HOW TO RESPOND TO VIEWS OF "HOW TO BE SAVED"                 

How to use conversations about someone's approach to salvation as an opening to bring up Christ

This is COMPLEX because each religion's view of "salvation" is different.

Here are THREE BASIC WAYS TO FIND SALVATION:

A. Saved by certain "techniques"

B. Saved by moral "behavior"

C.Saved by a "savior"

 EXAMPLES (what is each of the following depending on):

1. __ Getting a shaman to perform a ritual

2.  __ Chanting "Amitabha"

3. __ Burning incense before an idol

4. __  chanting "Hare Krishna"

5. __  Meditating to produce "altered consciousness"

6.  __Praying 5 times a day

SCRIPTURE BASE

1.  Titus 3:5  It is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but …

2.  I Cor 8:5-6  Even if there are so called gods … yet for us, …

3.  Col. 2:18-19  Christ took away the power of the unseen hostile rulers and authorities, by …

APPROACH

1.  Seek to understand the individual's method by which he is striving for "salvation".

2.  Seek to understand his "frustration level" in trying to carry out his method.

3.  If his frustration level is high, he is more likely to regard the willingness of Jesus to be his Savior as "good news".

4.  If he feels he is doing just fine in his quest for salvation, the message of Jesus can still make an impact because it presents an alternative which possibly will call the person's present approach into question.

5.  Or, ask him if he feels fulfilled or if any of the benefits of Christianity are things he might value

POSSIBLE TRANSITION SENTENCES

1.  __  I can see that you are working very hard to reach your religious goals.  I respect you for that.  I have found that no matter how hard I try, I can never be sure that I have done enough.  But I have this deep sense that God has already accepted me. Can I tell you why?

2.  __  I appreciate your level of dependence and submission.  I depend on Jesus in a similar way.  May I tell you about what He has promised to do for me?

3.  __  You have reached a high level of accomplishment in your religious abilities.  I don't have any of these abilities, and yet I know I am secure in God's love.  May I tell you why?

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