remainobedienttoHiswordwhilestill purposethantoinsultitandreturnto realizingthat“Forthemessageofthe theirevilways.Wecanidentifysuch crossisfoolishnesstothosewhoare peoplethroughdiscernmentandmust perishing,buttouswhoarebeing consciouslybeopentohearingfrom saveditisthepowerofGod”(1 God,sowegraciouslybowoutofthe Corinthians1:18).Wedonotstop fight.Itdoesnotmeanweconcedeto believingthepersoncanbesaved,butif theirfalsedoctrine.Still,weshould ourwordsarenotgettingthrough,our sensethatcontinuingthediscussion actionsmaybemoreeffectivethan willonlyleadtofurtherstrifeandrisks arguments. theopportunityofreachingmoreopen Thistakesustothesecondprinciple. individualswhomaybearound “Therefore,asGod’schosenpeople, listeningorwatching.Jesustaughtthe holyanddearlyloved,clothe apostleshowtohandlerejection.Itwas yourselveswithcompassion,kindness, tosimplygoelsewhere.“Andifanyone humility,gentleness,andpatience” willnotreceiveyouorlistentoyour (Colossians3:12).Wearecommanded words,shakeoffthedustfromyour topreachtheGospel,butourcharacter feetwhenyouleavethathouseortown” shouldreflectwhywecallothersto (Mathew10:14). believeinHim.Supposewehave Insummary,ourpassionforsharing patienceinaheateddisagreementor thefreegiftofsalvationoffered grantforgivenessinaconflict,even throughfaithinChristshouldbe whenitisn’tourfault.Thatbehavior temperedbythequalitiesweare cansparkaninterestorcuriositywell grantedthroughournewlifeinHim. beyondacraftyrebuttaltotheir Wearetobewiseasserpentsandas position.ThisiswhatIconveyedtomy innocentasdoves.Preachinginafallen newfriend.“Letyourhusbandwatch worldrequiresadelicatebalanceof howChristtransformsyou.Betherole humility,brotherlylove,and modelforyourkids.Showthemwhy discernment.Weshouldbeprayerful Jesusissowonderfulcomparedto andwisetodistinguishwhenHe whattheirfatheroffers.” presentsuswithanopendoororadoor Thisleadstothethirdprinciple— thatonlyHecanshut.Ultimatelythe usingwisdomanddiscernment. choiceisHis.“Inlove,hepredestined Recently,mychurchaskedifIcould usforadoptiontohimselfassons helpdeveloptheirnewlocaloutreachto throughJesusChrist,accordingtothe listenedtohowhecomparedIslamto Muslimprogram.Oneparticipanttold purposeofhiswill,tothepraiseofhis Christianity,andIwasconvictedthat mehowhefelttotallyoverwhelmed gloriousgrace,withwhichhehas tryingtobattlehimintellectuallywas whenwitnessingtoaMuslimwhowas blessedusintheBeloved”(Ephesians counterproductive. alsoverydevoutandproceededtofire 1:3-6). Hereareseveraloverarching offmanyfalsecriticismsoftheGospel. principlesthatapplytohersituation Ihavebeeninthatsituationnumerous andhowtoprayerfullyconsider times,andthoughIamwellversedin HediehMirahmadiwasa devout Muslim for two sharingtheGospelintoday’sworld. therebuttalstothosearguments,I decadesworkinginthe Firstandforemost,wemust oftenheartheLordsay,“Donotcast field of national security remember,“Forbygraceyouhavebeen yourpearlsbeforeswine.”Ithen before she experienced the redemptive power of savedthroughfaith.Andthisisnot politelyconcludethediscussionand Jesus Christ and has a new passion for yourowndoing;itisthegiftofGod,not changethesubject. sharing the Gospel. She dedicates herself full-time to Resurrect Ministry, an online aresultofworks,sothatnoonemay RepeatedlysharingtheGospelwith resource that harnesses the power of the boast”(Ephesians2:8-9).Weaccept someonewhoridiculesChristislike Internet to make salvation through Christ ChristbecauseGodcalledustofaith. castingpearlsbeforeswine.Thereisno available to people of all nations, and her daily podcast Noneofushavethepowertomake benefittogivingthemessageof LivingFearlessDevotional.com. anyoneelsebelieve.Goddoesit.We salvationtosomeonewhohasnoother Christianpost.com 17