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moral agent. Thank God!-no one
has power to force on
you
any
unwanted religion .
Every individual makes his
own
decision. A religious difference
between husband and wife is a seri–
ous handicap.
But if such difference already
exists, do not make matters worse
by
ta/king
religion to your mate.
Do all your
ta/king
to God in
prayer. Let your mate
see
your
happy, pleasant, cheerful , joyful,
loying WAY of life-not
hear
your
arguments or nagging! Allow your
mate complete religious latitude
and freedom- whcther to be con–
verted, religious, irreligious, or
atheistic!
I am glad 1 learned that lesson
early. I have had to maintain cer–
tain business connections
with many people, since
being plunged into God's
Work.
them into your stubborn ears, and
beat them into that stiff, rebellious
mind of yours until
I
force
you to
become a Christian."
No, that is not the way Paul
spoke to Jews. Paul said: "Unto the
J ews 1 became
as a Jew"
(1
Cor.
9:20, 22). Paul spoke to others
from their point ofview!
He talked
to a J ew just like
another Jew–
from the
Jewish viewpoint- show–
ing sympathy and understanding of
the
Jew's
way of looking at Chris–
tiani ty. They were bosti le to the
idea of Jesus being the promiscd
Messiah. Paul did not arouse hostil–
ity- he put it down. He carne to
them as
one of them,
so that they
were
sympathetic
toward him, not
hostile. He became
as
a Jew, "that
1 might gain the J ews." Even so he
''
One of the first
Lis ten: "And unto the J ews l
became as a Jew, that 1 might gain
the Jews.... To the weak became J
as weak, that 1 might gain the weak:
1 am made all things to all men, that
1 might by all means save sorne"
{1
Cor. 9:20, 22).
One of the first principies of suc–
cessful advertising 1 learned early in
my career is that to get resul ts you
mustfirst
learn the att itude of your
reading audience toward whatever
product or service you are advcr–
tising. You must not antagonize
those whom you expect to persuade.
You must approach them from
their
point of view- not from
yours,
espe–
cial!y if your viewpoint is contrary to
thei rs. To win them to
your
point of
view, you must approach them from
their
viewpoint. Otherwise you only
arouse hostil ity.
1 never try to talk
anyone
i n to accepting
Bible truth or being con–
ver ted. We go
to
the
world over the ai r and in
print , and everyone is
free to listen or read-or
to tune out or not read .
We try never to force
God's truth on anyone.
principies of successful
advertising I
learned .. . is not
antagonize those whom you
expect to persuade.
l know t h at these
words are addressed to a
very large number who
have made this terrible
mistake. That is why 1
have devoted so much
space to this point.
If
you believe God's
t ruth, and your husband
or wife does not, NEVER
TALK RELIGION tO him Or
her. l f your mate normal-
ly thinks and speaks only
of material and worldly
t hings, then you must
speak of material things
That's Goo's WAY!
Do you know how the
apos tle Paul won individ-
uals to Christ? Not the way
people attempt to do it today. He
said, " I am made all things to all
men, that 1 might by all means
save
sorne"
(1 Cor. 9:22). When
he talked to an unconverted Jew,
do you suppose he spoke as a typ–
ical Christian, thinking he is "wit–
nessing for Christ"? Do you sup–
pose Paul said to the unconverted
J ew: "Have you received Christ as
your personal Savior? Oh,
won't
you just kneel with me right here,
dear brother, and give your heart
to the Lord?"
Or, do you suppose he said :
" Look here, my J ewish sinner–
friend , you're on the way to hell .
Your religion is wrong. Every day
you reject Christ as your Savior
you are crucifying him afresh. You
are worse than a thief or a mur–
derer. I'm going to keep after you
with my a rguments, and drum
February 1983
' '
gained only a small minority, yet it
was a large numbcr.
Perhaps you have had your eyes
opened to the fact that sin is the
transgression of God's law. Most
professing Christians have been
taught, and consequent ly sincerely
believe, that "t he law is done
away." Paul was inspired to write
that the carnal mind is hostile to
God and to God's law, "it is not
subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be" ( Rom. 8:7). If you
say to your unconverted mate who
is hostile to God's law, " You'rejust
a rebellious
sinner,
and your
ch urch is one of these false, worldly
churches. You've got to
repent,
and
obey God's Commandments"-you
have not only aroused hostility, you
have yourself been hostile, and you
probably have broken up your mar–
riage.
How did Paul tal k to such people?
to your spouse. Don't t ry to make
them read
The Plain Truth
or
booklets.
If
our broadcas t has,
probably because of your own
aggressiveness in trying to get your
mate to listen, become a sore spot,
tune into the television program
when your mate is not around. Or
go off to sorne prívate room to hear
the radio program. Keep the vol–
ume turned down.
Make every
effort NOT to antagonize
your
husband or wife.
And again, when you
ta/k
about
it , talk to God in prayer. Let your
mate see your
good works,
in a
manner that he or she will naturally
approve. Avoid every hosti li ty. Be
pleasant.
Keep
cheerful! Be hap–
py!
Radiate JOY! Give LOVE and
warm affection! Do everything to
cause your husband or wife to
/ike
you! Th at is the Christian
way! o
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