There’s nothing wrong with respecting someones right to differ in opinion. We’re not obligated to make people change. But, in terms of a story, we’d each have a great story of how Jesus has affected our lives if our lives reflected that, and if that were true, then we wouldn’t be scared or unprepared. (Bret, this was not pointed at you, rather the plurality in which you wrote of). This is far more compeling and pertainant than offering ONE MORE viewpoint to the pot of future events/eschatalogical theology regaurdless of how well it’s seasoned.

“In death, a member of project mayhem has a name, his name is Robert Palson”

In spite of the societal sub-groups we all are and aren’t a part of, in the end, our personal story is significant because it has a name.

The big question then is what does your name testify?

The question of denominations was one of the exact same questions I was posed with… it’s certainly a set script. And I agree I admired his preparation and the fearlessness he expressed in the conversation. I wished that I was more like that in conversation, instead I was hoping that by telling him I was a pastor, the conversation would end.

Their preparation is to be admired. I have a feeling that he had 4 or 5 different lines of argument memorized. As you experienced, if I ever tried to ask questions along different lines, they were ignored or redirected to a script that he had ready.

I know very few American Christians who are BOLD in sharing their faith. Reflecting on my own fears, I’m too PC – I wouldn’t want to offend someone. I value their right to believe what they want (and my right to be comfortable) over and above any need to be reconciled with God. In terms of our preparation, I tend to believe one of three things: (1) we don’t actually believe all that stuff about hell and judgment; (2) we’re scared and unprepared; or (3) our emphasis is on a life well-lived rather than a Story well-told (we need both).