FUNNY BUT IS IT? SOME RIDICULE OUR PREACHING — WHAT IS IMPORTANT? ???

[Bible Speaks]

FUNNY BUT IS IT? SOME RIDICULE OUR PREACHING — WHAT IS IMPORTANT? 

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The method of preaching from house to house has its basis in the Scriptures. When Jesus sent forth the apostles to preach, he instructed them: “Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving.” How were they to search for deserving ones? Jesus told them to go to people’s homes, saying: “When you are entering into thehouse, greet the household; and if thehouse is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it.” Were they to visit without a prior invitation? Note Jesus’ further words: “Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet.” (Matt. 10:11-14) These instructions make clear that as the apostles “went through the territory from village to village, declaring the good news,” they were to take theinitiative to visit people in their homes.—Luke 9:6.

“Do Not Reprove a Ridiculer”

The teachings of wisdom also include correction and reproof. This feature of wisdom is not welcomed by all. Hence, the closing of the first section of the book of Proverbs contains a warning: “He that is correcting the ridiculer is taking to himself dishonor, and he that is giving a reproof to someone wicked—a defect in him. Do not reprove a ridiculer, that he may not hate you.”—Proverbs 9:7, 8a.

A ridiculer builds up resentment and hatred for the one trying to help make his path straight. A wicked person lacks appreciation for the value of reproof. How unwise to try to teach the beautiful truth of God’s Word to someone who hates the truth or is simply seeking to ridicule it! When the apostle Paul was preaching in Antioch, he encountered a group of Jews who had no love for the truth. 

They tried to embroil him in an argument by blasphemously contradicting him, but Paul simply stated: “Since you are thrusting [the word of God] away from you and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life, look! we turn to the nations.”—Acts 13:45, 46.

In our endeavor to reach honesthearted ones with the Kingdom good news, may we be careful not to get involved in debates and arguments with ridiculers. Christ Jesus instructed his disciples: “When you are entering into the house, greet the household; and if the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not take you in or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust offyour feet.”—Matthew 10:12-14.

A wise person’s response to reproof is opposite to that of a ridiculer. Solomon states: “Give a reproof to a wise person and he will love you. Give to a wise person and he will become still wiser.” (Proverbs 9:8b, 9a) 

A wise person knows that “no discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11) Although the counsel may seem painful, why should we retaliate or be defensive if accepting it is going to make us wiser?

“Impart knowledge to someone righteous and he will increase in learning,” continues the wise king. (Proverbs 9:9b) No one is too wise or too old to keep learning. What a delight it is to see even those in their twilight years accept the truth and make a dedication to Jehovah! May we also endeavor to retain the will to learn and keep the mind active.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2001367?q=shake+the+dust+off+your+feet&p=par

 

[Arauna]

Thanks for the article - a good reminder!  Lately i have been receiving redicule or opposition and i suspect it will get worse!   The last time I had  a man lstening very well and his friend interupting with. "Fitnah" fitnah...  I pretended i did not know the word and went on preaching to the one who listened...  and he wanted to listen... but I think his friend was uncomfortable because it was revealing something he did not like! It was in the open marketplace where i do regular streetwork.

I liked the example of Paul. 

[The Librarian]

@Arauna What does Fitnah mean?

[Arauna]

It is "sedition".   When a useless piece of jewelery is dressed up with cheap stones to make it look sparkley.  

Mohammad also said that fitna is worse than killing.. after   hIs followers killed unbelievers/pagan Arabs.in Mecca.  This was in the time when he was continuously attacking the caravans bringing goods to Mecca ( because he wanted to take control of Mmecca and was weakening it) This eventually led to the first attack against Medina -where Mohammad was living at the time. He won the battle and the rest is history. 

Islam does not allow the preaching of other religions in its area of control. This is an offense  which carries the death penalty, the same as blasphemy.

 

[Bible Speaks]