Battle Log
Wednesday, 5 May, 2021
Posted 5 May 2021, 6:33 PM by Glen Richards. Permalink
There was a team of four at Riccarton on Tuesday. I had a couple of highlight conversations.
The first was a follow up (although I don’t remember talking to her the first time). She remembered the way to heaven with a gentle reminder - it being clear that she has not responded to the gospel with a repentant faith yet. We fell into a law / gospel conversation where I answered her questions and reasoned with her. No outward sign of contrition, so I leave her in God’s hands.
The second occured right at the end of the outreach. A guy skated past and I asked if he wanted to try the good person test flip chart. He was keen! He hopped off his skateboard and was instantly engaging. It became apparent early on that he considered himself a very good person - better than everyone else on the front page of the flip chart! So as we were going through the law, I decided to turn the screws so he would really feel it. He admitted he had lied. So I asked him, “what do you call someone who tells a lie?” His answer: “a liar”. So then I asked, “so what does that make you?” He thought for a bit, and he said: “I’m a liar”. The tactic worked, because his eyes were subtly shooting daggers at me. In this way, I slowly took him through the law, letting him feel the weight of his sin. I was able to then turn to the gospel, and the true hope of forgiveness of our sin found only in Jesus’ sacrifice. But he was still wrestling with the law - he still considered himself good.
Suddenly he recognised someone he knew and he decided to go. He took a tract before he dashed off. To my surprise, he was back five minutes later - he wanted to talk further. The outreach ended up going fifteen minutes longer than usual so we could do so. I worked to continue bringing the conversation back to the serious nature of sin - as this was currently his biggest roadblock. But he really liked to talk, and would constantly talk over me to ask questions. It was a bit of a tussle, but a good one. He seemed challenged and impressed. He knows how to get in touch.
The rest of my outreach time on Tuesday and Wednesday was spent with the team online. A total of 27 gospel conversations that went for two minutes or more. The longest of those chats went for 25 minutes. Here are some of the highlights.
My first chat was with a couple of Muslim guys from Tunisia (North Africa). Normally the Muslims I talk to will argue. But these guys seemed stunned into silence in understanding of the gospel - praise God! At the end, I asked if they had any questions. One said, “not right now, but I will be in touch”.
I interestingly had two separate conversations where the person I was talking to insisted they were perfect people. That doesn’t happen very often!
A lady started by saying Satan is better than God! I was able to take her through the law and the gospel and explain why that can’t be so. Her response was to change suddenly and say: “I think I’d rather stay gay, that’s better”, and she disconnected.
Another lady hears the way to heaven is faith and not her good deeds and is really confused. I labour with her for a while and she slowly starts to grasp the good news of Jesus! Sadly, she accidentally disconnected, but not before I could point her to the scriptures to verify what I said. She is in the hands of the Lord.
I had a very interesting chat with a Christian guy sitting at a set of drums. I asked him what he had to do to go to heaven, and he clearly pointed at keeping the ten commandments as the reason. We then had a good long conversation where I was able to gently challenge him on this and explain what the Bible teaches: that we are saved by the grace of Jesus, through faith that will lead to good works. He had grown up in an environment where the emphasis had been on just being good. I hope he was challenged enough to search the scriptures on this and examine himself to see what he really is trusting in to be saved. To finish, he played the song “to hell with the devil” by Stryper for me - him playing the drum part. It was so good! I hope he gets in touch so we can discuss further.
The final chat I’ll mention was one with a Mormon in Utah (first time I’ve connected with someone from there). They seemed to be very knowledgeable, which I found intimidating. But I went back to the basics, and took them through the law and the gospel, trying to be clear on where and why Mormons differ (based on what I know). To my surprise, they didn’t argue, they seemed to be challenged, so I became bold and told them to flee Mormonism and the Book of Mormon. It was a good chat.
I praise God for the support enabling me to get out there and concentrate on talking to so many about the most important questions of life, and the answers to them: Jesus. Thank you so much. Please keep praying - so vital - and if you are in Christchurch, join me as you can! :)
