Don’t waste your time trying to convince someone else that they are wrong about a particular thing. People instantly shut down when they feel like their point of view is threatened. Most people’s thoughts are set in stone by the foundation for which they have laid through life experiences that they have lived. Only certain people have the ear of these individuals so unless you are one of them, your message will fall on deaf ears. Don’t waste your time trying to change something that you do not have control over. Instead focus on the things within your control.
Christians often seek to be moral authority in the lives of individuals who reject Jesus. Instead of trying to force feed someone something that they are not interested in, why not live out the Gospel instead. People will respond differently to our actions than our words. Often words can be come confrontational where an action may be a welcoming gesture. Our eyes respond differently than our ears do to situations that present themselves. From my experience I have found that more people engage in a positive note with their eyes than their ears. The words of the mouth are not always full of sweet nectar. Our actions can do a better job representing the Gospel than our flawed speech can.
Don’t waste your time Bible beating others into submission.
It is easy to become a Bible beater by using Bible verses as a weapon. Most all people will not respond to this type of treatment. Accusatory and selective Bible verse slinging only pushes the other person away. On the other side of the coin, passive coddling verses are not the answer either. This is why I recommend living out the Gospel so people can see the fruits that you bear and how your life parallels Christ. When people see Christ in your life, they are drawn into the behavior, and it is easier to have conversations with them.
It is a complete waste of time to have expectations for people. People move at their own pace and usually with the flow of influencers in their life. If you want to be part of a change in someone, show Christ’s love by demonstrating it to the individual. Once you have gained the persons trust, you can begin to influence the decisions that this person makes. Often changes do not happen overnight, so you need to be patient. Our job as believers is to sow the seeds. God will cultivate an environment for the seeds to flourish. Know your place and understand your role.
John 13:15 New American Standard Bible
15 For I gave you an example, so that you also would do just as I did for you.