This Is When and How to Tell Someone They Believe a Lie

I brought a man to our church, I knew he has a problem with drugs & alcohol so I filled in the pastor. The man was helping around the church so got him a phone to help with planning. He got baptized, became homeless so the pastor leaves him sleep in the church with no accountability at all. First his phone disappeared then a day later the church bus was taken & careened through the neighborhood taking out bushes & mailboxes. I've tried talking to him & everyone involved & all I hear is we're praying for him & we don't want to get involved with something personal between him & you. I tell them "It's not about the phone or the bus, it's about accountability, sobriety & being right with God!". Any ideas?

Reminds me of what I once heard John MacArthur say to someone who asked him the same question, “You tell ‘em what the Bible tells you to tell them; that’s what you tell ‘em.”

In a time when the world is increasingly against Christ, and therefore more and more Christians are in conversations w/ family and friends who are deceived, it is reminders like this which bring great comfort to the church. Thanks brother. And thank you sister for your question. Most of all thank God for Jesus as He is in Scripture and the freedom we have in Him!!!❤

Jesus also calls them a brood of vipers. Matthew 12:24, Matthew 23:33.

Some people are blinded and cannot see the truth. Jesus said my sheep hear my voice. Whoever was given to Him He will not lose.

My pastor told me that if they don’t believe what God has said then they won’t believe anything I have to say. It’s our responsibility to say what God has said and to help people understand by speaking the truth in love. If anyone is not receptive to us in that endeavour than they are rejecting the Lord. At that point, I think to just simply ask them what they believe and why they believe it. Sometimes we’re really not sure what we believe until we are asked to give a good reason for it. That’s why we are told to always be prepared to give the reason for the hope that is in us. 🙂

Excellent conversation here. One thing is, there is a time for exceptional directness and boldness in telling people what may anger them. But it depends upon what they currently know and how entrenched and resistant they are to hearing the truth. So, for me, that's certainly not where I start out, but if the conversation requires it, I may say that I think they are deceiving themselves - certainly about Scripture. But if really entrenched, I might further say that I don't think they really want to know the truth - and that they'll never discover it if they don't at least desire it / don't intentionally avoid it. My other thought is, Jesus PERFECTLY knew people's thoughts, thinking and evil motivations - He was absolutely certain what needed to be said to them. And not because He thought they would eventually listen, but so others would potentially see and thus examine themselves per His brutal criticism of others. And also for believers to understand the kind of people they might well be up against - as they are often beyond reason and convincing - because, for them, understanding and seeking the truth about God was never important to them.

Wow indeed! Just subscribed ❤🙏🏼✝️

You also have to keep in mind that Jesus knew exactly who would and who would never come to him... So perhaps maybe his words to the pharisees were not really intended for the pharisees but to those around that would see the lies and repent. ???

What? You don't want to make them mad when you tell them the truth... What do you think is going to happen when Christ himself tells them the truth after it is to late?

I think it is far better for them to be mad at you now for telling the truth then wait until after Christ has to do it at the judgment.

She needs to also understand that many times your friends and family are not going to receive the information coming from you as much as a stranger.

Jesus wasn't even accepted in his hometown.

This kind of Christianity only leads to manic-depression. You have to step out of this narrative completely. If there is love in you, then meditate on more love. Teach freedom of confusion by setting an example. Imagine yourself sitting on the moon 2000 years from now... How would you view the discussions you have with your peers, friends and family in that light? It does seem very important to you know, but it all gets this meaning in the tiny context that stretches towards your social horizon now. Jump out, into deep meditation and ask what you must do to be good? Do your parents love you? Allow them their worldview. This is all just another form of party politics. Be a force of unity.

Heavy loaded intro conversation! So much I'm gonna have to break that down into verses.

Be aware that you might not even have what makes it finally click for that person. That's often where the team comes in. But sometimes the click happens without human help, but simply because the person notices some tiny thing somewhere that makes all those puzzle pieces just fall into place. All of that is God. But also be aware that most people are going to end up in Hell, by their own deliberate choice. You cannot win those people over. But you also cannot know which ones those people are. The eternal God does. And those people, he does not call them. No matter how much you try, you will not convince those who are not called by the eternal God.

Tricky situation; without knowing the detail, of course, I'd take a different tack: I'd read up on Mormon literature, particularly the essays that betray historical events in Mormonism that most Mormons are ignorant of. Then, I'd start questioning their beliefs; curiously, not aggressively...how they explain the various things; that would demonstrate an irenic spirit, rather than an aggressive one. One obviously gets nowhere constantly telling people they are wrong; that will build resistance immediately. Reading up on their documents would show genuine concern and interest.

However, the Pharisees were hypocrites and evil and against Jesus, but the Mormons are sincerely well-meaning good folks, with a heart toward God, and Jesus,and they’re your family so take it easy and love them and pray for them behind the scenes is the best advice.

Wouldn't it be great if one technique worked for every Christian for every non-Christian? I have no issues challenging others, but I try to live it, not force it on others. I've heard you read "Cast no pearls before swine." I know that God does not choose everyone to be Christian. My Christianity is usually evident to everyone, and for those who are argumentative for its own sake, I let them know that I'm willing to discuss with facts and evidence, but not to waste my time with them. I'm willing to guide people to the best of my ability (to others and to resources I know are good), but evangelizing does not seem to be my gift. Hey, I'm still learning...

1 John 5:13

Why are Christians so insecure in their beliefs that they need to confront others to convince them they are right? Telling someone to up the rhetorical rhetoric would appear to be counter productive. Wouldn’t their time be better spent in service to the poor and sick in their community? Invite your friends and family who have different beliefs then your own to participate in your good works. Walk the walk.

I too am exmormon. All glory to Father God for drawing me to the true Christ of the Holy Bible ! I too, tried to gracefully, gently, tactfully write to my family about why l left. I laid out some facts very clearly. I was very supportive and grateful of members, but truthful about the deception. I was called contentious, then shunned. 😥
The idea of approaching them again really triggers the ptsd. I am willing to endure the fallout , but wow, their cognitive dissonance and willful ignorance is huge. I cannot rest within my heart. What words are enough?
Kudos to the woman on the phone as well as to Greg!

I heard you telling others in this video that it is OK to tell someone who is likely deceived that 'they are on their way to everlasting punishment in hell'. Could you confirm whether this is what you believe and whether this is a truthful statement that Jesus would support? Do you have any Bible verses to show Jesus' support of this statement. Thanks.

beautiful video. always (to the best of your understanding) tell the truth, and do what's right (to the best of your ability) regardless of the consequences. the 'great falling away' is not people falling away from the Churches, it is the Churches falling away from sound doctrine (people falling away from the Churches is just a side effect). keep up the good work, .. and hang in there : )

All false religions HATE Sola Scriptura...for sake of human authority/imposed power. Not coincidently they also ALL trust their own credentials instead of the GIFT that Jesus offers

J Warner Wallace is great!

Hello. I am an atheist. I define atheism as suspending any acknowledgement as to the existence of gods until sufficient credible evidence can be presented. My position is that I have no good reason to acknowledge the existence of gods.

And here is the evidence I must consider when evaluating the claim by theists and as to why I currently hold to such a position.

1. I personally have never observed a god.
2. I have never encountered a person whom has claimed to have observed a god.
3. I know of no accounts of persons claiming to have observed a god that were willing or able to demonstrate or verify their observation for authenticity, accuracy, or validity.
4. I have never been presented a valid logical argument which also employed sound premises that lead deductively to a conclusion that a god(s) exists.
5. Of the 46 logical syllogisms I have encountered arguing for the existence of a god(s), I have found all to contain multiple fallacious or unsubstantiated premises.
6. I have never observed a phenomenon in which the existence of a god was a necessary antecedent for the known or probable explanation for the causation of that phenomenon.
7. Several proposed (and generally accepted) explanations for observable phenomena that were previously based on the agency of a god(s), have subsequently been replaced with rational, natural explanations, each substantiated with evidence that excluded the agency of a god(s). I have never encountered vice versa.
8. I have never experienced the presence of a god through intercession of angels, divine revelation, the miraculous act of divinity, or any occurrence of a supernatural event.
9. Every phenomenon that I have ever observed has emerged from necessary and sufficient antecedents over time without exception. In other words, I have never observed a phenomenon (entity, process, object, event, process, substance, system, or being) that was created ex nihilo - that is instantaneously came into existence by the solitary volition of a deity.
10. All claims of a supernatural or divine nature that I have encountered have either been refuted to my satisfaction, or do not present as falsifiable.

ALL of these facts lead me to the only rational conclusion that concurs with the realities I have been presented - and that is the fact that there is no good reason for me to acknowledge the existence of a god.

I have heard often that atheism is the denial of the Abrahamic god. But denial is the active rejection of a substantiated fact once credible evidence has been presented. Atheism is simply withholding any acknowledgement until sufficient credible evidence is introduced. It is natural, rational, and prudent to be skeptical of unsubstatiated claims, especially extraordinary ones.

I welcome any cordial response. Peace.

The best way to make a Mormon realize he is wrong is to use "street epistemology". There are several videos about it.

Thank you, Greg, for your very wise counsel. God bless you.

Read tactic not too long ago, and just downloaded the audio version, so I can get a refresher.

Tactics is one of my top books..

So insightful. I have been giving people puzzle pieces for a long time hoping they could put it together and see the picture. Knowing what to say and when to say it takes discernment from the Holy Spirit. There's not necessarily a formula to follow because each person is different. Most of the time, people can tell when you care about them and are more likely to listen when they believe you care about them. When we don't take the time to listen to them and we just give them our talking points, it usually comes across in a negative way. It's all so tricky because we are usually limited on time, so we try to be quick and straight forward, . We have to do everything in love and trust God with the results. Knowing when to use tough love has been difficult for me.

As a former new-ager (but now born again reformed Christian) coming from a Mormon dad and a Roman Catholic mom: I really feel for her and understand her zeal for the truth and the conflicting pain that comes from realizing many people who call themselves Christians are actually talking about entirely different Jesus’s than that of the Bible.
He even said he did not come to bring peace but a sword and that families will be divided because of the Truth!

Mike Winger has some solid videos teaching on LDS, JW, and RCC, and while they’ve helped me, they’re quite long so this clip was a refreshing reminder on how to conduct a discussion of theological disagreement.

Also, the idea to preach the gospel without saying words or to just be passively “nice” rather than what the scriptures say to “REPENT and believe,” how will anyone know what to repent from of you avoid pointing it out?!

God is very clear if you know the truth and you see someone in air then it will be their blood on your hands their sin. The righteous rebuke the wicked if they do not they do not love them as God loves them as Christ loves them as Apostles love them as Angels love it.
Them that greets his neighbor with a kiss kills him. He that rebukes his neighbor loves him for open rebuke is better than secret Love secret Love is no love at all.
That's what serpents use to continue their killing I love them I'm just hurting them right now because this this and it's not fidelity.

So interesting that Christians think they are correct, everyone else is wrong, AND they’re perfectly fine telling everyone that. Yet when someone calls a Christian out in their odd belief that a creator of the universe borrowed millennia-old practices from pagan peoples (sacrificial offerings, dwelling in a temple, demands for blood, odd arbitrary laws, and so on) they get in a huff and cry persecution. You guys have got to do better with your empathy and understanding of the broader culture.

wonderful discussion wow

Excellent topic