Believers are to be involved with everyone.

Yes, but those populations have special needs that demand special handling.

I would agree with that, but I'd add that most people are part of a "special needs" group. Drug addicts, single moms, military vets, and so many others. We all, I suppose, have special needs.

And one can't merely spout off Bible verses.

I don't know of anyone who has advocated for that. At the drug rehab center, we provide housing, clothing, food, friendship, and counseling. We also "spout off Bible verses", especially the ones about Jesus. On the other had, we cannot replace the Bible with our own personal preferences and ideas.

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Originally Posted by jlisenbe

I don't know of anyone who has advocated for that, but we likewise cannot replace the Bible with our own personal preferences.

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That's not what I mean. Merely preaching at people doesn't work. We must get involved with them and become part of their lives.

You missed this. "At the drug rehab center, we provide housing, clothing, food, friendship, and counseling. We also "spout off Bible verses", especially the ones about Jesus. On the other had, we cannot replace the Bible with our own personal preferences and ideas."

I could add that crisis pregnancy centers do a great job of getting involved and meeting needs. Samaritan's Purse does a similarly great job of doing that very thing, and yet they continue to "spout Bible verses". Sounds a lot like the first century church.

Certainly they are NOT "spouting Bible verses"! Horrors! The worst kind of "mission work"!

It is the foundation of the ONLY genuine kind of mission work. To not tell people about the teachings of the Bible is, from the Christian perspective, criminal.

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Originally Posted by jlisenbe

It is the foundation of the ONLY genuine kind of mission work. To not tell people about the teachings of the Bible is, from the Christian perspective, criminal.

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There's a way to do that without "spouting"!!! And oh the stories I've heard from those who were disrespected in that way

I would agree that it is possible to do that. It is as great an error as the person who basically ignores the parts of the Bible that don't agree with her/his own personal ideas.

Reminds me of Jonathan Edwards' sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" -- an attempt to teach his listeners about the horrors of Hell, the dangers of sin, and the terrors of being lost. Or a street preacher's ravings and threats, tossing specially chosen (negative) Bible verses at the bystanders.

Perfect illustration of this. “The person who basically ignores the parts of the Bible that don’t agree with his/her own personal ideas.”

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Originally Posted by jlisenbe

Perfect illustration of this. “The person who basically ignores the parts of the Bible that don’t agree with his/her own personal ideas.”

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No one is posting that parts of the Bible don't agree with that person's personal ideas.

Christians don't (and definitely shouldn't!) convert unbelievers by threatening hellfire.

Edwards did. Finney did. Graham did. Paul did. Peter did. Many others did as well.

They were wrong.

It's a power-grabbing threat. Like, "If you do that one more time, I'm going to _____."

Sorry. I’ll go with that group rather than you.

And your benefit from it?

I’ll be in agreement with apostles.

Spreading fear among your listeners. Was that your m.o. with your own children and schoolchildren?