My friend, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2)
Health for Spirit, Soul and Body
Letter to a Seeker
Introduction
What follows is very closely based on a letter I wrote to my eldest daughter’s first boyfriend.
I’ve left the beginning and ending in that personal conversational vein, just read your own name instead of Chris. (Names have been changed to protect the guilty!) ~ John Woolgar
Dear Chris
I think you know by now that although we as a family are totally committed to Christ we have no intention of trying to force our faith on you. This is because we realise that it is impossible to 'convert' anyone into a Christian; it has to be their own voluntary desire and decision. We do, of course, want you to know our Saviour for yourself and we pray for you each day to this end.
However, you are clearly so uncomfortable at times, either after Church or when Christians are talking freely about the Bible, that we felt it was time to set some of the basic issues clearly before you, and give you a Bible of your own, so that you can see if the things you hear are really there or not. We also felt that you must have some degree of interest to keep coming along as you do. However, we felt it best to put this in writing so that you could consider things quietly on your own and not feel any pressure from us.
In the time we have known you, Chris, we have all grown very fond of you, and we want to help you in any way we can. Do not feel that you have to answer this letter, or even mention it unless you want to. But if you have any questions we will be only too willing to try to answer them, or lend you a book or tape that would explain things more fully. We want you to look on us as friends rather than just your girlfriend's parents.
What follows may seem rather long and involved. Perhaps less would do, but I respect your intelligence and so have put in some background and some texts you can look up to see if what I am saying is really in the Bible.
What follows is very closely based on a letter I wrote to my eldest daughter’s first boyfriend.
I’ve left the beginning and ending in that personal conversational vein, just read your own name instead of Chris. (Names have been changed to protect the guilty!) ~ John Woolgar
Dear Chris
I think you know by now that although we as a family are totally committed to Christ we have no intention of trying to force our faith on you. This is because we realise that it is impossible to 'convert' anyone into a Christian; it has to be their own voluntary desire and decision. We do, of course, want you to know our Saviour for yourself and we pray for you each day to this end.
However, you are clearly so uncomfortable at times, either after Church or when Christians are talking freely about the Bible, that we felt it was time to set some of the basic issues clearly before you, and give you a Bible of your own, so that you can see if the things you hear are really there or not. We also felt that you must have some degree of interest to keep coming along as you do. However, we felt it best to put this in writing so that you could consider things quietly on your own and not feel any pressure from us.
In the time we have known you, Chris, we have all grown very fond of you, and we want to help you in any way we can. Do not feel that you have to answer this letter, or even mention it unless you want to. But if you have any questions we will be only too willing to try to answer them, or lend you a book or tape that would explain things more fully. We want you to look on us as friends rather than just your girlfriend's parents.
What follows may seem rather long and involved. Perhaps less would do, but I respect your intelligence and so have put in some background and some texts you can look up to see if what I am saying is really in the Bible.
