[CS-FSLUG] FOSS Evangelism

[Warren Sanders]

Josiah Ritchie wrote:
> I'd be curious what other people's observations are. How do you show
> these people the love and wrath of God in an accurate way? What seems
> to result in opportunity?

What I have observed over the years from living as an example, I have
found fellow members of my LUG holding their tongue or instantly
apologizing for slipping a profane word in my presence.  I do know that
if I'm not present their behavior would not be the same. 

Recently we had lost a member of the Linux community in our region and
we carpooled to attend his memorial.  We tend to hang out in the
#ubuntu-montana channel and prior to this memorial we had many
discussions pertaining to death and this persons faith or lack of faith
in the Lord.  I felt compelled to speak at his memorial and needed to
feel the crowd out for their acceptance of the Word.  Even though there
really is no better opportunity to speak of the Lord and the afterlife
with Him, I chose not to mainly because this person was an avid
atheist.  I chose one great thing to say about this guy and stuck to
this only.  I would not want to inform them of my belief in where this
person, good or bad person probably will end up at the day of judgment.

I am also thankful for a very bold friend in the Linux community for
raising issues of morality and faith in our IRC channel.  He has always
played the 'devil's advocate' in most of what I will say yet we remain
close friends; simply agreeing to disagree.  Several of my friends know
of my 'agenda' in wanting them to choose to live by God's Word, yet they
do not run or scoff.  I believe one day they will find me as a person
who will listen to their woes and ask of God.  This bold friend of mine
just recently ask that I pray intercessory for another family he felt
only God could help them in their sorrow.  I consider this a great
advancement as he has the gift of compassion and mercy!

I do tend to keep it to myself in conversation of God when there is no
feel for a real person on the other end.  Most of these folks I talk
with are real people I have met in life or will in the future here on
earth.  Sometimes I will get a person wanting to talk via IM by random
connection... this person would soon run when they found I was
evangelizing to them.