General Discussion Stop the Retreat From the Battlefield of the Culture War

[GiLGiJ]

I have not seen a single post you've typed in any thread being beneficial

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Maybe you could construct characters and costumes to act out both sides of the discussion in a controlled way that you think is acceptable to the audience while be true to biblical salvation doctrine. It might be quite winning.

You could act it out every half hour at your booth

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You might be able to do something like that using Light Raiders or Holy Lands as a template.

 

[M. D. Boncher]

Well this thread is supposed about the business and ministry of Christian writing. Selling your work and interacting with the public in a manner that furthers the Kingdom is part of being a writer. In that, it's on point. It was never supposed to devolve into a theological fight.

 

[BAMB]

perhaps I'm misunderstanding how Christian Writer's works, because I had thought that the Christian Fellowship forum was here to be able to discuss concerns for Christians in general and that the writing forum was there for threads talking about writing topics. My thought was that Christian Fellowship was for more general topics, and besides, no matter what forum I am in, if a thread had a topic I wasn't as interested in, I could simply pass it by for the threads that are relevant to me.

Is that a wrong impression?

Besides, while this has gotten sidelines, this thread was discussing out of the box ways that Christian writers can reach an audience outside the Christian community. I was seeing good and thought provoking answers from some people and was having a good discussion. IF this is not supposed to be the place to have such discussions, I would be very grateful to the moderators if they could point me to where on this site is the appropriate place to have such a discussion, and if this isn't for Christian Writers, then that's fine as well. I had just thought that with the number of pages of posts with the variety of folks who had responded, that in general, the topic was well received.

 

[Johne]

I had thought that the Christian Fellowship forum was here to be able to discuss concerns for Christians in general and that the writing forum was there for threads talking about writing topics.

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This is largely correct, although we're not super militant about that. This has been a wide-ranging thread, and we've mostly let it unfold organically.

 

[BAMB]

This is largely correct, although we're not super militant about that. This has been a wide-ranging thread, and we've mostly let it unfold organically.

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Okay! Just wanted to be sure I wasn't dancing to the wrong tune! It's also good to know in case I ever start a thread of my own - I would want to make sure I stayed within the community guidelines!

 

[M. D. Boncher]

This is largely correct, although we're not super militant about that. This has been a wide-ranging thread, and we've mostly let it unfold organically.

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And that's appreciated. I hoped to generate some synergy with people who have done this sort of ministry in the past for good ideas and or to inspire others.

 

[Whendancer64]

Those of us that have done things like Neighbor to Neighbor evangelism have testimonies that would inspire you. So much so that you may find that there has never been a "retreat" at all. And, that the Lord has been saving members of the LGBT+ community for thousands of years. 1st Corinthians 6:9-11) Let me recommend that you read some of the testimonies on Changedmovement.com. You, and others, may even want to support such organizations with prayer and/or donations. Pray about partnering with them....maybe, have some of their literature alongside your books at the conventions.

As it has been said in this thread: "We are all on the same team." Amen?

 

[M. D. Boncher]

Those of us that have done things like Neighbor to Neighbor evangelism have testimonies that would inspire you. So much so that you may find that there has never been a "retreat" at all. And, that the Lord has been saving members of the LGBT+ community for thousands of years. 1st Corinthians 6:9-11) Let me recommend that you read some of the testimonies on Changedmovement.com. You, and others, may even want to support such organizations with prayer and/or donations. Pray about partnering with them....maybe, have some of their literature alongside your books at the conventions.

As it has been said in this thread: "We are all on the same team." Amen?

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That's a ministry with a laudable goal, but hate to say it, if they tried to put a booth in a con, they'd never get past the jury process. If they sent people in to witness, they'd be accused of hate crimes, trespassed and escorted out by staff or police. Going into a con is going into the lion's den where Christians are the food or the threat, not the salvation. You have to be able to change that perception by being different but not threatening. You can't challenge their beliefs, you can only offer them a quiet alternative for them to consider at their leisure. If we put their literature in our booth, we'd be kicked and barred just as fast with them holding the printed evidence of our "thought crimes".

What could be done by Cosplayers is to walk around praying for people and against the demons there, quiet and unobtrusively of course. There's enough creepy/weird/damaged people walking around they'd blend in. If they had a good costume they'd have a chance to engage and talk about their idea of crossplay (a play on their own term, for Christian crossplay instead of cross-gender, cosplay). A subtle tune that offends no ear, not a 100 piece brass band with elephants trying to blow down the walls of Jericho. But the point is, you have to take the parable philosophy in there. For those with an ear and can hear the deeper message. To all others, it will pass by unnoticed.

Tethered to a booth, panel, game demo or lecture, that's not something I could do anyway. My ministry is more in my books anyway, but I need to be open to other ways that could possibly get past satan's guard that rules these events.

 

[Whendancer64]

While doing Neighbor to Neighbor evangelism, I can testify that when you are REALLY interested in planting or watering seeds, the Lord will lead you into creative ways to share the Gospel as well as just being a light to everyone...no matter what culture that they profess to belong to. One time, I realized that I had A LOT of Gospel tracts, in boxes, lying around my apartment. If you don't plant seeds, then you can't expect a harvest. Amen? So, I prayed about how to best distribute them. It came to me that the local library sells outdated magazines for 10 cents each. Magazines that would intersest people who would, otherwise, not be able to afford a subscription. Mags about cars, gardening, recipes, popular mechanics, horses, etc. I bought a nice variety, went through each to remove "questionable ads", and placed the tracts inside - some in english/some in spanish.

Then, I left them at the local laundramat. One day, while I was washing a load, or two, I noticed a hispanic man deeply engrossed in one of the tracts in spanish distributed by CHICK PUBLICATIONS. I watched, quietly, as he only set it down once to load his wet clothes in a dryer, coined its slots, and, immediately, return to the little gospel booklet.
THAT'S what being a "sower" of seeds is all about.
When you care about souls, King Jesus will give you the tools and opportunities to reach the lost.
M.D., I hope that, even though you have chosen not to put literature "targetting" ANY specific culture on your table, that while you are "doing a prayer walk", you would, at least, be able to, confidently, recommend some sites should a "seeker" approach you for prayer related to your ministry. Pray about that, won't you? It shows them that you really care about them successfully being free, when you can give them tools that they can refer to long after you have packed up your wares and gone home. Amen?

 

[BAMB]

a prayer walk through the crowds might be a very good idea. We have prayed before and after, but sometimes get a little distracted during the event to think of praying during the event. But I at least take at least one walk around the venue.

 

[Whendancer64]

a prayer walk through the crowds might be a very good idea. We have prayed before and after, but sometimes get a little distracted during the event to think of praying during the event. But I at least take at least one walk around the venue.

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[Whendancer64]

BAMB, A prayer walk is an excellent suggestion! The last time that I participated in one, I was living in a fourplex where all the tenants were Christians. Our building was located in an area that had the highest crime rate of that state. One summer, because of it's location and the lack of car ownerships, the local drug dealers started using our parking lot as their location of convenience for doing drug deals. They would drive into our lot, wait for their client to drive in, conduct business, and then, off they went in separate directions.

So, me and the other tenants, after praying, went out one morning and did a prayer walk for protection against these activities. We sang praise and worship songs as we walked the circumference of the entire property. We didn't stop, even when people, came to inquire as to what we were doing. We answered their questions but we kept on walking. it even drizzle for a few minutes, but we kept on walking. We walked a total of 7 times: the first 6 were just praise and worship songs. On the last lap, we praised the Lord for giving us the victory...ahead of time.
From that day forward: not one more drug transaction took place in our parking lot!
TO GOD GOES ALL THE GLORY!!!

 

[lynnmosher]

Whendancer, just a hint: you can put a quote and your comment in one window. No need for two.

 

[lynnmosher]

Oops! Whendancer, forgot to mention. That is a great praise! Wonderful!

 

[Zee]

Funny story: someone painted, “Die, Mark,” on the wall near our house. My boys, Zee and Q noticed and were upset. (Our landlord, who is always nice to them, is named Mark.)

Yesterday, while I was busy elsewhere, they decided to rectify the situation, and they did-with lots of pink chalk. They scribbled out the original message and wrote things like “Live, Mark,” “Love, Not Hate,” “God is Love,” etc. all over the wall.

Zee and Q (only eight and five, for the record) discovered that getting chalk off a brick wall is easier said than done…

More importantly, both boys learned that if you want your message to find receptive ears, the way it is presented is as important as its content.

 

[lynnmosher]

Awww. What did the landlord say?

 

[Zee]

Awww. What did the landlord say?

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I think we cleaned it before he ever saw it…

 

[PenName]

Remember that they are your enemies, even as you give them good things. The Bible says that giving your enemy good things is like pouring hot coals over their heads! That's what we're doing, whether or not we realize it when we are kind to the lost.

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I am resurrecting this portion of the thread at my own peril, I am sure, but it is on my heart to leave this verse in response to the above, for anyone who might come across this thread in the future.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)

The lost are, indeed, the lost. They are not our enemies.

Now, please carry on!

 

[Rebecca]

The lost are, indeed, the lost. They are not our enemies.

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Exactly this. I just saw a short on YouTube that gives this message perfectly.

 

[lynnmosher]

HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!