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Friendship evangelism deception
1. Friendship evangelism deception
The ideas on this page are under development.
2. Point in time fallacy
A personal rule about any theological belief is the
PIT (Point In Time) fallacy.
PIT fallacy: Any theological idea, theory, etc., that comes into being at a certain point in time and, by implication, leaves everyone who existed prior to that point in time "
out of luck" is not to be believed without careful analysis and thought.
Does believing something make it true?
John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. [kjv]
Discuss: When Jesus makes this statement to Pilate, is it restricted to a
PIT?
3. Point in time fallacy
Here are some examples.
Suppose that a particular Bible translation is advocated by a group as the one and only inspired word of God. Does that mean that everyone in prior times was "out of luck"?
Suppose a particular viewpoint is adopted for part of the Bible. Does that mean that everyone in prior times was "out of luck"?
Aristotle, Eratosthenes, etc., talk about the earth being round, providing various levels of evidence and/or proofs. If one decides, for example, that the Bible says that the earth is flat, does everyone before who did not believe this "out of luck"?
More to be added over time.
4. Lack of evidence fallacy
A
lack of evidence fallacy is when someone makes a claim but does not have evidence to support the claim. Many times, it is just anecdotal evidence. Another name for this fallacy might be the
wishful thinking fallacy.
Example: Your organization hands out 10,000 Bibles. Someone has some anecdotal story about how it may have helped someone. Thus, the entire endeavor was a success.
Reality: One should estimate, with some quantifiable data, the actual value achieved and then estimate how much value might have been obtained with some other endeavor.
When someone makes a claim about what the Bible says and/or means in modern times, a good question is the following.
Can you provide one or two examples from the Bible where this type of situation happened and this was the action taken?
5. Friendship evangelism deception
Some pastors, groups, etc., will preach that one should become a friend with someone in order to present the gospel. This is deceptive in that, although this may work to some extent, it is not what Jesus, Paul, etc., did nor what they taught.
This page is a start at looking at the background of this idea.
The idea appears to have become popular in the 1980's and is still advocated today.
6. John 15:15
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. [kjv]
ουκετι λεγω υμας δουλους οτι ο δουλος ουκ οιδεν τι ποιει αυτου ο κυριος υμας δε ειρηκα φιλους οτι παντα α ηκουσα παρα του πατρος μου εγνωρισα υμιν [gnt]
In John, Jesus calls fellow believers "
friends". Some pastors in sermons will use the phrase "
now friends" when addressing the congregation in an almost condescending and superior way as to give one the impression that they are taking on the role of Jesus for themselves. Sometimes this role appears to be more like
impersonation than
imitation. But perhaps that pastor is really a
Quaker (rather than a quacker bird). The Quakers are known as the
Society of Friends.
Discuss: How many "
friends" did the
true prophets have? How about the false
prophets. How many "
friends" did Paul have?
Does Jesus say to go out and "
make friends"? Are we to "
make friends" with the world?
7. Students
In academia, "
students" will often try to become "
friends" with the "
teacher" since, "
friends do not give bad grades to friends".
Discuss: Can you be "
friends" with Jesus such that you do not need to do well in "
class"?
Such a student will often define "
fair" as doing what the student wants. Discuss:
Is Jesus "fair"?
Does Jesus do what you want?
8. Song: What a friend we have in Jesus
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, … [kjv]
δια τουτο και ημεις αφ ης ημερας ηκουσαμεν ου παυομεθα υπερ υμων προσευχομενοι και αιτουμενοι ινα πληρωθητε την επιγνωσιν του θεληματος αυτου εν παση σοφια και συνεσει πνευματικη [gnt]
Joseph Scriven (1819-1886) wrote a poem of comfort to his mother entitled "
Pray without ceasing".
Charles Converse (1832-1918), an American educated in Germany, set Scriven's poem "
Pray without ceasing" to music and renamed it "
What a friend we have in Jesus". One verse talks of
trials and
temptations.
9. John 15:15
KJV: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Greek: ουκετι υμας λεγω υμας δουλους οτι ο δουλος ουκ οιδεν τι ποιει αυτου ο κυριος υμας δε ειρηκα φιλους οτι παντα α ηκουσα παρα του πατρος μου εγνωρισα υμιν
10. The Great Mandate
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [kjv]
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [kjv]
Matthew ends with "
The Great Commission" and uses the Latin word
"mandani" ≈ "commanded" as in "
mandate". The Greek translated as "
nations" is that of "
people".
Jesus does not call you to be a "leader" in the human organization sense - where part of "leadership" is to "follow the leader" and to "influence" others through dubious "manipulation".
Jesus does not call you to be a "friend" first where one tries to use "friendship" to "influence" others.
As you go through life, you should "
teach" others what Jesus wants you to teach them.
11. Trinity
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [kjv]
πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος [gnt]
euntes … docete … gentes … [v]
This is one place where all three parts of the "
Trinity" are explicitly mentioned.
12. Great mandate
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [kjv]
πορευθεντες ουν μαθητευσατε παντα τα εθνη βαπτιζοντες αυτους εις το ονομα του πατρος και του υιου και του αγιου πνευματος [gnt]
euntes … docete … gentes … [v]
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. [kjv]
διδασκοντες αυτους τηρειν παντα οσα ενετειλαμην υμιν και ιδου εγω μεθ υμων ειμι πασας τας ημερας εως της συντελειας του αιωνος [gnt]
The Greek translated as "
nations" is that of "
people". What does Jesus say to do?
☐ Teach all people.
☐ Make friends with all people before (if ever) teaching them.
☐ Be a leader to others.
☐ Hand out Bibles to all people.
13. Evangelism context
14. Tiberius Caesar and sheep
Luke 3:1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, … [kjv]
Emperor
Tiberius Caesar (on taxes):
It is the duty of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them.
At the same time, Jesus was walking and teaching in Judea. Jesus had a different idea about what it meant to be a
"good" "shepherd".
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. [kjv]
εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος ο ποιμην ο καλος την ψυχην αυτου τιθησιν υπερ των προβατων [gnt]
15. John 15:12-14
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. [kjv]
15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. [kjv]
15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. [kjv]
Jesus is talking to believers (his disciples).
Some will extend this to the world without constraints.
The constraint is "
love your neighbor as yourself". The "
as yourself" is constraint is often omitted. Those who promote this (deceptive) idea ignore the next two verses.
16. John 15:12
KJV: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
Greek: αυτη εστιν η εντολη η εμη ινα αγαπατε αλληλους καθως ηγαπησα υμας
17. John 15:13
KJV: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Greek: μειζονα ταυτης αγαπην ουδεις εχει ινα τις την ψυχην αυτου θη υπερ των φιλων αυτου
18. John 15:14
KJV: Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Greek: υμεις φιλοι μου εστε εαν ποιητε οσα ο εγω εντελλομαι υμιν
19. Love and the world
John 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. [kjv]
ταυτα εντελλομαι υμιν ινα αγαπατε αλληλους [gnt]
Some will claim this is the most important command from Jesus and that it "
changes everything".
Jesus is talking to believers (his disciples).
Some will extend this to the world without constraints.
The constraint is "
love your neighbor as yourself". The "
as yourself" is constraint is often omitted. Those who promote this (deceptive) idea ignore the next two verses.
20. Hate and the world
John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [kjv]
ει ο κοσμος υμας μισει γινωσκετε οτι εμε πρωτον υμων μεμισηκεν [gnt]
15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. [kjv]
ει εκ του κοσμου ητε ο κοσμος αν το ιδιον εφιλει οτι δε εκ του κοσμου ουκ εστε αλλ εγω εξελεξαμην υμας εκ του κοσμου δια τουτο μισει υμας ο κοσμος [gnt]
If the world loves you, is something wrong? Perhaps you have moved away from the truth (reality) of Jesus. How can one "
out-love the world" without becoming "
of the world"?
Discuss: Is that really the goal? Provide some Bible verses (in context) as examples.
21. God is love does not mean love is God
Since the world hates people who love Jesus, the only way to make friends with some people is to become like the world.
Love your neighbor as yourself. That is, do not violate God's laws.
Love your neighbor (unconditionally). Takes precedence over God's laws.
22. Sin and guilt
A foundational part of evangelism is to tell people about "sin" and "guilt". This is the reason one needs Jesus.
Modern psychology was developed by Freud, who hated the Bible and Christians. He chose ideas to be the opposite of the Bible. Thus, the solution to problems were to get rid of "sin" and "guilt".
Some pastors promote some of these modern anti-Biblical ideas. One pastor gave an assistant pastor working for him a sermon on the modern anti-Biblical ideas of getting rid of sin and guilt. That assistant pastor had too much Bible knowledge and integrity to do what was requested and instead, danced around the issue while preaching some Bible truth. That assistant pastor did not last long at that church. The congregation loved that assistant pastor, but the main pastor's secular-based ideas appeared to take priority over Biblical ideas.
23. Friendship evangelism
What can happen if you use "
friendship" to "
influence" others to Jesus?
Jesus never says that it is important to "
have friends". That is part of (popular) Epicurean Greek philosophy. Some pastors preach that it is very important to "
have friends".
24. Epicurus
Epicurus (341-270 BC) was a Greek philosopher who, rejecting Plato's ideas, founded the movement called Epicureanism. These ideas are still popular today and preached in some churches.
self-sufficient life surrounded by friends
absence of pain, control of anger
peace and freedom from fear
happiness and pleasure (hedonism)
Some pastors will preach on the great importance of having friends and make that part of their Bible teaching. It is hard to find Bible support for this idea.
Instead, one should "
be a friend" as Jesus was, and not "
need a friend".
25. With a little help from my friends
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and sung by drummer Ringo Starr, the Beatles song "
With a little help from my friends" was on the "
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album released on May 26, 1967.
☐ Does Paul depend on "
friends" for help?
☐ Does Paul get help from God.
What does Paul think of the "
Epicurean" philosophy of having friends, etc.?
26. Acts 26:22 Epicureans
Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: [kjv]
επικουριας ουν τυχων της απο του θεου αχρι της ημερας ταυτης εστηκα μικρω τε και μεγαλω ουδεν εκτος λεγων ων τε οι προφηται ελαλησαν μελλοντων γινεσθαι και μωυσης [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"ἐπικουρία" ≈ "help, aid" and is used by Paul as a play on words of the Greek philosopher
"Ἐπίκουρος " ≈ "Epicurus" (341-270 BC).
Did Paul first become a "
friend" of those to whom he was "
witnessing"?
Epicurus advocated having "friends" to "help" you and being "self-sufficient".
Paul advocates getting "help" from God.
27. Matthew 23:15 Jesus talks about recruiting friends
Jesus talks about what happens if you recruit followers (as friends, etc.) with incorrect motives (e.g., to fill the pews).
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. [kjv]
ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι περιαγετε την θαλασσαν και την ξηραν ποιησαι ενα προσηλυτον και οταν γενηται ποιειτε αυτον υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον υμων [gnt]
A "
proselyte" is someone who is being recruited to be a part of the group, as in being a "
friend" to bring a new member or attendee into a church. Might the "
proselyte" be compared to a "
fish" that is caught for the purpose of getting a gold coin? This is a different way to be a "
fisher" of "
men".
The Greek translated as "
hypocrites" means "
acting" or "
pretending".
28. Matthew 4:19 Luring fish
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. [kjv]
και λεγει αυτοις δευτε οπισω μου και ποιησω υμας αλιεις ανθρωπων [gnt]
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IXTHUS
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Are you to use "
bait", a "
lure" and a "
hook" in order to be a "
fisher of men"? The Greek for "
follow" is that of "
come behind".
Are you to "
lure" "
fish" to Jesus by "
inviting" them to church? The idea of a "
hook" is that of a "
harpoon". The Greek word for "
harpoon" is used both for the "
rapture" by Jesus and by "
ravenous" wolves (wolf dogs in contrast to sheep dogs) leading the faithful astray.
29. Matthew 4:19
KJV: And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Greek: και λεγει αυτοις δευτε οπισω μου και ποιησω υμας αλιεις ανθρωπων
30. Matthew 23:15
KJV: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Greek: ουαι υμιν γραμματεις και φαρισαιοι υποκριται οτι περιαγετε την θαλασσαν και την ξηραν ποιησαι ενα προσηλυτον και οταν γενηται ποιειτε αυτον υιον γεεννης διπλοτερον υμων
31. Rapture: Snatching the goods from the strong man
Matthew 12:29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. [kjv]
η πως δυναται τις εισελθειν εις την οικιαν του ισχυρου και τα σκευη αυτου σαι αρπασαι εαν μη πρωτον δηση τον ισχυρον και τοτε την οικιαν αυτου διαρπασει [gnt]
The
GNT (Greek New Testament) word for
"spoil" is the ancient Greek word
"ἁρπάζω" ≈ "snatch away, carry off" and may be related to the ancient Greek word
"ἅρπη" ≈ "bird of prey" as a hawk or falcon and which
may be related to the
PIE (Proto Indo-European) root for "
reap", "
harvest", "
sickle". This word for
"snatch" is sometimes translated
"rapture" or
"ravenous" as in "
wolves".
The ancient Greek word
"σκευή" ≈ "vessel" as something that is made but can refer to
"people" as in a
"chosen vessel".
[Last Supper, 1 & 2 Thessalonians]
32. Crying wolf for the search and seizure of the rapture
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
προσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]
… falsis prophetis … vestimentis ovium … lupi rapaces [v]
The phrase "
to cry wolf" is used to indicate the proclamation of a "
false alarm".
The rapture is the "
snatching up" of believers (
rapiemur in Latin). The word is not in the Bible because the word "
rapture" is from the Latin and not the English or Greek.
The ancient Greek word
"ἁρπάζω" ≈ "snatch away, carry off" and is found in various places in the Bible but translated using many different words.
33. Matthew 9:12-13 Paraphrase
Matthew 9:12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. [kjv]
9:13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. [kjv]
The strong (who oppress the harmed) are righteous (in their own eyes) and do not want the healer (Jesus).
The harmed (who are oppressed by the strong) want a healer (Jesus).
Mercy is needed from the strong (who oppress) and not sacrifice from the harmed (as man's additions to God's laws).
I have not come to call the righteous (in their own eyes) as they do not want the healer (Jesus). (They will not listen nor repent)
I have come to call the sinners as they want the healer (Jesus). (They, at least, will listen and may or may not repent.)
34. Osmosis
Without knowing the name for this idea, I had always likened it to "
osmosis". That, somehow, if one provided an example in their life, others would, through osmosis, see that behavior and want that for themselves.
Note: This is just one idea and does not follow precise osmosis as understood in the field of chemistry.
35. 1 Peter 3:15-16
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: [kjv]
κυριον δε τον χριστον αγιασατε εν ταις καρδιαις υμων ετοιμοι αει προς απολογιαν παντι τω αιτουντι υμας λογον περι της εν υμιν ελπιδος αλλα μετα πραυτητος και φοβου [gnt]
3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. [kjv]
συνειδησιν εχοντες αγαθην ινα εν ω καταλαλεισθε καταισχυνθωσιν οι επηρεαζοντες υμων την αγαθην εν χριστω αναστροφην [gnt]
Peter makes statements about the importance of setting a good example. Those that "
falsely" accuse you would be using any hypocrisy of your "
conversation" (meaning all interactions, verbal or otherwise) in Christ as in "
manner of life".
Note that the reason for setting a good example is not that it otherwise negates the teachings of Jesus, but that, many may not believe because, in effect, many are swayed by the "
tu quoque" logic fallacy.
36. End of page
