Shaun and John,
I think most of us here are just walking and learning daily and are seeking to be Spirit led. I do know the essentials of my faith and try to stay within the boundaries set by those essentials and although I certainly know that those things are true, I find it difficult to thrust those upon others. When I discuss Jesus with others who ask, I have never given any ultimatum that they must adhere to, just what I believe and why. Maybe there will be a time to be aggressive, but in my small evangelical way, I just try to explain what God has done for me through Jesus. Telling anyone how they should worship the Lord because I consider their method of worship wrong, is way above my pay grade. Of course there are completely pagan obscene stuff that is totally out of bounds, but I think any of us can see a problem there and have no difficulty speaking up.
Once, a while back, I was studying and praying(alone) and feeling that I was finally starting to understand some things about the Lord and what He wants. Right smack in the middle of my quiet prayer time, a startling message hit me like a truck! Let me say here that I have never heard the audible voice of God, but I have had some pretty definite messages from Him that just exploded into my mind(I just can`t think of a better way to express it). The thought, message, or word was this: Charlie, there are some things about which you are absolutely certain you are correct....and you are absolutely WRONG! Things came into focus clearer after that session, so unless I have the infallible Word of God to back up an opinion, I just don`t have an opinion. As an ambassador for the King, I don`t have any opinion except the King`s opinion. Any ambassador who presents his own opinion in matters pertaining to the King and what He wants, better be very sure he is correct or he won`t be a trusted ambassador for long.
As children of God, we hold a special place in the Kingdom, but we are not privy to many, many things that God has already solved. It would be presumptive of me to speak for Him in those areas. Can homosexuals be saved? Can Jews be saved? Can people who have never heard of Jesus be saved? Just how is it that a man who was sacrificed on a cross over 2000 years ago in Judea make my salvation and relationship with God possible? Just what exactly happened to me when the Father, the Son, and Holy spirit came into my heart and agreed to live there forever? I serve a just God who has never told a lie, always did what He said He would do, and loves me more than I can ever imagine...He knows the answer to all of this and more! I don`t, but I trust Him to always do the right thing every time and in every situation. I do often try to explain what happened to me(inside and outside) when I met Jesus, but I`m afraid I do a terrible job many times. I just leave that job to Holy Spirit(who did it anyway) because He can explain to another the same way He did with me!
Praise God because He is who He is,
Charlie