PRINTING HISTORY First Printing June 2011 2011 Contend For The Faith Ministries Published by Contend For

or The Faith Publications Printed In Canada

www.contendforthefaith.ca

How To Share Your Faith With...

Have friends who are atheists? Agnostics? Into Wicca? Or New Age? Which of these belief systems have you encountered before? Did you talk to them about what they believe? Were you able to share the gospel with them? Fourteen predominate worldviews are explored, providing insights on how to be effective in sharing your faith with others: 1. Alisha The Agnostic .. 2. Andy The Atheist .. 3. Bailey The Buddhist . 4. Erin The Evolutionist . 5. Hari The Hindu .. 6. Jenna The Jew .. 7. Jordan The Jehovahs Witness . 8. Marty The Mormon ... 9. Mo The Muslim .... 10. Nicole The New Ager .... 11. Ryan The Religious . 12. Sid The Satanist ... 13. Tara The Typical .... 14. Willow The Wiccan ... How Do I Reach Those Who Want To Argue? ... 1 3 5 8 11 14 17 20 22 25 28 30 33 36 39

Alisha The Agnostic

Basic Description Alisha calls herself an agnostic because she believes there is no proof for the existence of God, so you could say that Alisha doesn't believe or disbelieve in God. In other words, in Alisha's mind, God could exist, but no one can currently prove that. What Alisha Believes About Agnosticism: Alisha believes that agnosticism is the most rational and reasonable worldview, sometimes because of the 'damage' done by religion throughout the centuries, but mainly because it seems to be the most consistent with the observable world according to the scientific method. Alisha is open to the idea that God could possibly exist. About God: Alisha believes God can't be proven or disproved, so in the practical sense she basically doesn't believe in God. About the Trinity: Like God, the reality of the Trinity would be a possibility. About Jesus: Alisha believes Jesus was either just an ordinary person, or never existed at all. She will oftentimes refer to the 'Jesus-Myth', or when she is being really sarcastic, refers to 'Jebus' (a sarcastic reference to Christ). About the Bible: Alisha believes the Bible is a collection of myths, half-truths, and lies designed to lead ignorant people astray and give power to religious leaders over the masses. About the Afterlife: Alisha believes the reality of the afterlife is a possibility, because it can't be proven or disproven. About Salvation: In Alisha's mind, there is no need for salvation from sin and hell. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (had no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe.

About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not just an enlightened man. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). It backs up its claim as the word of God with accuracy, historical correctness, and fulfilled prophecy. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Every person born on this planet is born into sin, is destined for hell and needs a Savior. Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29, 47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Things to Remember Don't argue over whether or not God can be 'proven', because that usually puts you on the defensive, and the bottom line is you can't really 'prove' God in the scientific method sense. Focus on the observable evidence of God that is built in to creation like how 'fine tuned' the universe is to support life, otherwise we wouldn't even exist. This fine tuning simply could not have happened by accident. For example, the earth is the perfect distance from the sun. If it were just a few miles closer, we'd all burn up. A few miles further out, and we'd all freeze to death! Try to work what is called 'Pascal's Wager' into the conversation - which goes something like this: It makes more sense to believe in God than to not believe. If you believe, and God exists, you will be rewarded in the afterlife. If you do not believe, and He exists, you will be punished for your disbelief. If He does not exist, you have lost nothing either way. If they ask questions like: "how do you know which God?" - focus on the claims of Christ as being the only way and proving it by coming back from the dead. Remember to bring this up as a conversation starter, and not as an intimidating threat. Bottom line with an agnostic: remember you cannot argue someone to faith in Christ, but you can (and should) live such a Christlike life that those around you sense something different, which opens the door for you to explain the 'evidence'.

Andy The Atheist

Basic Description Atheism is defined as "not having a 'god belief'." This is important to remember, because it's not that an atheist doesn't believe in god, because that statement opens the possibility that god or a supreme being exists. The atheist's worldview is driven by pure rationality, reason, and the scientific method. The result of this is that most atheists hold the theory of evolution to be true, and they reject the possibility of the spiritual world and an afterlife. Most surveys show that around 15% of Americans call themselves atheist. What Andy Believes About Atheism: Andy believes that atheism is the most rational and reasonable worldview, sometimes because of the 'damage' done by religion throughout the centuries, but mainly because it seems to be the most consistent with the observable world according to the scientific method. About God: Andy lacks a 'god belief'. About the Trinity: Since Andy lacks a 'god belief', the concept of the Trinity is totally irrelevant. About Jesus: Andy believes Jesus was either just an ordinary person, or never existed at all. He will oftentimes refer to the 'Jesus-Myth', or when he is being really sarcastic, refers to 'Jebus' (a sarcastic reference to Christ). About the Bible: Andy believes the Bible is a collection of myths, half-truths, and lies designed to lead ignorant people astray and give power to religious leaders over the masses. About the Afterlife: Andy does not believe in an afterlife. About Salvation: In Andy's mind, there is no need for salvation from sin and hell. He doesn't believe in sin, and he doesn't believe in hell, so why does anyone need to be 'saved'?

What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (has no beginning or end)eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not just an enlightened man. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). It backs up its claim as the word of God with accuracy, historical correctness, and fulfilled prophecy. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Every person born on this planet is born into sin, is destined for hell and needs a Savior. Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29, 47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Things to Remember The first thing you need to ask an atheist is "do you really seek to discover the truth - even if it costs you your reputation, and even your friends?" If the answer is no, then realize that he/she is not willing to go where the evidence leads; you won't be having an honest intellectual dialogue, but your conversation may still have a spiritual impact. Don't talk about sin with an atheist. In their worldview, morality is generally dependent on the situation and neutral, so there is no reference point in their minds for a concept of breaking God's universal laws. Don't get dragged into arguments about what God did or didn't do. Focus on the evidence that Christ existed, died on the cross, and came back from the dead. As well, your personal testimony can be a powerful tool, because it's very difficult to 'disprove' the real and lasting change that Christ has brought to your life. Bottom line with an atheist (or anyone else for that matter) - you cannot argue someone to faith in Christ, but you can (and should) live such a Christlike life that those around you sense something different, which opens the door for you to explain the 'evidence'.

Bailey The Buddhist

Basic Description Buddhism is an Eastern religion which revolves primarily about suffering. Its founder is named Siddhartha Guatama (later called the 'Buddha' - where we get Buddhism from). He was born nearly 600 years before Christ. At some point in his young life he decided to travel the country, and when he did he became troubled by all the suffering of the common people. He desperately wanted to do something about all the pain he saw, so he studied the Hindu scriptures under their priests, but decided that was not the way to help. Eventually he stopped praying to the Hindu 'gods' and decided to become a homeless person and survive essentially by begging. During the years that followed, he dove completely into self-denial and meditation, and decided that this practice would lead to peace and help with suffering. He also believed that through self-denial and meditation, a person could eventually achieve a god-like state of 'Nirvana'. He then decided that his mission in life was to spread his message wherever he went, at which point he became known as the 'enlightened one' or the 'Buddha'. There are an estimated 613 million Buddhists worldwide; and 1 million in the United States. What Bailey Believes About Buddhism: What Bailey believes about Buddhism can be summed up in what are called the 'Four Noble Truths' There is pain and suffering in the world. Attachment to people and things causes suffering. The suffering will stop when a person can rid him/her self of all desires. There is a path to the extinguishing of all desires. Note: It is important to remember that the Buddha never considered himself to be a god, or a divine being of any type. He basically viewed himself as a person showing others 'the way' to enlightenment. Bailey doesn't consider Buddha to be a god either. About God: Bailey does not believe in the personal, Sovereign God of the universe revealed in the Bible. About the Trinity: Bailey does not believe in the Trinity. About Jesus: Bailey believes that Jesus Christ was a good teacher, though less important than Buddha. 5

About the Bible: Bailey does not believe the Bible to be the inspired word of God, because she doesn't believe in a personal God in the first place. Bailey also rejects the notion of rigid commands. About the Afterlife: Bailey believes in reincarnation through the cycles of Karma, which is an afterlife driven by the law of cause and effect. This means what Bailey does in this lifetime, either good or bad, determines what will happen to her in another lifetime, on and on through time, until she has gone through enough suffering and purification to reach Nirvana. About Salvation: Bailey believes salvation is by self-effort only through the Four Noble Truths. Remember that 'salvation' to Bailey is ultimately complete extinction at death, in other words freedom from the cycle of Karma. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (has no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not just an enlightened man. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven. Those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). The Bible denies the concept of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27-28). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Things to Remember Remember that Bailey is coming from an extremely different worldview, so totally avoid 'Christianese' terms such as 'new birth', or even 'born again'. Some good alternatives that they could better relate to would be terms like 'endless freedom from suffering, guilt, and sin', and 'gift of eternal good life without suffering'. Also, focus on the uniqueness and unique claims of Jesus - especially His 6

resurrection and teaching that He was the only way to God (John 14:6). Ultimately, you want to get the conversation to the point of sharing the gospel, so don't get too sidetracked with confusing Buddhist beliefs. Try to work your own gospel journey story, especially as it relates to your freedom from guilt and assurance of heaven in the midst of suffering. As always, remember that you are in a spiritual battle, so put on your spiritual armour (Ephesians 6) and pray without stopping!

Erin The Evolutionist

Basic Description Erin calls herself an atheistic evolutionist because she believes the human race evolved from less complex life forms as a result of random mutations over millions of years. Erin also believes that the either universe has always been around, or came about as a result of a huge cosmic 'bang'. Atheistic evolutionists believe there was no Supreme Being or Intelligent Designer involved in the development of human life. Theistic evolutionists believe an Intelligent Designer played some role in the origin of human life. What Erin Believes About Evolution: Erin believes that evolution is the best explanation for the observable world around us. At the core of her evolutionary worldview is the firm belief that all life began out of what's called a 'prebiotic soup'- prebiotic meaning before life began, and soup meaning a collection of organic substances that the original life forms came out of. About God: Erin doesn't believe in God. About the Trinity: Erin does not believe in the Trinity. About Jesus: Erin believes Jesus was either just an ordinary person, or never existed at all. About the Bible: Erin believes the Bible is a collection of myths, half-truths, and lies designed to lead ignorant people astray and give power to religious leaders over the masses. About the Afterlife: Erin believes that when we die, that is the end of our existence. There is no 'afterlife'. About Salvation: Erin doesn't believe in heaven, hell, or the afterlife, so there is no need for salvation.

What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (had no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. He is also outside of time and space, which is how he was able to create the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not just an enlightened man. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). It backs up its claim as the word of God with accuracy, historical correctness, and fulfilled prophecy. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Every person born on this planet is born into sin, is destined for hell and needs a Savior. Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Things to Remember If someone says they believe in evolution, it doesn't necessarily mean they don't believe in God. Erin believes in atheistic evolution, which means evolution that happened completely by chance. There are also Christians who believe God used the process of evolution to create life. They are called Theistic evolutionists. Your goal is not to disprove evolution, because a person can believe in evolution and be a Christian. Because of this, don't get into endless debate about whether we evolved from lower life forms. It is a much more effective strategy to get to the place where you have a discussion about how both evolutionists and Christians are exercising some measure of faith in their view of where life came from. Like Alisha the Agnostic, talk to Erin about the observable evidence of God that is built in to creation like how 'fine tuned' the universe is to support life, otherwise we wouldn't even exist. This fine tuning simply could not have happened by accident. For example, the earth is the perfect distance from the sun. If it were just a few miles closer, we'd all burn up. A few miles further out, and we'd all freeze to death! Also like Alisha the Agnostic, try to work what is called 'Paschal's Wager' into the conversation - which goes something like this:

It makes more sense to believe in God than to not believe. If you believe, and God exists, you will be rewarded in the afterlife. If you do not believe, and He exists, you will be punished for your disbelief. If He does not exist, you have lost nothing either way. If they ask questions like: "how do you know which God?" - focus on the claims of Christ as being the only way and his proving it by coming back from the dead. Remember to bring this up as a conversation starter, and not as an intimidating threat.

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Hari The Hindu

Basic Description Hari's worldview called Hinduism is a religion that actually originated in Europe over 3000 years ago with a group of people called Aryans who migrated to India and spread their religion there. Since then, it has grown to over 800 million worldwide, with over one million in the United States. While there is no 'official' statement of beliefs in Hinduism, Hari and other Hindus have a core of common beliefs that revolve around the impersonal nature of the universe and what impact that should have on our lives. Basically, Hari believes in a supreme but impersonal god called Brahmam, and all the other gods in Hinduism are extensions of the god Brahma. Hari also believes that the universe and all things in it (including all people) are extensions of Brahmam, which is why he also calls the universe Brahman. Because of this, the goal of existence is to eventually get to the point where you lose your 'self' (because that is just an illusion) and become one with Brahman. What Hari Believes About Hinduism: Hari believes Hinduism is the only true religion, and his beliefs affect every part of his life from how he spends his time, what he eats, and even the types of friends he chooses. Hari is also motivated to share his 'faith' with others because he firmly believes Hinduism is the only true path to peace. Hari believes all people are trapped in a cycle of reincarnation and karma, which means once you die, you are born again as a plant, animal, or person, depending on how good or evil you were in the previous life. Hari believes there are three ways to break this cycle: The first 'way of works' is the attempt to purify one's soul by the careful devotion/obedience to all the laws and obligations of the Hindu scriptures (called "Vedas"). The second way is called the 'way of knowledge'. It is the opposite of the way of works and teaches the total rejection and denial of one's individual life and instead seeks salvation in a mystical realization of identity with Brahman. The third way is by far the most popular; it is the 'way of devotion'. According to this point of view, if one commits oneself totally to the worship of a particular god or goddess, that deity will then take care of all the details as far as releasing you from the reincarnation/karma cycle. The way that works is if I devote myself completely to Krishna, then Krishna will take care of my karma problems and usher me into oneness with him when I die. So Hari believes one is saved from karma and reincarnation by following one of the three ways, and the result will be a state of bliss in union with 'god'. 11

About God: Hari does not believe in the God of the universe revealed in the Bible as Yahweh. About the Trinity: Hari does not believe in the Trinity revealed in the Bible, although Brahman is a 'three in one' type of god. About Jesus: Hari believes that Jesus was just one manifestation or 'appearance' of his supreme god of the universe. About the Bible: Hari does not believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, especially since he believes the Vedas (basically the equivalent of a Hindu Bible) are the only sacred scriptures. About the Afterlife: Hari believes in reincarnation through the cycles of Karma, which is an afterlife driven by the law of cause and effect. This means what Hari does in this lifetime, either good or bad, determines what will happen to him in the next lifetime, on and on through time, until he successfully completes one of the three 'ways of salvation' and loses his individual identity to Brahman. About Salvation: To Hari, 'salvation' is breaking free of the reincarnation/Karma cycle and becoming one with Brahman. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19), and He is not the same as the god of the Hindus. About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man, and not a manifestation or appearance of the Hindu god Brahman. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). The Vedas are not sacred scripture because their 'inspiration' comes from a false god. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). The Bible denies the concept of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27-28). 12

About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16 -17, 36; 6:29 ,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16 ; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), nor can a false deity get you into heaven. Things to Remember 1. Hari is coming from a radically different way of looking at the world, so your early witnessing efforts should consist of mainly listening and getting a feel for where he is coming from. Don't assume all Hindus believe the same thing, because they don't. Also, it is key that you figure out which 'way of salvation' they have chosen, because this will help you customize your witnessing efforts. 2. Focus on Jesus being the only way to heaven, and be sure you define your terms clearly so Hari doesn't just think of a Hindu equivalent to what you are saying (like 'salvation', 'God', etc.) 3. One thing that Hari has in common with all other Hindus is a need for peace. Since Hari believes he is stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of death and rebirth, peace seems almost impossible. A good verse to use in this area is Matthew 11:28 where Jesus makes this promise: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Use your own testimony as a way to show how it is possible to have a personal relationship with the personal God of the universe.

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Jenna The Jew

Basic Description As a Jew, Jenna's worldview is a religion called Judaism. Judaism is over 3500 years old and has approximately 15 million followers worldwide. It is one of the oldest religions on earth, and was started by the Biblical character Moses when he gave them the law God revealed to him. Jenna believes that the God who created the world established a covenant (a binding agreement - sort of like a contract) with the Jewish people. She believes God revealed his laws and commandments to the Jews in what they call the Torah - which is the same as the first five books of the Bible (Genesis-Deuteronomy). Jenna is devoted to studying and obeying the laws and commandments written in the these books. What Jenna Believes About Judaism: Jenna believes that Judaism is the one true religion because God personally spoke to Moses and gave him the law and commandments that people in Judaism follow. Although there are differences of opinions about the exact way Judaism should be followed, a leader in Judaism known as "Rambam" (who lived over 1000 years ago) summed up Judaism in 13 beliefs: God exists. God is one and unique. God doesn't have a body. God is eternal. Prayer is to be directed to God alone. The words of the prophets are true. Moses was the greatest prophet, and his prophecies are true. The Torah was given to Moses. There will be no other Torah. God knows the thoughts and deeds of men. God will reward the good and punish the wicked. The Messiah will come. The dead will be resurrected. About God: Jenna believes in the same God of the universe that Christians do, however she does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah.

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About the Trinity: Jenna does not believe in the Trinity revealed in the Bible. About Jesus: Jenna believes Jesus was a teacher, but no more than that. About the Bible: Jenna believes only the Old Testament is the inspired word of God, so she rejects the New Testament as God's word. About the Afterlife: Jenna believes that there is an afterlife where God rewards the good people and punishes the evil people, but beyond that she is not sure how it all plays out. There is definitely a heaven, but she does not view hell as a place of eternal torment. About Salvation: Jenna believes salvation is achieved by keeping the Law of the Torah. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man, He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). All 66 books of the Bible are inspired, not just the first five. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or keeping the law have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).

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Things to Remember Jenna does not like to be stereotyped with others from her religion, so ask a ton of questions to learn where she is coming from like: o Does she attend synagogue? o What happens at Passover? o Why doesn't she offer sacrifices today? o How does she find forgiveness since the destruction of the temple? o What does she believe about the coming of Messiah? o How will she recognize him when he comes? Jenna has been raised with little knowledge about Jesus Christ, so when you feel it could be appropriate, talk about how Jesus literally and perfectly fulfilled over 300 prophecies made about the coming Messiah. Ask Jenna to read Isaiah 53 and ask her who she believes that Bible passage is describing. Here is a link that goes through all the prophecies: Whenever possible, use Scripture to answer Jenna's questions. If you get asked something you don't know the answer to, ask Jenna for some time and then do some research. Your main goal is not to persuade Jenna that Jesus is the Messiah - it is a means to an end, and that end is that she needs to see that she fails to keep God's Law. It is not good enough for her to do her best; God requires perfection, so you need to get Jenna to the point where she knows that God will not overlook her failures or forgive her on the basis of their mitzvot (good deeds). Show her that God requires the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin (Leviticus 17:11; cf. 16:15-17, 27, 30), which was why the Messiah (Jesus) came to earth 2,000 years ago.

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Jordan The Jehovah's Witness

Basic Description The Jehovah's Witnesses were started in the early 1870's, by a man named Charles Taze Russell. Jehovah's Witnesses identify themselves as Christian and number over six million. Their name comes from their belief that God's personal name is Jehovah (which is an inaccurate name for God. It is properly translated 'Yahweh'). They are also called The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, mainly because one of their primary missions is to go door-to-door and hand out millions of Jehovah's Witnesses versions of the Bible and various informational tracts. What Jordan Believes About the Jehovah's Witnesses: Like Marty the Mormon, Jordan believes her religion (Jehovah's Witnesses) is the only true religion, and all other religions and Protestant denominations (Baptist, Lutheran, etc.) are false. This is why they are so aggressive and go door-to-door trying to convert others to their view of God. About God: Jordan believes there is one God Almighty - a Spirit Being with a body, but not a human body. About the Trinity: Jordan believes there is no Trinity, because she believes that Jesus Christ is a god, but not the God of the Bible, and that the Holy Spirit is an active force (rather than a real Person). About Jesus: Jordan believes that Jesus Christ is not 'Jehovah' God, but the first son that 'Jehovah' brought forth. He is a god, but inferior to the only Father God. Note: John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." The translators of the New World Translation misinterprets the end of this verse by adding an "a" as in "the Word was a god." According to the vast majority of Greek language scholars, this is a poor translation. About the Bible: Jordan believes that modern translations of the Bible are wrong. She believes that only the Jehovah's Witnesses' version, The New World Translation, is correct.

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About the Afterlife: Jordan believes that no soul remains after death. At some point in the future, Jesus Christ will return to resurrect the dead, restoring soul and body. There will then be a judgement day, and those judged righteous will be given everlasting life on a paradise earth (not in heaven). Those judged unrighteous will not be tormented, but will die and cease to exist (i.e. annihilated). About Salvation: Jordan believes that salvation is granted to those who had a combination of faith and good works (as defined by the Watchtower organization). What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (has no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not a god. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Things to Remember Remember that you are not trying to convert Jordan to a different belief system or even defending your own. Rather, you are trying to help her understand that salvation comes through a relationship with Jesus, not through a religion. Ask Jordan questions that will introduce doubt in her mind about her knowledge of Christianity and the integrity of her church's leadership like: o Can someone be saved without being a Jehovah Witness? If so, then how were people saved before the organization was formed? o If I were examining Mormonism or another belief, would it be a good idea to read testimonies from ex-members? (This puts them in a quandary, because if they say, "No," show how easy it is to be deceived by a cult that you haven't fully examined. If they say, 18

"Yes," then ask them why they haven't read books by ex-members of the Watchtower). Remember when asking questions about her beliefs, it's better to leave the questions 'third person' (or hypothetically apply them to yourself) rather than applying them directly to Jordan, or her organization. Instead of saying, "Does your organization...?" you might say, "What if an organization...?" or "What if I...?" This approach may help her be less defensive. Remember that while God opposes Jordan's belief system, He loves her, so be gentle and respectful at all times. Jordan may be deeply entrenched in her false beliefs, so be open to developing a long term relationship if you want to be effective.

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Marty The Mormon

Basic Description The official name of the Mormon Church today is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Joseph Smith founded the Mormon Church when he was 24 years old, in the state of New York on April 6, 1830. It was originally named the Church of Christ, but the name was changed in 1834 to the Church of the Latter Day Saints. In 1838 it received its current name (Doctrine and Covenants , Sec.115:4). The official LDS web site lists the December 31, 2004 worldwide church membership at 12,275,822. At the beginning of 2005, there were approximately 5,599,177 LDS members in the United States and approximately 6,676,645 members outside of the USA . Most of those outside of the USA are in Latin American countries. What Marty Believes About Mormonism: Marty believes that the Church of Latter Day Saints is the one and only true church on earth. He believes that the church became utterly corrupt soon after the Apostles, so God decided to restore the true church through Joseph Smith. Because of this, Marty believes all other denominations (Baptist, Lutheran, etc.) are false churches (in other words, not following God). About God: Marty believes God was once a man, but became God. God has a physical body as does His wife (Heavenly Mother). About the Trinity: Marty does not believe in the Trinity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three separate gods. About Jesus: Marty believes that Jesus is a separate God from the Father. He was created as spirit by the Father and Mother in heaven, and is the 'elder brother' of all people and spirit beings. His body was created as a result of a sexual union between God the Father and Mary. Jesus was married. His death on the cross does not pay for the sins of all people, but does provide everyone with resurrection. About the Bible: Marty believes what the eighth LDS Article of Faith states: "We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly" - which means Joseph Smith's interpretation or selected portions from the King James. The Book of Mormon, Doctrines and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the teachings of Mormon Prophets are on the same level of authority as the Bible. 20

About Salvation: Marty believes salvation is defined as being physically resurrected and exalted to godhood (i.e. becoming a god). People are saved by trusting in Christ and doing good works. About the Afterlife: Marty believes that eventually nearly everyone goes to one of three levels of heaven. Only apostates and murderers go to 'outer darkness'. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (has no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19 ). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He was placed in Mary's womb by the Holy Spirit of God. It was not by sexual union, but by a supernatural act (Luke 1:35 ; John 1:1,14, 18; 10:30 ). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:47; Romans 4:1-5; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven, those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). Things to Remember Marty may not be aware of the Mormon church's official doctrine, so many of the above mentioned facts might come as surprise to him. If this happens, don't get distracted with trying to prove you are right unless you believe it will help get Marty closer to trusting Christ. Marty may use the words and phrases that sound Biblically true (Jesus Christ, Son of God, salvation by faith, etc.), but actually mean something entirely different. Because of this, it is critical that you make sure you mean the same thing. For instance, if Marty says, "I am trusting in Christ for my salvation," you can ask these questions: o "What do you mean by salvation?" o "How do you define Jesus?" o "Are you trusting in Christ alone for your salvation?"

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Mo The Muslim
Basic Description Mo the Muslim belongs to the religion called Islam (which means 'way of submission'). His beliefs are based on the teachings of a book called the Qur'an, which the prophet Mohammed (the founder of Islam) claimed was dictated supernaturally to him in 610 A.D. by the angel Gabriel. Mo's religion is the second largest in the world and claims to have one billion followers. Mo goes to 'church' (called a Mosque) every Friday to pray to God. In a mosque during prayer time, Mo and all the other Muslims face east towards the city of Mecca, the birthplace of Islam, where Mohammed had his vision from Gabriel. What Mo Believes About Islam: Mo believes Islam is the only true religion, and he is radically committed to his faith. At the core of Islam are seven fundamental beliefs that Mo and every Muslim must accept as a part of his/her religion. The seven are: Belief in God (who, in Arabic, is named 'Allah'). Belief in the angels (both good and evil). Belief in the revealed Books of God. Belief in God's many prophets (including Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, and other Christians and Jews are familiar with). Accepting that there will be a Last Day/Final Judgement. Belief in the divine measurement of human affairs. Belief in life after death. Just like Hari the Hindu, Mo's beliefs affect every part of his life including how he spends his time, what he eats, and even the types of friends he chooses. About God: Mo does not believe in the God of the universe revealed in the Bible, rather his 'god' is called 'Allah'. About the Trinity: Mo wholeheartedly rejects the Biblical teachings about the Trinity. He believes that there is only one true God and his name is Allah.

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About Jesus: Mo believes that Jesus was one of Allah's prophets. He rejects the notion that Jesus is God. Even on a human level he believe that Mohammed was a greater man and prophet than Jesus. About the Bible: Mo recognizes only the Qur'an as truly and completely divine in origin. He recognizes only part of the Bible as God's word, but he believes even that part is badly corrupted and inaccurate. About the Afterlife: Mo believes that there is life after death, where faithful Muslims are rewarded according to their faithfulness, and unbelievers (called infidels) suffer for eternity. About Salvation: Mo believes that salvation (in his mind reward in the afterlife) is only achieved through absolute obedience to Allah, the Qur'an, and the Five Pillars of Islam. The Five Pillars of Islam are: 1. Affirmation (Shahada) - Consistent recitation of and belief in the creed that "there is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his messenger." 2. Prayer (As-Salah) - Praying toward Mecca (their holy city) five times a day. 3. Alms giving (Zakah): Giving 2.5% of their income to the poor. 4. The fast (Siyam) - Fasting from dawn till dusk every day during Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar). 5. The Pilgrimage (Al-Hajji) - Travelling to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. He is not the same as Allah, because Allah doesn't exist. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man, and not a prophet of Allah. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). The Qur'an is not sacred because it was not sent from God. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15).

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About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works or self-denial have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29, 47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Obedience to Allah has nothing to do with your destiny in the afterlife. Things to Remember Like Hari the Hindu, Mo is coming from a radically different way of looking at the world, so your early witnessing efforts should consist of mainly listening and getting a feel for where he is coming from. So first, be a friend. Muslim cultures place a high value on friendships and time spent visiting with friends. Many Muslims have not had the opportunity to develop a close friendship with a Christian. One way to do this is to invite him to your home. Mo places a high value on hospitality, and you would not leave his home without being offered something to drink (non-alcoholic), no matter how short the visit. Do the same with him, and be sure and ask beforehand about any dietary restrictions. Mo's religion is inseparably tied to his family and culture, so be sensitive to the fact that if he rejects Islam, his family and culture will reject and perhaps even plot to kill him. What this means is that Mo has to carefully weigh all the consequences of trusting Christ, so give him time and make sure you don't make trusting Christ sound flippant. Stick to the common themes where Islam and Christianity meet, like Jesus and the Bible. Use those themes to introduce Mo to the truth about them, like the claims of Christ, his death and resurrection, and the Bible being the inspired word of God. Mo's view of God (Allah) is one of anger and demand. Use your own testimony as a way to show how it is possible to have a personal relationship with the personal God of the universe (Yahweh) who loves and forgives unconditionally on the basis of Christ's death and resurrection.

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Nicole The New Ager

Basic Description The New Age is not new. Tenants of New Age doctrine have been a part of human history since Satan in the form of a snake deceived Adam and Eve in the garden with the promises of godhood. Although those in the New Age movement vary in their particular doctrines and practices (because it is not one centrally organized religion) they do have some common core beliefs. What Nicole Believes About New Age Views: According to experts on the new age, there are nine New Age core beliefs* that Nicole holds to. Her beliefs include: Evolutionary optimism: New Agers believe that the world is poised to explode into a New Age of enlightenment. They are convinced that this 'new world order' will be united under a one world government and initiated by a quantum leap in humanity's spiritual evolution. They see the next step of evolution as people becoming 'gods'. Monism: Monism means 'oneness'. New agers believe that we are all one with each other and the universe. We are all connected by the common cord of the cosmos. Pantheism: New Agers do not believe in a personal God. They believe that the totality of all the 'oneness' in the cosmos can collectively be called 'god'. Some call it 'the force'. Others call it 'consciousness'. But by any label it is the deification of the universe and everything in it. That's why the famous New Ager Shirley MacLaine boldly proclaimed, "I am God." She believes that as part of this cosmic consciousness, she is god and so are you and me. Transformation of Consciousness: New Agers believe that the New Age must be experienced to be transformational. Through meditation, drugs, yoga, martial arts, or cosmic experiences, the goal of the New Ager is to become one with the universe. The goal is a state of mind that is at peace with oneself and at one with one's universe. Create your own reality: In the New Age movement morals are subjective. Since there is not an external objective standard of authority when it comes to behavior then you are free to create your own moral reality. The New Age encourages its participants to experiment and experience their own morals on their journey toward oneness. 25

Unlimited human potential: New Agers are convinced that all the power of the universe is available to every person. The more that we can know the god within us the more we can unleash the cosmic force to achieve the unachievable (ESP, telepathy, out of body experiences, and psychokinesis [moving or manipulating objects with our minds] are all evidence of their belief in unlimited human potential). Spirit Contact: New Agers believe that there is an army of spirit guides, extraterrestrials, and entities who are seeking to communicate to humans through mediums or channelers. These channelers are humans who are in touch with the cosmic consciousness and are used by these spirit guides to communicate universal truth to others. Of course, this opens the spiritual door to extreme demonic influence. Masters from Above: New Agers believe that UFO's and those who have had extraterrestrial encounters prove that there is not only life on other planets, but that these more evolved species have much to teach us. Think Sci-Fi channel on steroids! Religious Syncretism: This is a fancy term meaning that New Age spirituality is a rather eclectic grab bag of Eastern mysticism, Western occultism, neopaganism, and human psychology. Many New Agers claim to be Christian-although they define it completely different from Christianity. Most Americans today are New Age in at least some areas of their belief system. The whole concept of "it doesn't matter what you believe, it only matters that you believe," flows from the New Age belief system. Now let's look at how Nicole's New Age beliefs line up against Biblical doctrines: About God: Nicole has no belief in God as the Bible reveals Him in the New Age belief system. About the Trinity: Nicole does not believe in the Trinity. She rejects the concept of a personal, powerful God. She believes that all is 'god' and 'god' is all. About Jesus: Nicole believes Jesus was an enlightened man. He was in touch with his cosmic consciousness and was able to tap into this universal power to heal others. She believes that he is only god in the same sense that we are gods. About the Bible: Nicole may say that the Bible is God's Word in the same sense that the Book of Qu'ran and the Book of Mormon is God's Word. She warns strongly against taking the Bible literally. She is convinced that it should be gleaned for cosmic truth mystically, not literally. About the Afterlife: Nicole and other New Agers may have varying beliefs about the afterlife, but the majority of them believe in some form of reincarnation.

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About Salvation: Nicole believes that salvation is found in becoming one with the universe. It is not a personal, permanent relationship with the God of the universe through faith in Christ, but rather a melting of ourselves in the cosmic pot of mystic oneness. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (has no beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is not a god. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. Good works have nothing to do with being saved (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Things to Remember When talking to Nicole, remember that you are entering a huge spiritual battle, so put on the full armour of God, and remember that the enemy is Satan, not Nicole (Ephesians 6). Also, don't stereotype Nicole and assume every New Ager is the same...they aren't. Every New Ager is different, so take some time and find out what she thinks. After finding out what she thinks, be sure and clearly define your terms. For example, when Nicole speak of 'Christ consciousness' she refers to a mystical state of 'enlightenment'. In other words, she doesn't mean we should trust Christ for salvation, she means we can become like Christ and make our own 'salvation'. Finally, point out common ground with Nicole (common belief in the spiritual world, etc.) and focus on the claims of Christ as the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).

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Ryan The Religious

Basic Description Ryan has a religious view of the world, which means he has a strong built-in sense of right and wrong, and strictly follows a set of standards that he believes will earn him spiritual reward here on earth and heaven when he dies. Ryan also tends to carry around an "I'm spiritually superior to you" attitude because he believes that good works are the key to religion. What Ryan Believes About Religion: Ryan believes that by believing in certain creeds or statements of beliefs, and by strictly engaging in certain religious behaviours, he will be on God's 'nice' list, while those who aren't religious are on God's 'naughty' list. He has been raised with this since day one, which is why religion and good works are such a key part of his life. Ryan also believes that religion is a combination of faith and good works that will one day get him into heaven. About God: Ryan believes in God. About the Trinity: Ryan believes in the Trinity. About Jesus: Ryan believes in Jesus. About the Bible: Ryan believes the Bible is God's word. About the Afterlife: Ryan believes in an afterlife where there is a heaven and hell, and that which place you end up is determined by how religious you were here on earth. About Salvation: Ryan believes that salvation is 'earned' by believing and behaving the right way. Ryan is not absolutely sure he'll make it into heaven, but he hopes that his good deeds will outweigh his bad deeds.

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What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man, He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and His death on the cross completely paid for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God and is absolute truth. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20), and it is also the ultimate authority on spiritual matters (i.e. no man made church teachings or traditions are equal with it). About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ ALONE on the basis of His death on the cross. (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) Good works are a natural result of our salvation, but they have nothing to do with our salvation. Things to Remember Ryan carries around a pretty strong dose of pride and self-righteousness, so focus on the 10 commandments and how all of us have broken them. One good illustration of this is to use the example of the religious person who only sinned a mere 3 times per day. While that seems good, when you add it up it becomes very bad. Three sins a day is over a thousand sins a year, and if he lives to be in his 80's, he will have sinned over 80,000 times! Talk about how one lie will keep us out of heaven (Revelation 21:8), so the standard for getting into heaven is absolute perfection. Deep down Ryan knows he is not perfect, so talk about how Jesus lived a perfect life, which is why he is the only one who could pay the price for our sin. In Philippians 3:4-12, Paul goes into detail about how he once depended on his 'religion' to please God, but after he trusted Christ, he saw all those things as trash. If Paul saw religion in that light, what should that teach us? Also, talk about what Jesus meant when he said "it is finished" on the cross. That phrase actually means 'paid in full'.

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Sid The Satanist

Basic Description Sid's worldview is called Satanism, which is a religion whose followers worship Satan and/or follow the teaching that he represents. While Satanists vary on their beliefs, you can generally put them into two categories. The first type is composed of those who would consider themselves a part of the Church of Satan or *LeVeyan Satanists. They base their beliefs on the Satanic Bible (written by Anton LaVey). Sid is a part of the second (and more popular) category of Satanist, which we'll call "self-taught" Satanists. Since Sid is 'self-taught', he determines the way he'll follow Satan. For example, Sid will perform rituals to conjure up satanic empowerment, and oftentimes have a few friends that participate in these rituals with them. Sid listens to heavy/death metal music that focuses on very dark themes like Satan, murder and graphic sex. Ritual sacrifices of animals (and in extreme cases humans) are sometimes part of the rituals that Sid may engage in. Sid oftentimes looks, acts, and dresses for shock value, so you will see him dress in black and portray a very rebellious attitude. Sid also has a strong hatred of Jesus and any type of organized religion. *LeVeyan Satanists do not believe in an actual Satan, rather they use the word 'Satan' to describe the forces of nature. Their religion primarily revolves around self-gratification, pleasure, and revenge. In terms of their beliefs about God and the Bible, they are atheistic (see Andy the Atheist). What Sid Believes About Satanism: Sid believes that there is a hidden spiritual dimension that contains the power of the occult (occult means 'hidden') that he can summon and use for his own purposes. Sid believes that Satan lives in this dimension, and can give him power when he prays to him and performs rituals. In fact, one of the main reasons Sid decided to become a Satanist was the power and temporary pleasure it seemed to offer. About God: Sid believes in and hates God. About the Trinity: Sid is not sure about whether the Trinity exists or not. About Jesus: Sid has an enduring and burning hatred of Jesus, which is motivated and maintained by the strong demonic influence in his life. 30

About the Bible: Sid doesn't believe in absolute truth, so he sees the Bible as a book full of myths and lies designed to keep people from enjoying life. About the Afterlife: Sid is not sure whether there is an afterlife or not, and if there is, it won't have places like heaven and hell, and Satan will have ultimate victory. Sid is much more concerned with getting as much pleasure out of this life than worrying about the next. About Salvation: Sid's whole life focuses on sinning, so he definitely doesn't see a need to be 'saved' from anything. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man. He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58; 10:30. Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and He is equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and one of His primary missions in coming to earth was to "destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God and is absolute truth. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20). About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell. (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ on the basis of His death on the cross. (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29, 47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5). Only through salvation do we have true joy. Jesus said, "The thief (meaning Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10. Things to Remember Sid is not waiting around for someone to share the gospel with him, so you will need to approach him with an incredible amount of love and patience. One way you can show this is to see past the 'shock value' lifestyle of Sid to the hurting and trapped individual underneath. Focus on the true Jesus of the Bible, especially his open contempt for the self-righteous religious leaders of his day so Sid can identify with Christ. Also, talk about John 8:32, where Jesus promised: "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Eventually, Sid 31

will (most likely) get to the point where he knows he was duped and now is a slave to the dark spiritual world, so help him understand that he can be set free through the power of Christ. You should always pray when witnessing to anyone, but this scenario really needs to be covered in prayer. You are attempting to rescue someone from the grips of Satan. Keep in mind that he doesn't let go of his converts easily. Put on your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6) and prepare for a battle!

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Tara The Typical

Basic Description Tara the Typical holds to the same typical worldview as the majority of Americans. This typical worldview varies some with each individual, but at the core are several commonly held beliefs that were shaped from a variety of sources such as religious background, personal friends, school, entertainment choices (this is a huge factor) and family background. At the heart of Tara the Typical's worldview is tolerance, individualism, self-expression, self-effort and self-gratification. Tolerance is the overriding principle that guides everything else in Tara's mind, so she sees all religions, lifestyles, sexual preferences, etc. as equally \ valuable and valid. What Tara Believes About Her Typical Worldview: Tara believes it is wrong for any one religion to claim they are the only way to heaven, nirvana, etc., and it is also wrong to judge other people in their lifestyle and choices unless they are really bad. One of Tara's highest values is sincerity - as in it doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere (genuine and honest) in your beliefs. Tara feels that her worldview is what will get her what she wants out of life without hurting others. About God: Tara believes in God, but her view has been warped by the media and misinformation from family and friends. About the Trinity: Tara thinks the concept of the Trinity makes no sense, so she doesn't believe in it. About Jesus: Tara believes that Jesus was a nice guy who said a lot of important things. She isn't quite sure if He is the Son of God, or even what that means. About the Bible: Tara believes that the Bible is a good book that should be treated with a certain amount of respect. Tara doesn't take the Bible too literally, though, because that's what turns people into intolerant extremists. Tara generally picks and chooses what parts of the Bible are true - like the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.

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About the Afterlife: Tara believes in an afterlife where there is a heaven and hell, and the only people who go to hell are really bad people like murderers and rapists. About Salvation: Tara believes that a person gets to heaven by having more good deeds than bad at the end of his/her life. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. He is both loving AND holy, meaning He will judge sin (2 Timothy 4:1). About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). The Trinity is true whether or not it makes sense. About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man, He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and His death on the cross completely paid for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). He was 'nice' when He lived on earth, but He was also sad, passionate, angry, tired, loving, and yes, even righteously judgemental of the stuck up religious people. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God and is absolute truth. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20), and it is also the ultimate authority on spiritual matters. Every word of it is inspired by God, so you can't just pick and choose what you 'think' is true. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). There will be many 'bad' people who trusted Christ and will be in heaven, and there will be many 'good' people who lived a great life but never trusted Christ who will be in hell. About Salvation: Salvation is by faith in Christ ALONE on the basis of His death on the cross. (John 3:16-17, 36; 6:29, 47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) Good works are a natural result of our salvation, but they have nothing to do with our salvation. Sincerity is not the qualification for salvation...truth is - and Jesus claimed He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one gets into heaven except through Him (John 14:6). There are other religions who are sincere, but they are sincerely wrong. Things to Remember Warning - Tara is extremely sensitive towards anything that sounds intolerant and/or judgemental, so approach with extreme caution! The best route to take is to first get her to see 34

the inconsistencies and contradictions in her worldview. This is best done by asking penetrating questions like: o Every major religion contradicts the others on major issues like who God is and how we get to heaven, so how can they all be right? o If getting into heaven is a matter of being good and sincere, why did Jesus come to earth, die on the Cross, and come back from the dead? o Osama Bin Laden claims to be a strict Muslim who planned the Two Towers attack partially out of a sincere religious belief called a Jihad. Do we have a right to judge him for that? Will he be in heaven as well? o There are many areas in the physical life where there are absolute truths, like mathematics and science, so why wouldn't there be absolute truth in the spiritual world? Also, your personal testimony will be helpful in helping establish the credibility of your message.

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Willow The Wiccan

Basic Description Willow's worldview is called Wicca, which is a loosely organized set of beliefs that are rooted in mystical traditions, including but not limited to Celtic or Norse paganism, Greek and Roman goddess worship, ancient Egyptian spirituality, Eastern Shamanism, or even Native American spiritual practices, depending on the group. Willow was attracted to Wicca because of the strong connection she felt with the world around her and in particular with nature. Willow is generally tolerant of other religions, but she does not welcome anyone trying to 'convert' her. What Willow Believes Willow and other Wiccans vary in their beliefs, but the majority of them would hold to the eight beliefs listed below: Everyone has the divine (or goddess) within, and everyone has a 'life-force'. One should develop natural gifts for divination or occult magic (often spelled 'magick' by occultists.) Divine forces or nature spirits are invoked in rituals. The Goddess, as either a symbol or a real entity, is the focus of worship. Nature and the earth are sacred manifestations of the Goddess. Everyone has his or her own individual spiritual path to follow. Rituals and celebrations are linked to the seasons and moon phases. Meditation, visualization, invocation (calling on forces or gods/goddesses), chanting, burning candles and special rituals trigger a sense of the mystical, which typically reinforces their core belief system. About God: Willow believes in a male counterpart to the Goddess, who could possibly be the Christian God or the God of Islam. About the Trinity: Willow doesn't believe in the Trinity. About Jesus: Willow believes Jesus was an enlightened man who should be honoured just like Mohammed, Moses, Krishna, and Buddha, but he was not and is not God in the flesh.

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About the Bible: Willow doesn't believe in absolute truth but she considers the Bible a good book that she can pick and choose things from to help her follow her spiritual path. About the Afterlife: Willow believes in an endless cycle of reincarnation (birth-death-birth-death, etc.) and karma (what you do here affects you in the next life). She does not believe in heaven or hell. About Salvation: Willow does not believe in sin or a need for forgiveness, so she doesn't see a need for salvation. In her mind, being 'saved' would be to reach a point where one is free from the reincarnation/karma cycle. What the Bible Teaches About God: God identified Himself as "I Am" (Exodus 20:2) - meaning He is the self-existent (never had a beginning or end) eternal Creator of the universe. There is no Goddess. About the Trinity: There is one God and yet three Persons (Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19). There are no other 'gods' or 'goddesses'. About Jesus: Jesus is fully God and fully man, He is the God of the universe (John 1:1, 14, 18; 8:58 ; 10:30 . Compare Titus 2:13 and Isaiah 45:21), and His death on the cross completely paid for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). What Willow sees as 'enlightened' was actually His power as being God. What separates him from Moses, Buddha, Mohammed, etc. was that He came back from the dead. About the Bible: The Bible alone is the word of God and is absolute truth. It is without error. It cannot and should not be added to or subtracted from (2 Timothy 3:16-4:4; Revelation 22:18-20), and it is also the ultimate authority on spiritual matters. Every word of it is inspired by God, so you can't just pick and choose what you 'think' is true. About the Afterlife: Those who trust in Christ alone as their only hope of salvation spend eternity in heaven; those who reject Christ spend an eternity in hell (John 5:24-30; Revelation 20:11-15). The Bible denies the concept of reincarnation (Hebrews 9:27-28). About Salvation: All people are sinners in need of forgiveness (Romans 3:23). Salvation is by faith in Christ ALONE on the basis of His death on the cross. (John 3:16 -17, 36; 6:29 ,47; Romans 4:1-5; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5) Things to Remember Like Tara the Typical, Willow is extremely sensitive toward anything that sounds intolerant and/or judgemental, so approach with extreme caution! As well, she sees Christianity as an oppressive religion, so be sure and show her love and respect. 37

Ask Willow what she believes about Christianity, because she might have a distorted image of what Christianity is. Try and use this as an opportunity to help her develop a correct understanding of true Christianity. Don't confuse Wiccans with witches, because anyone can practice witchcraft, but Wiccans follow a strict code. Also, don't confuse Wiccans with Satanists, because most Wiccans don't believe in Satan or the devil. Outline the strengths and reliability of the Bible (accuracy, consistency, fulfilled prophecy, etc.) because Willow rejects it as unreliable. Stress your personal relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ and what impact that has on your daily life. Whether Willow knows it or not, she is in the grips of Satan, so like Sid the Satanist, be sure and cover your relationship and conversations with her in a ton of prayer.

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How Do I Reach Those Who What To Argue?

Who are they? Difficult people are people who stand against the basic truths of Christianity. The issues can vary from the reliability of the Bible, to the identity of Jesus Christ, to the way of salvation, etc. 1. Witness with love! 2. Intentionally ask 4 key questions! 3. Take the common ground! 4. Negotiate the terms of your talk! 5. Explain your story! 6. Stick with the issues! 7. Stay dependant on the Spirit! What do they believe? Anything and/or everything that stands contrary to the Bible. How to witness to them: Witness with love! (2 Timothy 2:23-26) Remember that they are victims of Satan! Apart from God's grace, you, too, would be an unbeliever. LOVE THEM! Let the last thing they remember about you be your Christ-like attitude of compassion. Intentionally ask 4 key questions! (Matthew 21:23-27) There are 4 basic questions you can ask: 1. "What do you mean by that?" (This makes them define the terms in their argument.) 2. "How do you know that to be true?" (This makes them explain the logic of their argument.) 3. "What difference does it make?" (This makes them defend the value for their argument.) 4. "What if you're wrong?" (This makes them think the unthinkable about their argument.) How to use these questions: For instance, if they say, "I am an atheist," you can ask these questions: "What do you mean by 'atheist'?" "Do you mean there is absolutely no God?" "Do you mean that you don't know personally if there is a God?" "How do you know that there is no God?" "Have you been everywhere in the universe?" "What solid evidence can you produce to prove your position?" "What difference has atheism made in your life?" "Has it given you a purpose to live for?" "What fulfilment has it brought you?" "What if you're wrong and the God of the Bible is real?" "If you're right, I have nothing to worry about, do I?" "But if you're wrong, what are the consequences?" These questions can lead someone to the logical "end" of his/her system of thinking. If a person doesn't believe in the truth of the Bible, then push him/her to be consistent with his/her own belief system. For instance, If they say: 39

"I don't believe in God." You may say: "Then why do you believe murder is wrong?" If they say: "I don't believe in absolutes." You may say: "Do you believe that absolutely?" If they say: "I don't believe in a God I've never seen." You may say: "Have you ever seen your brains?" Take the common ground! (Acts 17:22-23; 27-28) In this passage, Paul uses a religious shrine as a conversation starter and quotes a secular poet to gain common ground with his audience. If the person believes in the truth of the Bible, take the common ground by showing him/her passages that differ with his/her beliefs. If the person doesn't believe in the Bible, try to use things that they believe in to support your position. Negotiate the terms of your talk! (James 1:19) "You talk for a few minutes and I'll listen without interrupting. Then I'll do the same. OK?" Let them start. (Remember to keep the terms of the talk yourself and make sure they do, too!) Listen to their viewpoint. Don't just listen to argue. Listen to understand. Restate their viewpoint back to them with terms like, "so what you are saying is this...". Once you understand their viewpoint (and they feel you understand it), then you are ready to evaluate what they believe Biblically. James 1:19 reminds us to "...be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry." Explain your story! (Acts 26:1-29) Your salvation story (testimony) is personal and powerful! There are 3 elements to a testimony: 1. What you used to believe you had to do to get to heaven. 2. What you found out you had to believe to get to heaven. 3. What you believed and how your life has been since. Stick with the GOSPEL! G od created us to be with him. O ur sins separate us from God. S ins cannot be erased by good deeds. P aying the price for sin, Jesus died. E veryone who trusts in Him has eternal life. L ife that's eternal means we will be with Jesus forever.

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Note: Remember that your ultimate weapons are prayer and the gospel message! Don't get distracted from the gospel message! Your goal is not to win an argument, but to win a person! Pray for them as you share the gospel! Stay dependent on the Spirit! (Ephesians 5:18) As you witness, trust in the Spirit to give you wisdom! (Matthew 10:19,20) Remember that only as you yield fully to the Spirit of God can He truly take control of your mind and your mouth! Keep in mind that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts people of sin and converts people to Christ.

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