In Mark 7, Jesus goes to the Decapolis and heals a deaf/mute. Then Jesus tells the crowd not to say anything. But verse 36 says that the more Jesus told them not to say anything, the more they kept talking about it.
Maybe I've been missing something all these years. We keep badgering people to go out and tell the Good News, share their faith, tell everyone what God has done, say that Jesus loves you, go to evangelism training, etc.
Looks to me like it would be better to tell people to be quiet. Perhaps then people would reach a point where they can't help but speak of what God has done, like Peter in Acts. Then people would freely share their faith.
Would holding people back help them burst at the seams? Is this all the evangelism training that a person needs?
Douglas Hoag
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About this blog
Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, New Lenox, Illinois.
I'm married with two children.
My MBTI type is E/INFP, in case that means anything to you.
My prayer: Lord, help me finish everything I sta
Most importantly, I believe that the reality and personage of God was uniquely and fully realized in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. No one else comes close.
Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for the seizures and/or convulsions you may experience while reading this blog.
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I'm married with two children.
My MBTI type is E/INFP, in case that means anything to you.
My prayer: Lord, help me finish everything I sta
Most importantly, I believe that the reality and personage of God was uniquely and fully realized in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. No one else comes close.
Disclaimer: I am in no way responsible for the seizures and/or convulsions you may experience while reading this blog.
Doug Hoag's Profile
Create Your Badge
4 comments:
See, most people think that reverse psychology will only work on children. Jesus (I believe he invented psychology) knew that it works on sheep too.
Like... if we HAVE to believe, we won't want to. But if we don't have to, we will want to.
Scott,
I guess I hadn't thought of it as reverse psychology, but it seems your right.
Bruce,
Exactly. Coercion is not a way to come to faith.
You may be on to something!
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