Basics of Evangelism
Chip Salzenberg
chip at perlsupport.com
Sat Aug 28 02:50:43 UTC 1999
According to Eric S. Raymond:
> Ean R . Schuessler <ean at novare.net>:
> > So we should recast our movement in their selfish minded terms?
>
> Now you're getting it, maybe. Yes, we should.
It's a basic rule of evangelism that you must start with common
ground. Consider Paul's discourse to the Athenians. Both as a Jew
and as a Christian, Paul would have found the thousands of images in
Athens disgusting. Yet he began thus (quote from memory, hence
inexact):
"I perceive that you are more given to the fear of the deities than
others are. For example, while passing along and observing your
objects of veneration, I found an inscription: 'To An Unknown God.'
It is this God that I am publishing to you today."
Find common ground. Cast your argument in terms acceptable to the
audience. Only with such a beginning can you, eventually, persuade.
--
Chip Salzenberg - a.k.a. - <chip at perlsupport.com>
"When do you work?" "Whenever I'm not busy."
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