Can anyone suggest a 'Gospel Roadmap' for non-English speakers?

How would you present the gospel?

I'm looking for help on how to actually do it apart from the "Four Spiritual Laws" approach. More in keeping with "Hell's best kept secret".

I live in Thailand, and I know a Thai lady who was recently led in prayer and received Christ. Beyond that I know very little. I believe this is both a precious and dangerous time for her.

Because my Thai is very poor, and her English is almost nil, I would like you at SI to recommend a sort of path through scripture. I can get help translating parenthetical comments I might make, but I need to rely primarily on scripture as we can look up scripture in a Thai Bible - and that should speak to her better than I can. I probably just need to tie some of the strings together, keeping my input to a minimum.

There is a fairly good Thai Bible available on-line, and I can cut-and-paste scriptures into an orderly form that Thai's can read.

If any of you know anything about Thai buddhism, that would be helpful too. From my limited understanding, and experience, I see the subject of repentance (for people coming out of Thai/Buddhist society) avoided here. I asked one preacher why he didn't talk about repentance, and he said, "You can't talk about repentance in Thailand... You'd get beaten up."

The Thai's aren't very clear on the concept of sin, or their need for repentance. They weren’t raised all their lives hearing or even being aware of the Ten Commandments. Heaven and Hell are distant concepts to people who are more attuned to the here and now, and think at the very worst they'll come back reincarnated as a dog. As far as I can figure out, they are not informed of, nor care about, the creation or the eventual end of the world. The woman I'm dealing with is basically a simple, slightly educated country person. She knows how to read Thai, but her education would not be in the Western tradition.

I know it's not my job to convict her of sin. Convincing her of sin is a whole different matter. I'm asking for advice because I don't want to gloss over anything or leave something crucial out. There are a few on-line resources that just seem to be expansions on the 4 Spiritual Laws.

I was thinking about trying to follow ‘Hell's best kept secret’ as a roadmap, but was interested in any input from the SI community that might help. I would especially value a progression of verses - a plan, so to speak - that would keep me in the Bible for explanations, so I don't have to talk and have it translated - possibly mistranslated. Hopefully that would help.

I think this can help my other Christian friends here as well. It seems from what I can see of Thai Christianity that they have downplayed the absolute need for repentance. I think they come to church more for a party atmosphere than to get to know the Living Christ and be transformed by him. From what I see they are not being grounded in the faith, and that has to start with a clear, accurate, non-flinching presentation of the Gospel.

Feel free to ask any questions, that would hopefully keep this topic alive long enough to get a few answers,

Thanks,

Jeffrey

Thanks, Dorcas, for replying to my plea. I wish I could use more of what you have advised here, but there is quite a language barrier. I was thinking about using Mars Hill as one of the starting points, but realized that I’d have to start around vs. 22. Anything before that I would not be able to explain. Romans 1 is a good choice as well. Checking out Ray Comfort’s, “Hell’s best kept secret”, I realize there is a lot of reasoning involved. I think it’s a good beginning approach, but for any reasoning, aside from the actual scripture, I’ll need my friend, this lady’s brother-in-law, to translate. Translating Western reasoning to Thai’s rarely works. Plus, my friend’s English is around 30% or less. So that’s why I’m looking for a nearly totally scriptural approach to presenting the gospel.

I like what you said about:

In the main, rather than following a plan... I think what a new Christian needs most, is to be pointed to the portions of scripture which are most helpful in encouraging their personal walk with God... For instance, what is the lady concerned to bring to the Lord in prayer? What hope can you give her that He will hear her?

I think this is important for me to remember, and I can bring her sister into it at this point. She’d know personal details from their relationship. However, this will involve her talking to her sister, then to her husband, back to me, back to him, to the sister and then to the sister-in-law. Complicated enough? How many levels of possible misunderstanding does that involve?

Because I have a feeling that a lot of what she would learn from other Christians would be same ol’, same ol’. I’m afraid of not declaring the complete counsel of God. I’m a distant observer of Thai Christianity - physically present, but largely in a shroud of misunderstanding. However, I know that repentance is not preached, that the songs and worship experience focus on ‘ego Christianity’ as R.O. Roberts defines it, and it seems like Church is just a Jesus party. The Church they’re going to might also be tied up in the ‘prosperity gospel’. Though I haven’t determined this for certain.

I have a lot of respect for the teachings of Ernest O’Neill, and have sought out some of his students here in Thailand, but, though the concepts he teaches are right-on-the-money, I would have to translate everything he says in between the scriptures. When originally dealing with my Thai friends I used to put on an O’Neill (or other) video and stop and start it, clarifying for my friend, who would, in turn, translate it to his wife. I think that they got bored by this approach, as a 40 minute teaching would turn into 2 hours, with the baby sometimes interrupting, thus, it didn’t last many sessions.

I guess I’m kind of lazy, as I can concoct a plan that would work. I just thought that an old hand out there at SI might have some verses written in their old Thompson’s Chain, as a “path to salvation” that is more in keeping with the Gospel of repentance than the 4 Spiritual Laws. I also thought someone might come up with a passage or two that I might have missed otherwise.

Ah, how I miss those days when I could get together with others that spoke my language, and we would share the scriptures and reason together. That’s just no longer the reality of my situation in Thailand. The lady’s name is Paw if you feel led to pray for her. I’m praying that her husband, mother, and other brothers and sisters will all come to know the Lord.

So, I’m still open for suggestions. Got Milk? (of the Word - of course)
Thanks,

Jeffrey

Thanks, Dorcas, for replying to my plea. I wish I could use more of what you have advised here, but there is quite a language barrier. I was thinking about using Mars Hill as one of the starting points, but realized that I’d have to start around vs. 22. Anything before that I would not be able to explain. Romans 1 is a good choice as well. Checking out Ray Comfort’s, “Hell’s best kept secret”, I realize there is a lot of reasoning involved. I think it’s a good beginning approach, but for any reasoning, aside from the actual scripture, I’ll need my friend, this lady’s brother-in-law, to translate. Translating Western reasoning to Thai’s rarely works. Plus, my friend’s English is around 30% or less. So that’s why I’m looking for a nearly totally scriptural approach to presenting the gospel.

I like what you said about:

In the main, rather than following a plan... I think what a new Christian needs most, is to be pointed to the portions of scripture which are most helpful in encouraging their personal walk with God... For instance, what is the lady concerned to bring to the Lord in prayer? What hope can you give her that He will hear her?

I think this is important for me to remember, and I can bring her sister into it at this point. She’d know personal details from their relationship. However, this will involve her talking to her sister, then to her husband, back to me, back to him, to the sister and then to the sister-in-law. Complicated enough? How many levels of possible misunderstanding does that involve?

Because I have a feeling that a lot of what she would learn from other Christians would be same ol’, same ol’. I’m afraid of not declaring the complete counsel of God. I’m a distant observer of Thai Christianity - physically present, but largely in a shroud of misunderstanding. However, I know that repentance is not preached, that the songs and worship experience focus on ‘ego Christianity’ as R.O. Roberts defines it, and it seems like Church is just a Jesus party. The Church they’re going to might also be tied up in the ‘prosperity gospel’. Though I haven’t determined this for certain.

I have a lot of respect for the teachings of Ernest O’Neill, and have sought out some of his students here in Thailand, but, though the concepts he teaches are right-on-the-money, I would have to translate everything he says in between the scriptures. When originally dealing with my Thai friends I used to put on an O’Neill (or other) video and stop and start it, clarifying for my friend, who would, in turn, translate it to his wife. I think that they got bored by this approach, as a 40 minute teaching would turn into 2 hours, with the baby sometimes interrupting, thus, it didn’t last many sessions.

I guess I’m kind of lazy, as I can concoct a plan that would work. I just thought that an old hand out there at SI might have some verses written in their old Thompson’s Chain, as a “path to salvation” that is more in keeping with the Gospel of repentance than the 4 Spiritual Laws. I also thought someone might come up with a passage or two that I might have missed otherwise.

Ah, how I miss those days when I could get together with others that spoke my language, and we would share the scriptures and reason together. That’s just no longer the reality of my situation in Thailand. The lady’s name is Paw if you feel led to pray for her. I’m praying that her husband, mother, and other brothers and sisters will all come to know the Lord.

So, I’m still open for suggestions. Got Milk? (of the Word - of course)
Thanks,

Jeffrey

Sorry for the double-post (You're not seeing double)

Internet ISP stalled, and I guess I chose the wrong way to fix the matter.... Sorry!

Jeffrey

Jeffrey
I do think this is a great question but I suspect is has many different answers. The question 'where do I go from here?' requires a definition of 'here'. ;-)

It is plain to me that the accounts we have of evangelism in the Acts can never be reduced to a 'How to'. I knew a godly old preacher who used to say "the Holy Ghost is God's 'how'". I think we can idenity principles but there will be no blueprint.

One common feature is that the preachers began 'where the listeners were'. Philip began from the point of the eunoch's current experience of spiritual things. Paul is doing the same thing in Acts 17 with not a mention of a single OT verse or of the law. He quotes heathen poets whose references are actually to Zeus/Jove!!

Do you have in mind the kind of person that we might call 'interested'? It may be that there is a path that such a person could be encouraged to walk. Have you seen 'InTheLight' Ron H's website? For someone who is genuinely asking basic questions about what the Bible teaches this is a good place to start. You will find it here...[url=http://www.whitestoneonline.org/index.html]Whitestone.[/url]

Another point of starting might be the very full New Tribes Mission workbooks. eg [url=http://www.ntmbooks.com/productDetails.jsp?sku=123211]Building on a firm foundation.[/url] I know missionaries in Africa who have used this 'starting from nothing' approach and commend it.

The question 'where do I go from here?' requires a definition of 'here'.

'Here' is nowhere. I don't speak Thai. The Thai Lady doesn't speak English. If I'm lucky, occasionally I can get some low-quality translation which would only serve to fill in the gaps.

Sorry, I was just looking for some verses to make sure she got the gospel truth, not what the Thai's preach.

The Bible speaks for itself. I just wanted a road-map of verses & passages to present the gospel to this poor, ignorant Thai peasant - someone Christ died for. Just Bible, just verses and passages. Picture this; I have a Thai Bible, and I have an English Bible. I have a Thai speaker and I am an English speaker. What do I point at in the Thai Bible for her to read? What's the second thing I point to? The third, fourth, and so on.

I've got some ideas, of course, I'd start with the Ten Commandments, and go to the Sermon on the Mount, and point out where Jesus says someone who breaks the law even in thought is as bad as someone who physically breaks it. Then I can go to the book of Revelation and the final judgement.

Then comes the hard point. The Cross of Christ. I don't have a clue how to present this to a Thai without some form of commentary. I guess, Isa. 53 and he was made to be sin for us who knew no sin. You see. The first time a Thai hears that Jesus Christ died on the cross, they think. "He must have done something really horrible to receive that karma". The second thing they would think is the same, but that He or we (Christians) are covering it up by lying about it, because he couldn't possibly die that way unless he deserved it. It's also difficult to explain the concept of God, Sin, Sacrifice, Creation, Heaven, (though they have a limited concept of Hell) and a host of other things we take for granted.

I've been trying to learn Thai very unsuccessfully for 4 years. So unsuccessfully I gave up trying and am thinking about moving on. It is very frustrating on many levels, but my failure comes home more and more as I see the condition of the Lord's body here, and my total inability to communicate to them, even if they speak English a bit. But that's another story.

Some drunk's shooting off a gun -fairly common here, but it doesn't sound too close, still I'd better go lock my door. No kidding!

Thanks anyhow,

Jeffrey

I am familiar with Buddhism and its consequences. I recently came back from Bhutan and found myself asking similar questions to yours. Buddhism holds that what we call creation is an illusion, so there is no creator. There is no concept of sin against a holy God. The only concept of sin is sin against yourself and your next reincarnation. Consequently to believe in a creator God is in itself a 'sin' to pure Buddhism.

This means we can't start where Paul started with the Athenians ie the Creation, nor can we start with a Sinai revelation.

Hi - Thanks for staying with me on this. It's nice to know there's someone out there with Christian care in their heart.

I've been toying with the idea of having a weekly meeting going over the basics of the faith, and, like I said, letting the scriptures speak as much for themselves as possible.

Regarding Buddhism; There's a trilogy of books - Symposium style - available through the Wm. Carey Library at Fuller. I bought the trilogy, which is basically about communicating Christ contextually. Not every paper deals specifically with Thai Buddhism, and I don't agree with everything written. No surprise there. Pretty cerebral sometimes - a little over mine.

But I proposed my idea to my closest friends tonight. Maybe to be held in a public place or restaurant meeting room. Definitely not just one guy teaching though. Will try to keep it on track, but from what my sense of what the Church should be doing, more open to participation.

If I go back into teaching may merciful God prevent me from teaching His children anything in error. (A little prayer thrown in there). I do this with a considerable amount of the fear of God, and He knows my life has been nowhere close to the example Paul set for Timothy. The Lord's will... If he can use a broken down many-year backslider like myself. I pray He close doors if it is not His will.

Again, I don't know where to start. I'm sure I'll be influenced by a few books I've read. Tozer, Nee, R.O. Roberts, Stott. I would like to do a harmony of the gospels study, but that's pretty large of an undertaking - dauntingly so. Maybe Chuck Smith's not doing anything, and I could get him to come over and do his 'Through the Bible' here? Do you think he'd commute?

The Bible tells me that one day there will, in fact, be more answers than questions, but, for now... Oh, well.

Thanks,

Jeffrey