You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him eat pizza; a
little saying of mine that somehow seems to go along with this sign.
Fact is: Some people do NOT WANT TO BE BOTHERED; they have their minds
made up about their lives and just don't want to be bothered with
anything new and become antagonistic when confronted . Well, what do you
do with such people? Since each person and situation is unique, there
is no "one size fits all", answer, but...
Acts, Chapter 18
4 He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks. 5 But
when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by
the Spirit, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6 When
they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to
them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will
go to the Gentiles!”
Paul was a very patient man. He endured things for the sake of his
Jewish brethren that are almost unbelievable. However, there is a time
to let people go their own way and reap the consequences of their
actions. By the time of Acts 18, Paul had had enough and it was time to
go to the Gentiles.
Many years earlier, the following account gives us insight as to how Jesus advised dealing with a similar situation...
Mark, Chapter 6
7 He
(Jesus) called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by
two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He
commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a
staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, 9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 Whoever
will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off
the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them.
Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah
in the day of judgment than for that city!”
Please do not misunderstand- I hope that everyone will respond to the
Gospel message, but if they repeatedly refuse to listen, then let them
alone. I think these two passages provide sufficient examples for this
course of action. Sometimes the facts of dealing with our fellow human
beings are hard to accept, but life is what it is....
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