Welcome to Gaia! ::

Okay, here's my take on things. You made one simple, yet tragic, mistake:

You did all of this online. I mean, come on; did you really expect people online, in an extremely open forum like the Chatterbox, to discuss things with rationality and maturity? Oh, please! Half of 'em couldn't even spell maturity!

On a more sober note, now that I've shown my offensive side ... no matter what you have to say, you'll always find naysayers and opponents. And when what you have to say is even the least bit spiritually-based, the odds of finding them triples. Oh, sure, once in a while, you'll manage a decent conversation with someone of an opposing faith (using the Satanist you found as an example), but don't expect those. Rather, celebrate your good fortune when you find 'em, and thank God for the opportunity.'

Now, you asked for tips and advice, so here's a bit of advice in dealing with anyone whose views you dispute. And I know, I come across as being arrogant; I do apologize for that now. It's just that, well ... I am arrogant. xp But what I tell you know has been learned the hard way through several years of experience, and I wish to share some of my dubious "wisdom". Maybe you'll be lucky and avoid my pitfalls.

1. Know what you're talking about. And if you think you do know, think again. There's at least three different "styles" of Satanism; some believe him to be the actual devil, evil incarnate; some consider him a non-entity, a symbol of anti-God and anti-culture; some don't care either way, but just call themselves Satanists to "shock the straights". What were you dealing with? Beyond that, do you know the "eleven commandments" of LaVey's Satanism, or why it preaches what it does?

2. Don't call someone's faith wrong. Just ask questions about it. I mean ... I'm not going to talk to a Mormon and say "hey, your religion is wrong!" I'm going to say, "I hate to mention this, but ... right here, Alma 7:10? Where it says Jesus would be born in the land of Jerusalem? The Bible says He was born in Bethlehem ... and Jerusalem's a city, not a land. Might be a little translation error, there ... but, I could be wrong." This gives them the chance to look at what they themselves are saying is right, and question it themselves. It's not offensive, so they don't get upset and emotional; things stay on a rational level.

3. Don't call a person wrong, unless you have evidence ... and you're on their side. If someone wants to tell me (getting away from spirituality) how confusing they found Neon Genesis Evangelion, I can certainly sympathize with 'em ... but if they tell me how this one scene was badly done, I can say "actually, I've got that on DVD, and I looked it up. Anno wanted that line covered up by sound effects, because Gendo himself was still a mystery figure". And I can show them where I get that from.

4. If you know you're getting nowhere, don't be afraid to walk away. Even Jesus bemoaned the people who had ears to hear, yet refused to hear. You honestly think you're gonna have more luck than Him?

5. If you're wanting anything remotely resembling intelligence, stay away from the Chatterbox. That's the last place for intelligence. You might as well look for a porkchop at a bar mitzvah. Try the General Discussion or Lifestyle or something like that, but never go to the Chatterbox. You can call it witnessing, and you're technically right, but it's "witnessing" in the same sense as a preacher delivering a sermon in a stripclub -- you're going to be ignored or attacked by the ones who need to hear it the most, and nobody will blame them for treating you so.

6. Don't start a discussion. Let someone else start it. If they ask for advice, it's on them, but if you just start throwing advice at people, they'll ignore it.

7. Watch your wording. Give advice and share ideas, but don't tell them how to live and what to do. Phrasing can sell a point better than anything else.

8. Say you're a Christian ... but don't broadcast it. A little something in your sig, or in your profile, is all that's needed. Repeat, a little something! Nobody likes dealing with what they consider "extremists". Drop a hint here and there, and they'll figure it out. Shove it down their throats, though, and they'll puke all over you.

9. Always have some backup. I don't mean "pray before you do this"; that goes with out saying. I mean have some backup, someone working with you. Remember how Jesus sent the Twelve, and the Seventy-Two, out in pairs?

Now, again, these are just my thoughts and ideas, right off the top of my head. So much comes off the top of my head, there's little hair left. I won't swear by any of these ... but I've learned the hard way what works and what doesn't. For me, these are the ones that work.

"Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. "

1 Peter 3:13-16

Anyway... if you want to preach, then make sure you are well-versed in the word of God.

Ouch. Ouch and mea culpa. I'm guilty of overwriting, I know.

Please, call me 'Bait. "Dragon" sounds like I work for the opposition. xp

As for your comments about a normal conversation ... that probably should have been my tenth point (I wasn't trying for ten, but it would have been a nice round number). You're right; discussions should start off in "safe areas", then move towards Christ. To be fair, though, that's not always an easy thing to direct ... unless you're dealing with something where the Christian references are so blatant you can't avoid them (Neon Genesis Evangelion, some old Adam Warlock story from the '70s, the Jedi Academy trilogy, etc.).

The Internet wasn't invented when the Bible was written. =/

Great, now I'm going to have that routine from the first Spider-Man movie stuck in my head all day.

Best line in the movie.

But, yeah ... one's spoken, one's written, but ultimately, they're the same bloody thing. Only the lawyers really care about the difference.

gonk

Point is, I don't think Paul cared about the difference. Nor Christ, for that matter.

I agree(If I understood correctly) Jesus would have wanted all sorts of ways to preach The Word. Weather it be spoken verbally, Written(or typed) or even in sign language. Body Language would count as well.