Changes

A: Also, one must abide by the [[legal]] system one lives under, no matter however [[primitive]]. (01/26/92)

A: Also, one must abide by the [[legal]] system one lives under, no matter however [[primitive]]. (01/26/92)

====EVANGELISM====

===='''''[[Evangelism]]'''''====

Q: RAYSON, In your lesson you spoke of being active and not passive. And I've been trying to do that recently when I find opportunities to speak of my faith in conversation with friends and without, well, proselytizing - or whatever - without being overly preachy, I've tried to open doors when I can. And something happened recently with a friend. I felt a lot of resistance, and a feeling from her that she wanted to intellectually argue. I felt the need to protect my own faith - not that she could convince me otherwise - but just that it was disheartening to come up against that skepticism. And rather than continue the conversation, I feel that maybe I shouldn't even discuss faith with her any more. Am I being a coward? Am I being passive? Or is it sometimes a good idea to back off from a person whose skepticism seems stronger than their inclination toward faith?

Q: Rayson, in your lesson you [[spoke]] of being [[active]] and not [[passive]]. And I've been trying to do that recently when I find [[opportunities]] to speak of my [[faith]] in [[conversation]] with [[friends]] and without, well, proselytizing - or whatever - without being overly preachy, I've tried to open doors when I can. And something happened recently with a [[friend]]. I felt a lot of [[resistance]], and a [[feeling]] from her that she wanted to [[intellectually]] argue. I felt the need to protect my own [[faith]] - not that she could convince me otherwise - but just that it was disheartening to come up against that [[skepticism]]. And rather than continue the [[conversation]], I feel that maybe I shouldn't even [[discuss]] [[faith]] with her any more. Am I being a [[coward]]? Am I being [[passive]]? Or is it sometimes a [[good]] [[idea]] to back off from a person whose [[skepticism]] seems stronger than their inclination toward [[faith]]?

A: Our master did not allow himself, when he resided here as JESUS, to be drawn into useless debate and argument. Words are wonderful tools for communication among humans. However your life is much more effective - a much more effective argument for the role of faith. When words fail, your living experience as a faith filled daughter will not. Others are drawn to you because of who you are, based on the bedrock of your faith. Do not descend into arguing the point. Only negative things will come from that: divisiveness, differences, polarization. Rather stress the commonality. Love, it is hard to resist love. And shine through this (easily?) and in many ways you are unaware of your love. Others are not, and wish to be close to you. So, you are not a coward. It is wise to drop talk, which divides friends. Ask questions and leave your lower associate to (??) the feel of social growth, like your questions, that will not threaten the intellectual defense. Does that Answer?

A: Our master did not allow himself, when he resided here as [[Jesus]], to be drawn into useless [[debate]] and argument. [[Words]] are [[wonderful]] tools for [[communication]] among [[humans]]. However your life is much more [[effective]] - a much more effective [[argument]] for the role of [[faith]]. When [[words]] fail, your living [[experience]] as a faith filled daughter will not. Others are drawn to you because of who you are, based on the bedrock of your [[faith]]. Do not [[descend]] into arguing the point. Only [[negative]] things will come from that: divisiveness, [[differences]], [[polarization]]. Rather [[stress]] the commonality. [[Love]], it is hard to [[resist]] love. And shine through this (easily?) and in many ways you are unaware of your love. Others are not, and [[wish]] to be close to you. So, you are not a [[coward]]. It is wise to drop talk, which divides [[friends]]. Ask [[questions]] and leave your lower associate to (??) the feel of [[social]] [[growth]], like your questions, that will not threaten the [[intellectual]] [[defense]]. Does that Answer?

Q: Pretty much, but just - ask questions? In other words, ask questions that I still have?

Q: Pretty much, but just - ask [[questions]]? In other [[words]], ask questions that I still have?

A: No. Ask questions to teach this being. Ask questions about..

A: No. Ask questions to teach this being. Ask questions about..

Q: What they believe?

Q: What they [[believe]]?

A: No. What they need to get them through disappointment. Or sadness. Or, when they feel joyful, what does that feel to them? How does that affect their lives? Those kinds of questions where you are the student - but really you are the teacher. (02/09/92)

A: No. What they need to get them through [[disappointment]]. Or sadness. Or, when they [[feel]] joyful, what does that feel to them? How does that [[affect]] their lives? Those kinds of [[questions]] where you are the [[student]] - but really you are the [[teacher]]. (02/09/92)

====FAITH====

====FAITH====