Thursday, December 18, 2008

You Can Learn Much From This Atheist About Evangelism

Penn Jillette (of Penn and Teller fame):

“I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. If you believe that there’s a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell, and you think, ‘Well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward’…How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize?”



(HT: The Crimson Window)

5 comments:

M&M in Japan said...

Amen to that. I pray that God changes his heart though. Only God can.

Seth Ward said...

Speaks volumes right there...

AG said...

Wow, my heart is in my stomach right now.

Very convicting for me.

Thanks for posting this.

Anonymous said...

I too pray that God will change his heart. It is a great reminder how we need to walk in gentleness and pure love and grace when approaching those who don't believe. Thanks for sharring, it was a good lesson for me to get today. Blessings to you.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I have read many blog posts that I could describe as "life-changing." This is one. Thank you, Zach.

I once read a quote from a talk by John Stott, in response to someone at a conference who was challenging him on his view of Hell. Stott describes himself as "agnostic" on the subject, but he seems to lean toward annihilationalism (the view that when a non-Christian dies, he/she is completely wiped out of existence, rather than suffering eternal torment). I don't think that this view has very good Biblical support, but Stott made a GREAT point to the person who was challenging his view. He simply, quietly responded, "Whenever we talk about Hell, we should do so with tears in our eyes."

When I share the Gospel with people who do not know Christ in a saving way, may this be the loving attitude of my heart toward them-- and may I also simply share the Gospel *more*! If only all atheists had the attitude toward Christian evangelism that Penn has-- but I can't let peoples' attitudes keep me from sharing the most important news with them that they will *ever* hear!