The Alien/UFO Opportunity for Evangelism

[Dave]

The Alien/UFO opportunity for evangelism

Many conspiracy stories conclude that the US Government signed a treaty with an alien race. In return for technology, the aliens were given permission to abduct and experiment upon the population.

Sounds crazy – right? But if you look at the statistics since America has reported over 4 million abduction cases since 1950. Coming in a very distant second, England has only reported a few thousand cases in the same time period. The other reporting countries of: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Italy, Russia, and South Africa have only reported a few cases each. While at the same time, countries reporting the most UFO sightings, other than the US, are Mexico and Italy. Are Americans just that much crazier than the rest of the world? Or, could there be something to the conspiracy theory?

As a fellowship in Christ, we must recognize that even though these stories might be to bazar to accept, they are to frequent and consistent to ignore.

Do we, as the body of Christ, push these millions of people away?

Or recognize the enormous evangelical opportunity before us? Our cultures have changed to the point where the average man will engage in a conversation about aliens, UFOs, or supernatural events, but would never step foot inside a church.

[Richard]

You are correct about everyone having an opinion about UFOs, or at least a comment or attitude, they they freely share; but ask them about anything from the Bible and they distance themselves from you as fast as they can.

As our Church talks about an outreach effort, it is usually directed at the kids. Youth groups. Vacation Bible Schools. Bring them to the Lord early before the world convinces them otherwise. I hadn't considered the UFO enthusiast as a target group before, but I appreciate your approach and will take it to our next Church Board meeting.

Good idea!

[Dave]

This doesn't directly apply to the Alien/UFO people. But some years ago I was on the Church Board of a small community Church. One of the members there named, June, worked herself like a slave for the Church. I think she was on almost every committee possible, washed the windows, swept the floors, made the coffee, and attended every meeting.

She went through a spell where it was obvious that she wasn't sleeping well. She comes to a Church Board meeting one night and tells us the story that a few weeks earlier she woke up to see a demon standing over her.

Jesus cast out how many demons? He gave the apostles the ability to cast out demons and sent them all around Israel. The casting out of demons was a major part of Jesus' ministry and the New Testament.

The Board didn't know what to do. The Pastor didn't know what to do. We did say a long winded prayer about her and her story - Did we pray over her? Did we lay on hands? NO!

Why didn't we? Basically because, most of the Board just thought she was crazy. A few weeks later, the Pastor even helped her get into a counseling center.

I asked over and over why we doubted her story so strongly. Arn't we Christians? Followers of Jesus Christ who cast out demon after demon? Why isn't the demonic phenomena real to us? I asked!

Demons and demonic possession don't happen any more I was told. The pastor even said those demonic possession during the time of Christ were just there to prove his divinity. What did that mean? Those demonic possessions didn't happen years earlier or years later?

I know we live in a modern age. Science has given us heart transplants and the nightly news on a 72" flat screen TV - but what does any of that have to do with people not being able to accept the reality of demons? Or the reality of angels? Yet, we can accept UFOs from planet X and the alien grays that pilot them.

The Church has gotten so comfortable in its ways and in its own opinion that it doesn't even believe its own 'one book' theology.

[Dillon]

I am not an expert on the Bible, or science, but just an average guy.

Steve talks about the end-times, yet he denies the UFO/Alien reports. Science just says we are all here by accident and all things are just a coincidence of an unexplained source. The Church refuses to rebut anything controversial and just wants you to attend the meetings and keep putting your money in the plate.

I remember those old days in Salida when Bret had a scientific explanation for everything. He was much too smart to believe in the Bible. Science tells us that it all started by accident, and we evolved from lower life forms, and it was man that invented God to satisfy his own connection to the world, life, and death. Science makes miracles impossible. Science called the Immaculate Conception, the resurrection, and ascension of Christ scientifically impossible. Science turns the story into just another myth or fable from an ancient religion, just like it has done to the creation story, and the Flood.

I remember the time when someone I knew was asked NOT to return to church because she saw something unexplainable. I remember how her life changed from being an intelligent, God fearing, church going, pillar of the community; to a laughing stock of the community who must be off her rocker.

I have never seen a demonic possession. I have never known of a demonic possession. Maybe I have but the science of today just calls them chemical imbalances. They say. 'here take a pill' and don’t go to church. However, how many of us are walking around filled with drugs like Prozac and Zanex, and the mental wards are full to the brim.

100,000s of people in Arizona saw something unexplainable 1997, 100,000s of people saw something unexplainable in Mexico, not once but several times. 25,000 people saw something unexplainable in Porte Rico. Again science makes them out to be natural events. It is science that makes the UFO/Alien stories possible. It isn't just the US Government, but most of the biggest world governments that make these stories real and defined only by a mechanism of science.

All of these trends move us away from the Bible and God.

If the Bible is correct then we must accept the stories within it as correct. Stories of Nephilim, demons, evil spirits, Resurrection and salvation.

I don’t know if I agree with all that is said here, but at least this is one forum that tries to blend all stories into the Bible story. That I do respect. I read these post here often but seldom speak up. Maybe I should say more. It is refreshing to be able to talk about God openly without people pointing their fingers tell me how wrong my opinions are.

[steve]

Aug 23, 2013 11:24:38 GMT -5 Dillon said:

It is refreshing to be able to talk about God openly without people pointing their fingers tell me how wrong my opinions are.

YOU ARE WRONG!!! Just kidding.

I don't want to disrespect any who have strong opinions about aliens any more than I wish to disrespect Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons for believing in something contrary to me. It is a sensitive discussion which treads over cherished opinions, so they are opinions I would prefer to avoid discussing. If a discussion can be devoid of emotional investment, then fine... but if someone is emotionally invested in the outcome, and they will defend their opinion to the death... then I would prefer not to wage war over such things.

There are people who believe that the relics of the saints (and Jesus) have been discovered and that they heal them by coming into contact with them. There are enough crosses, nails and bones that have been found to re-create an army of Jesuses. Particularly catholics believe in this, but it is not worth arguing over once someone firmly believes it. Evolutionists, also, firmly believe that the genome from a human and monkey is evidence of evolution, and that radiometric dating is the rock-solid evidence for 4.6 billion year old uniformitarianism, or that the speed of light proves that the big bang occurred 13.7 billion years ago based on the distance of receding galaxies. These are all belief systems. If someone wants to believe in it, then they are welcome to. Every person is drawn toward pre-conceived notions concerning God and our origins. We will all find evidence to support our pre-conceived notions, and they are not worth fighting over (IMO).

Anyway, I agree that this is a forum in which ideas can be presented without chagrin, and for those who are interested in a subject, then they should investigate it to the extent that satisfies them.

God Bless
Steve

[Dave]

This is the focus of my ministry - the Catholic, nor the Presbyterian have a handle on absolute theology.

All evidence must point to a central theme in support of God and creation. A term I recently encountered and wish was mine is: - the search for a primordial theology that predates all human religions.

[Dillon]

I don't want to disrespect any who have strong opinions about aliens any more than I wish to disrespect Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons for believing in something contrary to me.

Read more: ponderingconfusion.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=ufo&action=display&thread=249#ixzz2dJ1JNu4c

Most of my life was spent in a church that promote evangelism. How can a christian evangelize the world if we run around respecting other people's right to believe whatever they want. The Jehovah Witnesses certainly do not respect my right to be left alone. Our church sends money each month to cambodia to preach to the buddest. why would the Mormons be any different?

[steve]

Aug 28, 2013 17:36:35 GMT -5 Dillon said:

How can a christian evangelize the world if we run around respecting other people's right to believe whatever they want. The Jehovah Witnesses certainly do not respect my right to be left alone.

How a person understands the bible's mandate about preaching and evangelism may differ from person to person. I personally believe that the structure of evangelism is rooted on the various layers of God's purpose. There are different aspects to God's will. From one perspective God wants only to seek for the lost children of the house of Israel. From another perspective God wants us to be a light to the entire world. I don't believe we should force our views on anyone. If the Jehovah's Witnesses do not respect our views, or the inquisitors try to enforce their views... then that is their problem. That is the path they have chosen. It is not my path, and I wipe the dust from my feet if our paths turn to antagonism.

Christianity, to me, is first about sonship, and secondarily about saving the world through "the sons". This process started through Jesus, then the apostles, then the wider church establishment. If we are a son and heir, we will reach to higher ground. If we are part of the 'rank and file', then we settle for less in our life. All people choose their path. The church is here to make those choices clearer for people. It's a bit mysterious.

God Bless
Steve

[Dave]

My opinion of evangelism is somewhat similar to Steve's.

It is not my calling to save the forcefully world. My hands are busy enough saving myself. If asked, I will not shy from the witness. I will not deny my Lord. I confess him with my mouth - in front of anyone - and therefore everyone.

Hopefully, my life witness is evident to invite the questions.

Just made me think of one of my most favored songs, - My life song sings to thee, Casting Crowns. In another of their songs the word go:

If we are the body, why arn't His hands reaching? Why arn't His words teaching?

Some of the active motivated evangelist I know are under the delusion their light is shining the best, if they are blinding you with it. Not me.