in 2022.  In retrospect, Dr. Crusher was more of an evangelist than I was.  

Anyway, that was the thought.  As I'm writing this, I'm thinking that Mary Wiseman, who played Tilly, would offer a great "masterclass" in conversation.

Anyway, as I was thinking about conversing with people, I thought, "What do I talk about?"  Oh yeah!  Maybe I should talk about Jesus to them!  Isn't that what Christians are supposed to do?  Thus, the previous post about my hesitations to give cold pitches about Jesus to strangers.  Is it a lost art?  Perhaps.

Yet, I resolved to actually do it, to preach the Gospel to at least ONE person today.  I still remember the words of the atheist Penn Jilette, who hates those who don't proselytize, because if Christians truly believe in the eternal torture of Hell, why wouldn't you broadcast it fully to the world?

So, after my building check, I headed to Walmart to get some groceries.  I then had a thought pop in my head, suggesting I go to the same gas station to proselytize.  I ignored the thought, thinking that it's just my own imagination (Proverbs 3:5).  As I was approaching Walmart, I thought to myself, "Why not?  Let's do it just in case it is God telling me to do it."  If this is the wrong approach, please correct me on this. (Proverbs 6:23)

So I went to the gas station, and filled a Styrofoam cup of Diet Coke to purchase.  There was one gentleman who was there, and I carried on a conversation with him.  I thank God that he carried more of the weight of the conversation, so it was no issue for me to ask if he was a Christian.  He said he was.  We then parted ways.

I then went to the counter after the first gentleman paid for his drink.  The clerk rung me up, commenting that I could have had it cheaper had I bought a reusable cup like the first gentleman.  I paid for the drink, he gave me the change, and then I asked him a line that I previously thought of, which was, "Have you ever thought of what happens to you when you die?" (Was it the Holy Spirit giving me this idea, per Luke 12:12 and the like?)  

After being taken aback a little, the clerk told me how he hopes not to burden his children with his debts.

I then clarified, "What about your soul?"

He replied, "I'm Native American, so I believe that we come from the earth, and when we die, we return to the earth.  I don't believe in Heaven or Hell, and I don't believe a religion should be pushed on someone."

I then thanked him for his honesty, and he returned the same sentiment in kind towards me.  I left, going back to Walmart to get the groceries.

So what did I learn from all of this?  I thought to myself, "OK, people don't like being proselytized."  I then remember Paul's words:

And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

(1Co 9:20-23)

There is indeed strategy to be considered when trying to win souls.  I certainly didn't want to spout platitudes like, "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?", but perhaps the line, "Have you ever thought of what happens to you when you die?" is also a platitude, I hope that's not the case, I hope I didn't deliver that line as a platitude.  As a whole, humans aren't stupid.  They can smell a platitude miles away, and can tell whether or not someone is genuine.  There is an common expression: "Read the room."  This expression is biblical:

Rom_12:17  Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

So how do I get the Gospel out, verbally?  I seem to have no problem doing it in writing, as this blog is certainly being read, for that I thank you, audience.  But how do I do it with my own tongue?  Perhaps these pieces of Scripture will help:

Mat 10:16  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 

1Co 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

I have always believed that any evangelism is to be natural and effortless, because, as I've said, the world can spot a fake.  May God help me to broadcast the Gospel, in any and every way.  May I not be ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).

I Confess, I Don't Know How To Proselytize In Public

 “But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.” (Matthew 10:19-20, KJV)

Oh wow, I've talked about this before.

I remember many times recently when I have the chance to speak to a stranger for a few minutes.  In my mind, I'm thinking, "OK, now's your chance to preach the Gospel."  Nearly every time, I'm silent.  I don't know what to say.  I don't like using the platitudes of "Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?", or "Do you know where you'll be when you die?"

I often wonder, "Am I truly ashamed of Christ?"  If so, then Christ will be ashamed of me (Mark 8:38, etc.), and I think that means Hell.

So why don't I even mention Jesus?  It's easy for me to write about Him online, yet in public, cold, the words won't come out!  Obviously, everyone needs to hear the Gospel, because their own eternal souls are at stake!  I warn people in public about natural disasters, and yet warning people in public about eternal disasters is put on the back burner.  (Most all I can muster is appear to talk to myself, saying "Acts 2:38!" and the like.  At least the message is somewhat broadcast.)

I do have a few reasons for my hesitation.  For example, let's say someone does respond to Christ.  Naturally, they will want to attend a Bible believing church to fellowship (Hebrews 10:25).  Problem is, I cannot recommend one to them, not even my own family's church (an American Baptist church whose denomination I have previously exposed as unbiblical).

However, the true Church is not necessarily housed in a building.  The true Church is the entire body of believers, albeit scattered in many places around the world.  Best I can do is keep in touch online, which, by the way, if you're reading this, and believe to be a believer, please contact me.  I am no pastor, I preach only what I know (I Corinthians 13:9).

I pray the Holy Spirit gives me not only the words to speak in public, but the boldness (Ephesians 6:20) to do so.  Relying on His sword, the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17), helps.

I Lack Patience. (Plus an Update)

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  

For the past month, I have undertaken a new project.  I have decided to build a PC for the second time.

For the past several months, I have been live-streaming on Twitch, playing video games, doing commentary, etc.

Both are related.

(Bear with me, this will get a little technical here.)

Yesterday, I was going to live-stream my PC build progress.  Yet, I was called away to family matters, so I had to abandon the stream, and even the recording of the build.  "Just build it", I said.  Yet, I still had that anxious, impatient excitement about the project, that I wasn't aware of a few things:

1. The CPU I bought did not come with integrated graphics, and neither does the motherboard.  So, without any kind of video, it won't work.

2. Thermal paste fuses the CPU and cooler together.

3. The CPU is not always the problem.

I thought, all I needed to bring the PC to POST (that is, to display the "power-on self-test" screen), was the motherboard, the CPU, the power supply, and the RAM.  I was wrong.

I watched a YouTube video on how to troubleshoot the situation.  The man mentioned that it could be the CPU, but he also mentioned that you needed video, and that most AMD CPUs don't come with integrated graphics.

All I heard was "CPU", because I thought I already broke it.  You see, I had a rough time getting the CPU cooler to work, that I thought the CPU was the problem, so to save time, I wanted to check that first.

I began to unscrew the mounting brackets of the CPU cooler, and then realized that the entire CPU was ripped from the AMD socket!  Oh great.  It took great difficulty to get the cooler off, but once I finally did, I found out that some of the CPU pins were bent!  I tried to bend them back into place, but then a couple of them broke.  So, the CPU is a brick.  $150 down the drain.

That's not the only problem:  I also heard that the AMD socket could also be damaged.  I looked carefully at the socket, rotating the latch back and forth, and sure enough, it looks like it took some damage.  Another $150 down the drain...maybe.  I'll have to take off the plastic casing on the socket to assess the damage.  I don't mind that, seeing as I'm declaring the motherboard dead anyway.

(Update: Done.  Check out the innards of the CPU socket during my "autopsy".  Look at the darkened pins.  This is where the damage occured.  It is likely the pins can't touch the affected areas, so yeah, the motherboard's a goner.)

Needless to say, I was in a hurry, and I wasn't patient.  If only I diagnosed the PC problem like I diagnose my sin problems time and time again:

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

(Mat 5:29-30)

The sin was lack of patience, and the cause was my involvement in Twitch streaming, especially since I was working with a salesman of a lady selling me her overlay services, of which she was quite persuasive.

So, in the spirit of Matthew 5:29-30 and 2 Timothy 2:4, I deleted my Twitch and Discord accounts, and quit streaming.  Besides, to continue to pursue this would also be a dishonor to my family (Exodus 20:12, etc.), seeing as I had to pause my streams constantly to take care of family business (not an issue, by the way).  Streaming was just in the way, and a distraction from better things.

So, what about the PC building project?  It's still going on, albeit more slowly.  I have an SSD on the way, and I plan on buying a copy of Windows 11 next paycheck.  However, the replacement motherboard and CPU will have to wait until I get my tax refund, and with the CPU, I intend on getting one with integrated graphics, which was the case in my first PC build (that one went much more smoothly, and with an easier CPU cooler to install that I set up and left alone).

Once I get the parts, I intend to wait until there is ample time to put everything together.  No rush.  Even if I have to go to another location to do it.  It must be done with the utmost of patience.  Not trying to be an Internet personality helps.  I might talk more about this later, or maybe not.  Depends.

May God cultivate patience in me.  This humbling experience sure helped.

 

UPDATE (2/7/2025): The tax refund came, I bought the motherboard and CPU (cheaper ones), and decided to go with Linux instead of Windows.  

 

Here's what happened with this build:

 

1. Won't post.  (Oh, forgot to plug in a cable.)

2. Screen asks me to make a decision on resetting the CPU (or something.).  Internet says Yes.  PC turns off.  I turn it on.  PC turns off after a few seconds.

3. I plug in the USB stick with Linux on it.  After about 30 seconds, posts!  I install Linux Mint.

4. Great so far, but one problem:  Sluggish.  I think, "Temperature problem?"  I install a temperature applet.  90+ DEGREES (Celsius) !  I look up more things.  Enable Internal Graphics in BIOS.  Still, 90+ DEGREES.  Turns out that is the actual temperature.  Great.

5. I think to myself, "Just wait until tomorrow."  I sit in bed, looking up temperature issues.  I suspect it's because I didn't screw in the CPU cooler all the way.  I look up how to do it properly.  Some guy encourages me to be firm on the cooler.

6. I try that.  All four corners screw in tight.  Turn on the PC.  TEMPS NORMAL!  PC is faster!

As I'm typing this, the PC is running at a cool 29 degrees.  Apparently, I went the other direction in temperament.  Before, I lacked patience.  Now, I lacked resolve.  I was too CAREFUL.  I remember the coach from the movie "D3: The Mighty Ducks" say, "Don't be do careless, but don't be too careful either!  You cannot be afraid to lose!"

There are many Scriptures encouraging courage (Deuteronomy 31:7), as well as patience.

Evangelicals...THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME!!!

(Note: This article was saved as a draft for a long time, before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.  One thing I do agree with evangelicals on is this:  Trump is our President, and per Romans 13, we are to respect him and the office, for Donald Trump, as President of the United States, is ordained of God (Romans 13:1).)

Now, the key verse for this article:

Heb 13:14  For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 

Listening to the latest Real Time with Bill Maher podcast just ticked me off.  No, not because of anything Bill Maher said.  (I'm well aware Mr. Maher is an atheist)  It was because of what was revealed by author Tim Alberta.  Mr. Alberta is the author of the book "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory", where he talks about the evangelical movement, and why they are still voting for Trump.

On the show, Mr. Alberta said that while evangelicals are aware of how un-Christian Trump is, Trump is the guy that will preserve and maintain their way of life in this country.  Here are some quotes:

"There is a persecution complex..."

"The country is slipping away from them...they longer recognize the Christian America of their youth..."
[Evangelicals say] "Donald Trump is an imperfect vessel for God's perfect will..."

 Mr. Alberta also cites a man from the Bible named Cyrus, whom evangelicals are using as a comparison to Trump, saying that Trump will restore America like Cyrus restored Israel.  Here's an excerpt from Ezra 1 talking about Cyrus:

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem. Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem. And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered. Also Cyrus the king brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem, and had put them in the house of his gods; Even those did Cyrus king of Persia bring forth by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah. And this is the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, nine and twenty knives, Thirty basons of gold, silver basons of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels a thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up with them of the captivity that were brought up from Babylon unto Jerusalem.

(Ezr 1:1-11)

Looking at all of this, it sounds as if Evangelicals are focusing on the worldly matters, things of the earth, instead of spiritual, which reminds me of this verse:

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

This is something I highly doubt Evangelicals are doing.  When they use Trump to try to preserve their way of life in this country, they're focused on worldly things.  Are they also loving the world?  The Bible also says:

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

THOSE WHO LOVE THE WORLD GO TO HELL!!!!!

Evangelicals...be warned.  Your attachment to this world is damning you.  Focus on Christ, the Word of God (John 1:1, 1:14, etc.), and NOT preserving your place in the world.

Now, this is not to say that you should do nothing in this world.  We must still advertise Christ to the world, in part, through our good works:

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

(Mat 5:13-16)

We must resist the culture of this world by simply acting righteously.

Chuck Swindoll and the Essentials Lie

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

I have heard that Chuck Swindoll was a false teacher.  One has said he was an "OSAS wolf" (OSAS being "once saved always saved").  I even asked an AI to tell me the controversial teachings of Mr. Swindoll.  I was told that conservatives criticize him on focusing more on grace and less on performative action.  As for he who called Mr. Swindoll an OSAS wolf, I asked the person if he knew of any exact quotes of Mr. Swindoll's, response pending.

Yet, I had to find out for myself.  So, I went to insight.org, the website for Mr. Swindoll's ministry Insight for Living, and immediately, something caught my eye: "Essential Beliefs".  Oh great.  Is Mr. Swindoll another one of those "essentials" teachers?  Let's see:

And while a grace-based ministry such as ours allows for freedom of interpretation and expression in many areas of Christian practice, we believe that the following essential beliefs are absolute and non-negotiable.

Ah.  There it is.  "freedom of interpretation".  This is a classic heresy.  In order to "rightly divide the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15), interpretations of Scripture must not be loose.  The Bible must mean what it says, and say what it means.  Otherwise, is the Bible really that authoritative?

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

(Mat 7:28-29)

As for "essential beliefs", which in most modern false churches, include the 66-book Biblical canon, the "Trinity", man's sinfulness, the way of salvation, the final resurrection, the Church, etc (most of these doctrines I take no issue with btw), two problems.  Firstly, if we are to talk about foundational doctrines, why is the modern list different from a list such as this:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

(Heb 6:1-3)

Is Chuck Swindoll saying that repenting from dead works, baptism, and laying on of hands, are non-essential doctrines?  The writer of Hebrews includes them in Christianity 101!  Obviously, the writer of Hebrews is not saying that all other doctrines besides that list are non-essential, lest he himself doesn't believe that man lives by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God".

Secondly, is Chuck Swindoll suggesting that the doctrines of the Sermon on the Mount are non-essential?  Some of which speak of Hell, not going to Heaven, or not being forgiven of sins? (Matthew 5:20 on exceeding the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, v. 22 on "thou fool", v. 29-30 on removing sources of temptation, 6:15 on nonforgiveness, 7:13 on the broad road to destruction, 7:21-23 on "I never knew you").

To be a Christian and be saved, you must believe in Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31), who is the Word of God (John 1:1, 1:14, etc., also see Luke 8:12).  To believe in the Word of God is not to believe part of it and ignore the rest.  You must believe ALL of it, or you don't believe it at all.

If Chuck Swindoll's teachings are rooted in the essentials lie, he is a false teacher, and he is not saved, and he is leading many to Hell.

Citations:

“Essential Beliefs.” Essential Beliefs - Insight for Living Ministries, www.insight.org/about/essential-beliefs. Accessed 4 Jan. 2025.