The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-I, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 11."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

I’ve got a friend who goes to school with me and she says she became a Christian up at camp when I went with her, but we were talking and she said she doesn’t want to tell people she’s a Christian. She says, if someone comes up and asks her, she’ll tell them. You know, my parents have always told me to stick out in a crowd. Show them we’re Christians letting Christ shine through us, but she said she doesn’t want to do this and she doesn’t have to, and, also, she doesn’t want to come to church and has no desire to be with Christians. She says, she can study the Bible by herself, and I don’t know what to do, I mean, I can’t really talk to her right now because she’ll deny everything I say.

Answer

I think one of two things: She may be a Christian whose under the influence of somebody who is very negative on the church and who is very backward in their witness. On the other hand, she may not be a Christian at all. I think the best thing you can do for her is to love her, and be gracious to her, and live the Christian life in front of her, and take every opportunity you can to expose her to scriptural truth. Just be a friend. Because, you know, it’s likely, just venturing a guess, that she’s really not a Christian. But maybe she understands and wants that superficially. But, there has to be some evidence. I’ve never known someone who became a Christian in the true sense who didn’t almost have an immediate response. It’s later that we get kind of carnal, right? So, it’s hard for me to know, but I think, the best thing you can do is love her and be available to her, and be a friend to her, and yet constantly live the Christ life in front of her, and feeding all the biblical input you can.

Question (continued)

Well, I’m wondering, I keep inviting her to church, but she doesn’t want to come. I don’t know if I should because sometimes she says I’m pushing her.

Answer (continued)

Don’t hesitate to do that. She’s got to know that’s in love, and the reason she’s resisting is because of her own problem. She knows. She reads you right, even though she might react. She knows you care.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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