Even though I’m no longer a Christian, I find the Gideon bibles very useful – they’re free and very effective getting missionaries off my property when I threaten to burn one.

wow. both on the throwing in your car (i’m impressed with the person’s aim but not his/her sense of safety) and gillete’s video.

There’s something quite encouraging about having an atheist publicly congratulate a proselytizer for being sincere and polite and non-confrontational in his attempt to make a convert.

I think Penn is being more honest and generous with someone who has a decidedly different view of things than many Christians would have in similar circumstances. Why can’t we be more open and understanding and less obnoxious? Why do we have to see true charity (Christ-likeness) being demonstrated by an atheist before we figure out that we should have the same kind of generous spirit?
Reminds me of Matt Casper (Jim & Casper go to church).
Kudos to Penn!

Thank you TJ. The pendulum keeps swinging. One of the things that I have learned to embrace is that I am not intellect without emotion. There is no dichotomy between the two. I would venture to say that no human can easily separate. That being said, I have rejected much of the “Soul winning” spirituality of the likes of Ray Comfort, Kirk Cameron, E.E., Campus Crusade, etc. Part of this has been a result of going through a strong embrace of election over and against free will. After leaving that thought process, I just focused on getting my picture of Christ corrected. Spending much time around those who believed the same things that I did, I really didn’t want to tell others about my embrace of Jesus and my relation to God. I tucked it away and decided that I would “…count conversations not conversions.” This still rings true to me, but then I am confronted with a neighbor and upon our conversations, I see that she is really crying out for God. Here comes the emotion. I never take it to that level because all I can hear in my head is, “That is wrong theology” or “I don’t even know what I believe” or “Love first”. I know that when I embraced the God-man that my life changed in ways that I have yet to fully grasp. I know that I want my neighbor to embrace this same love. I don’t know what to say and I don’t know what to do. The other night I almost asked if I could pray with her, but then I thought “And that will be the point where she says this guy is just like all the others trying to get me saved.” At what point do you say anything about divine love? Is Penn right in that if I truly loved her, I would try to prostilitize?

>Is Penn right in that if I truly loved her, I would try to prostilitize?
What came up for me as he said that is that he has a very simple view of the gospel. I can’t blame him, because lots of Christians have suggested a very simple view, and that is “Affirm that Jesus died in payment for your sins, and you won’t burn for all eternity in the flames of hell.” That assumes that we can choose to believe something that we don’t, in fact, believe, and that we can change our belief on a dime. It also assumes that those flames are very literal, and very eternal, and so it becomes an emergency.
I don’t think it’s true that we can just choose to believe. We have to grow into belief, through experience. And the way I’ve seen it happen is that we experience a decent imitation of infinite compassion and unconditional love, and then it begins to seem plausible.
If somebody is at the bottom of a big hole (that would be hell, disconnection from God), getting in their face and screaming JUMP OUT! JUMP OUT! isn’t going to help. Saying “Grab on to God’s hand!” isn’t going to help either, if they can’t *see* God’s hand. My current working theory is that we have to show them what love looks like, and then offer a gentle, tentative theory that love is all around, and available to them.

Cool. I must confess, I have heard Penn before speak on his beliefs, and I did not expect to hear what I heard here. It really gives me a lot of encouragement about the possibility of healthy and respectful dialogue between people of different beliefs.

“That assumes that we can choose to believe something that we don’t, in fact, believe, and that we can change our belief on a dime. It also assumes that those flames are very literal, and very eternal, and so it becomes an emergency.”
This helps a lot. What you said really is true. I don’t believe in the simple Gospel that is prostilitized by so many who preach it, but their passion for preaching to others for conversion still causes me to feelings of inadequacy or that I just don’t care enough to share of this divine love. I really still believe that, although I fully reject this pseudo-gospel, I can’t help but feel that I have let the balance fall to a more individual faith existence. If my faith says that faith and love is inclusive then why do I act as though it is private? If it is inclusive than I would be able to say to my neighbor, “Do you mind if I pray for you?” with ease instead of battling, right? I may need to revisit More Ready Than You Realize. It seems to me that Brian had a lot to say of this. I think it is easier to think of the “World” and my response than to actually encounter a single mom who is crying out for love. Me and my wife want to show that Invincible hand of God, but wonder how we are doing it and if we are making the right moves. Part of it, I think, comes from a background that continually haunts me (Fundamentalism) and searching for a better way of sharing my heart. Does this make sense?

Noah, I know what you mean. I struggle too. How do you share this beautiful thing when those who’ve gone before us have made it seem… ugly?

“How do you share this beautiful thing when those who’ve gone before us have made it seem… ugly?”
What if you have a sibling who you don’t quite agree with? Do you stop declaring your love for your father, or your father’s love, because of your wayward brother or sister?

It’s really encouraging to hear an appreciation of someone sharing their faith. We often avoid that like the plague, but there are some lessons for sharing faith in Penn’s monologue — engaging people honestly, caring about who they are and what they do, and being open and vulnerable with them. He says that “one person politely living their life right doesn’t change anything” — but if Penn discerned the man’s goodness from this interchange, something has changed, for the better.
http://nuchurch.blogspot.com/2008/12/evangelism-lessons-from-penn.html

Maybe someday Penn will come around…

What a wonderful seed the man with the bible planted…sometimes, that’s all it takes to bring an unbeliever to their knees.

Scripture says that it is Holy Spirit that does the work. People need to see Christ in us and they can only see this if we are in relationship of somekind with them. Peter says that we need to preach and if necessary use words….our lives need to demonstrate Christ. The problem is everyone sees religion as Christ when it is not, it is a “form” like any other business. Christ was about relationship with us, and us with others. To remain innocent in all we do, think, and say and stay away from temptation in the process.

I so much appreciate his understanding the depth of the true believer’s sincere conviction and concern…and his speaking out about it so openly! Many people take a threatening approach (“believe or else”) to others or none at all. It is true that eternal life or death is no small matter! If we really believe what we say we believe, we will share it. If we care deeply about other people, we who are believers will show that concern when we approach others. Jesus life was all about love, serving others, and saving them because of that great love. That is Who we follow and Who we are to be to the world. Love and blessings to you all!

Thank you Sir for planting the seed of Christ in such a manner..Only if all of us would do that & be a light to the world in the same way Jesus was. Thanks for sharing

Lord, I pray that you continue to move in this special way to all non-believers. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

I pray that the seed that man planted will grow! May we all have that when we witness to non-believers and lost souls! Amen!

Let’s continue to lift Penn Gillette up in prayer. Remember that the Apostle Paul was once an umbeliever as well. I believe that God has a plan for each of us that includes Him, and I also believe that one day, Penn Gillette will be counted among the believers. All this because of one man’s obedience. Praise God!

One thing I really noticed, was at the end when he stated that “Religion does some bad things”, yes it can, but it is not about religion, it is about relationship! a relationship with our Heavenly Father! Lord, may the seed that this man has sown grow, and be strong, for you! Lead him into a relationship with YOU! AMEN!

We don’t realize how powerful & how far a small act of genuine kindness can go. If, we as followers of Christ could continue to walk in the fruits of the Spirit how many more ppl like this man could be touched! Galatians 5:22-23! G-d will give seed to the sower!

I was wanting to show this clip off of youtube to my youth group to talk with them about witnessing and being real, but now I can seem to find it anywhere and the link I went to says something about “embedding removed by request”. Any idea how or why or can we simply not view it anymore?

Then we should continue (or start to) pray for God to work in his life I will commit to once per week. any others?