Hikeage, I wouldn't call it embelishment because it is true.
Teachers have a great gift. The challenge is to get the teacher in the same mocassins as the student so that someday, the student will be in the same mocassins as the teacher.
There are alot of Christians from different backgrounds. Some that grew up in wholesome and protected environments; some that grew up in horrible and wretched environments - with the rest somewhere in between. Again, I cannot explain the beauty of seeing someone come up from a rough upbringing transform into a Christian. These people bring wisdom and experience that is powerfully validated by the Bible so they are internally motivated.
I wanted you to know that the approach we take on sharing the Bible can either convert a man for life or push him away. Call me stubborn, but if I were to evangelize, I would focus on getting man to do so on his free will and at opportune timing rather than the brimstone and fire method.
You are right about secularism growing in our society. Its happening for many reasons, some obvious and some not so obvious. Some argue that Christianity is slipping to a secular, post-modern lifestyle and by screaming louder and using fear as a motivator, it will survive.
In my very, very humble opinion, it grows when you hear the latest rap song called "Jesus Walks?" being played on the hip hop station - an unlikely outlet for Christian music. The beats and electronic music and sampling make you think this is going to be a hard rap but if you keep the station on, the man is talking about how 'He wants to talk with Jesus, since its been so long' 'how he asks for forgivenss' and that 'God's spirit is still alive today and is waiting at the hearts of the guys who are the thugs, hustlers and killers to turn their lives around.'
I would wager that most Chrisitans do not even know about this song. I have listened to it carefully. It has a good message and sounds pretty cool.
PS - Rome was not built in one day.
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