Why would you try to convince people with sincere faith that they’re “wrong”?
Every day experts in Marketing try to convince us all of something. Whether we need to change our appearance, up-fit our homes, prioritize our health, vote for a singer or give to the needy it seems everyone has the answer for just what is wrong with our lives. And each of us considers these messages every day by asking ourselves two transactional questions: do I need what they are selling and am I willing to lose the expense if it doesn’t work?
But when a close friend suggests we use her essential oils, or employ her parenting techniques, or prioritize her “self-care” methods, or read her book on spirituality we ask two very different questions: does this person have my best interest in mind and has she uncovered the truth about my problem? We ask these questions because deep down all we want to know is if our friend is telling a truth that can be trusted!
Wounds from a friend can be trusted more than kisses from an enemy. - Psalm 27:6
The difference between “selling” something with an agenda and “testifying” in love can be easily distinguished. When we talk about the Bible to our Muslim friend she should be able to see the authenticity of our concern for her life. She should be able to see that we are trustworthy because we have personally absorbed the Truths we are offering and the benefits are evident: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, humility and self-control.
But more importantly, she should be able to see that we are not concerned with being right or being wrong: we are concerned with Believing What Is True - because the Bible promises us both that the Truth will set us free.
At The Truth Collective we want to ask one very important question of both Muslims and Christians: if what you believe about God is True, then how will anything else offer your friend freedom?
Discussing Truth with “gentleness and respect” (I Peter 3:15) is a wonderful way to prove to our friends we are more concerned with their freedom than in proving someone “wrong”.