I have a question regarding how to talk to others regarding the truth in a kind loving way. I have a family member who was turned off by another family member who was talking about the church via email. She is upset because she feels my other family member was trying to force her to be a part of the Lord’s church. Their relationship seems a little severed now. My question is how can we approach people with the word without coming off as being forceful or arrogant to the point where people don’t even want to ever come worship with us. It seems that turns people away.
Also, a big issue for me is. When I ask people to worship, they also ask me to go, and I say no but they always say it isn’t fair, and in turn, they don’t want to ever come back. ~ Kia Hinton
First Peter 3:1-2 provides us with a principle, whether we are male or female, on how to influence others with the Gospel when they will not listen to what we have to say. “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.” When our words cannot gain an audience for conveying God’s truths, we must allow those truths to animate us; our conviction and godliness needs to be evident in our conduct. Christian example is not a substitute for verbal instruction in God’s Word when that venue is available, but Christian example is both an alternative to the spoken word when circumstances require, and it also is a necessary companion to verbal instruction.
Faithful Christians have an obligation to God to assemble with fellow Christians (Hebrews 10:25), and faithful Christians have an obligation to the local body of believers of whom they are a part. Invite friends to visit the churches of Christ with you, but if they question why you are reluctant to assemble with them in their religious services, politely explain that your religious convictions require you to assemble at the appointed assemblies of the church of which you are a member. Further, comment that there may be occasions that your friends’ churches may have a program that does not conflict in time with the assemblies to which you are obligate, that you may choose to attend with them. However, be sure that you are spiritually strong enough not to be influenced unduly by religious error that you most certainly will encounter. In addition, do not give the impression that you approve of religious error, such as singing with instrumental accompaniment in their worship services; be polite but refrain from compromise.
