• Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me
No Result
View All Result
Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me
No Result
View All Result
Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry
No Result
View All Result

Conversations from Campus: The Forbidden Subject

October 13, 2017

I learned in my growing up years that with certain people there are certain subjects you simply do not broach.

So I asked the Lord for courage to talk to Jim, a guy who admittedly intimidates me.

After bantering over some contemporary political issues, I turned the conversation a bit:

“Do you ever pray or do anything with your spiritual life?”

I wondered how this would land.

“I have my own religion,” Jim said without blinking, looking at me.

Normally I’m on top of this stuff but my tongue seemed to be lodged half-way down my throat.

“Your own religion? Er — how do you know it’s true?” I said a little awkwardly.

“How do you know yours is true?”

“I asked you first.”

He smiled, as if I’d scored a point. I was starting to relax.

“I have my own way of doing things. Is that wrong?”

“But Jim, how do you learn and grow? How do you hear from God, if you’re totally on your own?”

He mentioned a revered mentor in his background who’d tutored him in these matters. This was, I knew, the Forbidden Subject, the untouchable topic — Jim’s unassailable foundation.

I prayed for more courage and blurted out, “But what makes (mentor) a reliable guide to religion? He had no theological training! Why listen to him?”

There, I’d said it, finally. Now perhaps the expected explosion would come, like, “How dare you — “

Instead, this fine man heard me out. I proceeded to suggest that he find a church where the community of faith gathers for encouragement, teaching and worship.

He thought about it a moment, then flatly refused. Damn clergy were either in someone’s pants or in your pocketbook.

“No way am I going to let them tell me how to live my life!” he spat out.

Now we were getting somewhere. My demons were gone. I thought I knew what to say next . . .

I’ll write about it next week.

* lyrics by Jim Croce

Share120Tweet75
Rick Mattson

Rick Mattson

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About Me

Rick Mattson Outreach Ministry

Rick Mattson

Evangelist & Writer

Hello & welcome to my blog! My name is Rick Mattson and I'm a traveling evangelist/apologist.

SUBSCRIBE! You'll be notified by email whenever a new post comes out
Loading

Categories

  • Apologetics (152)
  • Atheism (47)
  • Bible (32)
  • Church (67)
  • Devotion (102)
  • Evangelism (52)
  • Hiddenness of God (9)
  • Leadership (65)
  • Philosophy (7)
  • Religious Pluralism (14)
  • Science and Faith (3)
  • Theology (1)

Popular

  • Apologetics for Kids

    Apologetics for Kids

    328 shares
    Share 131 Tweet 82
  • Tradition as a Guardrail

    326 shares
    Share 130 Tweet 82
  • Muslim Dialogue

    312 shares
    Share 125 Tweet 78
  • Objective Truth is Back

    306 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 77
  • What I’m Working On: Part 1 of 3: Inside-to-Out

    306 shares
    Share 122 Tweet 77
Facebook Twitter

© 2022 Site by 5BCreative

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Blog
    • Apologetics
    • Atheism
    • Bible
    • Devotion
    • Church
    • Evangelism
    • Hiddenness of God
    • Leadership
    • Philosophy
    • Religious Pluralism
    • Science and Faith
    • Theology
  • My Books
  • Video
  • Talks
  • Invite Me