10. Gesprek tussen gelowige en ongelowige
Baie mense kan getuig van ‘n vriend of familielid wat gelowig grootgeword het en na baie jare as aktiewe kerklidmaat die kerk en geloof verlaat het. “Ek het met hom daaroor probeer praat, maar die gesprek vorder nie. Nie eens die argumente van bekende teoloë en Christen-apologete het hom oortuig nie. Hy het ook baie opgelees oor geloofsake en kon my soms in ‘n hoek druk.”
Dit is ‘n voorbeeld van hoe die bestemming wat vir mens wink jou denke kan oorheers.
Is daar ‘n beproefde manier om iemand wat ‘n besluit ten gunste van ongeloof geneem het, weer te bekeer? So ‘n persoon het dikwels al baie nagedink, wyd gelees en het al die argumente gehoor en oorweeg. Maar die ongeloofsbestemming het harder geroep en hy het daarna geluister. Dit is nie ‘n eenvoudige situasie nie.
Om oor na te dink: Dit is die Christen se plig om die evangelie uit te dra. As ‘n persoon naby aan jou al alles deurdink het en ‘n duidelike wilsbesluit ten gunste van ongeloof geneem het, dan is die mees sinvolle optrede meestal om te sorg dat die verhouding met die persoon behoue bly en om beskikbaar te wees vir ‘n geloofsgesprek. Eerder as om so op te tree dat die ander persoon die verhouding verbreek. Dis nie altyd maklik nie. Maar ons moet verstaan dat ons instrumente van die Heilige Gees is. Ons moet ons plig doen, maar dit is die Gees wat die harte van mense verander. Daarvoor moet ons voortdurend bid.
10. Conversation between Believer and Unbeliever
Many people can testify of a friend or family member who grew up as a believer and after many years as an active church member left the church and the faith. “I tried to talk to him about it, but the conversation goes nowhere. Not even the arguments of well-known theologians and Christian apologists convinced him. He had also read widely on matters of faith and could sometimes corner me.”
This is an example of how the destination that beckons can dominate one’s thinking.
Is there a proven way to convert someone who has made a decision in favour of unbelief? Such a person has often already thought deeply, read widely, and has heard and considered all the arguments. But the destination of unbelief called louder and he listened to it. This is not a simple situation.
Something to reflect on: It is the Christian’s duty to proclaim the gospel. If a person close to you has already thought everything through and has made a clear decision of the will in favour of unbelief, then the most meaningful course of action is usually to ensure that the relationship with that person is preserved and to remain available for a conversation about faith. Rather than acting in such a way that the other person severs the relationship. It is not always easy. But we must understand that we are instruments of the Holy Spirit. We must do our duty, but it is the Spirit who changes the hearts of people. For this we must pray continually.