A Defense of Christmas

I love Christmas. I am fully convinced that I love Christmas, and that it is a viable and wonderful means of showing honor to the Lord Christ (Romans 14). I had intended this season to refrain from pressing too hard on those Christians who are offended by Christmas, after all, if they are convinced in their mind, and it grieves their conscience, then it is neither right nor safe to press them. However, as the antiChristmas rhetoric has started this year, much worse than in previous years, it has become apparent that this misplaced zeal is only meant to tear down the love and joy of the brethren, and therefore must be rebuked. I am praying to convert you to "this holy tide of Christmas, all others doth deface" (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen), and encourage you to build up the church this advent season.

First of all, we must recognize that we are not living in sixth century BC Babylon, or seventh century AD Saxony, or first century Corinth, or any other place and age where paganism is indigenous. We live in "Post-Christian America", the verse that sums up this country the best is that they, "have the appearance of godliness, but deny its power." (2 Timothy 3:5) Raised under a Judeo/Christian system of law, no-one this Christmas season in America will be bowing down to trees or expecting that their yule log is anything more than a log, and definitely not a means of grace. I've asked thousands of people why they think they are going to Heaven, and I've gotten some outrageous answers, but not a single wrong answer has remotely dealt with observing Christmas or anything to do with Christmas.

Second of all, my friend Willem pointed out that the antiChristmas sentiments are taking on a definitive KJVO feel, chasing after every manner of myth that remotely supports their position. Everytime I've logged onto Facebook over the past week it's like I'm reading a Gail Riplinger novel...Strawmen seem to be the order of the day, ridiculous caricatures of facts are presented that are easily knocked down, the truth stands against the arguments. I'll leave the name out, because I really respect this pastor, but one pastor set up "Yule" as a Babylonian infant son, only to knock it down with ridiculousness; it sounds legitimate and of course you have to say, "I reject the Yule Log altogether!" But the problem is that it's utterly untrue; Yule means winter in German, I could go deeper into its awesome origins, but I just want to point out that KJVO superstitions are outside of the KJVO controversies, and we must forever be on the lookout for strawmen. Now, I've saved the best superstition for last; did you know that Christmas ends in MASS? It is clearly a celebration of the recrucifixion of Jesus and the Romanists are trying to get us to participate! Ok, let's apply your logic, it ends in Mass, true, which meant festival before it meant recrucifixion, and Christmas was around a lot longer than its name (earlier, Navity, Noel, Advent), but look at what it starts with, "Christ". It doesn't start with Winter, it doesn't start with Babylon, it doesn't start with Solstice, it starts with Christ. Every Papist recrucifixion ceremony is centered around their wrong interpretation of Christ, so ALL masses should be called Christmas, but they're not. The term, Christmas, means "Celebration of Christ", we're loving that God became a man, and dwelt among us.

So what of the date? I'm utterly convinced that my Saviour was born on the Winter Solstice (December 25th on the Roman Calendar, December 21st on the Gregorian Calendar); what better way for the King of Light to explode into the darkness rather than on the darkest day of the year? It's almost like he created it to be so. Were other pagan deities supposedly born on Christmas? Yes, but imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Jesus was born on Christmas. But if he wasn't, then you MUST be celebrating his birth somewhere else, because, beloved, you lose so much doctrine if you refuse to celebrate the Advent of your King. The coming of Christ is spoken of repeatedly in the scriptures, your assignment is to read: John 12:46, Luke 19:10, John 18:37-38, Galatians 4:4-5, Luke 5:32, John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 8:9, and especially Philippians 2:1-11; this list is not exhaustive, but it will give you a good start; your King is your example, he is King and Creator, yet he HUMBLED himself to pass into the world through his own creation, born in abject poverty in a stable.

The early church labeled Mary the "Theotokos", it's a word that really makes Protestants squirm, but it's not a term that venerates Mary, it's a term that defines Christ, it means, "God-Carrier", it's directly against the Eusebian heresy which said Jesus was born a man and only later became God at his baptism; the church invented the word Theotokos to say that Jesus is God now, was God in the womb, and forever will be God; it's a glorious term and I love it, even if it makes you squirm. This Christmas, you'd better remember that your Saviour is the Eternal God, even if you don't celebrate Christmas. Your God came not to be served, but to serve, and give his life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45; another Christmas verse).

Christmas really became popular when a terrible heresy was beginning, one we deal with today under the name, "Jehovah's Witnesses", they were originally called Aryans, and they denied the divinity of Christ; they were a major enemy of Christ in the 4th century. In Nicaea, in Turkey, in AD325, it was overwhelmingly agreed upon by the scriptures that Jesus is God the Son; so much so that Santa Claus (Nicolas of Myra, a great saint) punched Arius, the leader of the heretics, in the head. Christmas, or more accurately, the Feast of the Nativity, was a desperately needed festival to combat Aryanism, and another great saint, Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, wrote several great hymns to preach Christ in song. The KJVO people in his day were radically against his music, but it's beautiful.

O come, Redeemer of the earth,
and manifest thy virgin-birth.
Let every age in wonder fall:
such birth befits the God of all.

Begotten of no human will
but of the Spirit, Thou art still
the Word of God in flesh arrayed,
the promised fruit to man displayed.

All praise, eternal Son, to Thee,
whose advent sets Thy people free,
whom, with the Father, we adore,
and Holy Ghost, for evermore.

Speaking of music, it's this time of year that people remember that Calvin advocated the "Regulatory Principle", that if it's not in scripture, we're not doing it. They forget that for the rest of the year they follow Luther's "Normative Principle", if it's not prohibited in scripture and it's useful, we're doing it (do you drive a car or use a computer?).

Very few of us are, like Calvin, Psalm only singers. The greatest hymns of the Christian faith are Christmas hymns, and the only gospel that most unbelievers are going to get this year are in the hymns. I wish I could make every unbeliever sit down and seriously contemplate the lyrics of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and I rejoice that they are so thoroughly immersed in a gospel presence through song during this season.

Unbelievers undoubtedly associate this season as Christian; for a Christian to attack it is both confusing and destructive. We love that our Saviour put on flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14; another Christmas verse!), and we love that a whole nation is confronted with a God who so loved the world that he gave, as a gift, his only begotten Son (John 3:16, Romans 6:23), so I propose, neigh, demand, that we shine the light of Christ during this season, doing our best to ensure that people do not just honor Christ with their lips, but that they actually participate in his grace and are given a new heart which strives to obey his commands.

But is that what the regulatory principle calls for? Are you still holding to it? Then read John 1 and Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1 and Isaiah 9 and Genesis 3 and see that the birth narrative is a VERY real part of scripture, that Jesus having a birthday is hugely important. Like I said, if you reject the December 21st, 25th, or January 6th birthdates, then just make sure you're preaching that the Messiah came into the world in the most humblest way possible, that he held the universe together even as he was being held as a baby.

Do you celebrate birthdays? Did you know that in a PAGAN culture, they thought that birthdays were arrogant and that only kings were arrogant enough to celebrate their birthdays? Do you live in that culture? I don't. I celebrate the birthdays of the ones I love; a dear sweet lady I know and love is celebrating her birthday right now, and I have such affection in my heart towards her and her family that I am telling you that I love her; later this month, and over the whole of the year, I will do the same for my Bethlehem born Nazarene King. Something major happened 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, it was only important because of what happened thirty-three years later when the King of Glory gave his life as a ransom then defeated death; as John Calvin said, "If the gospel be not preached, Christ is, as it were, buried. Let us stand therefore as witnesses, and do him this honor." Let us celebrate and preach the great events of our Saviour, and their theological implications. There are some hugely important events in scripture which we ought celebrate, but they aren't commanded in scripture.

In the Old Testament there is a command to raise ebenezers, or commemoration stones, to great events. Truly, Christians are only commanded to keep Passover (in the month of Easter), but has the regulatory principle so damaged you that you refuse to raise ebenezers? Jesus went to Hanukkah (John 10), which is not in scripture, and therefore I love to stand by ebenezers and preach the great events that happened there: Christmas, Easter (Passover), Reformation Day, John Calvin's birthday (I love birthdays), Columbus Day, etc. etc. My King breached human history on December 25th, 6BC; I'm going to tell you about it, here I raise my ebenezer.

I love Christmas, I hope you will also.

Messiah born so small, asleep in cattle stall
Come to redeem our fall, nailed to a tree
This tiny, helpless child
Through death would reconcile
The holy God and vile, His grace so free
O come, let us adore. - Sovereign Grace Music

Thankful for Pro-Life - Abortion in America

This is the third of three articles on abortion in America.
Click for Article 1 and Article 2

There are a lot of people in this world who are not happy, who are not fulfilled, and who see very little reason to live or purpose for being here. There is one major reason that these things happen, because sin is an affection stealer, it breaks things, it breaks people, relationships, nations, worlds, universes. It is reprehensible and something we should all hate. But we don't; Andrew Fuller put it this way:

Though you be what is called a sinner, yet, if sin were your misfortune, rather than your fault, you might fly for refuge.

Our pride blinds our eyes to the effects of sin, because we feel we deserve the pleasure derived from sin, and that after all, when I'm doing it, it's really not that bad. We have no difficulty rationalizing sin, and unfortunately we pay the consequences afterwards.

As a pastor, I am always on the look-out for people who are feeling down and need a kind word, or an encouragement, or intervention. As I watch, I hear comments that really get me down, things like, "I hate drama," or, "I don't like people," or "I wish somebody loved me." It should be no secret to you, dear reader, that I love drama, I love people, and I am so thankful for so many people to love and be loved by, and in all of that, there is only one person to thank, the God and man Christ Jesus, who gives life, and an overabundance of it.

God is using all things for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). All things? Even drama? Even broken relationships? Even, as this article is about to transition into, abortion? All things. Not all things are good, but all things are used for good for the saint. Drama allows us to know each other better, to break our undue trust in mankind, and place it in God. Drama builds character and, thankfully, crushes pride.

Abortion is being used for good, because it is a constant reminder to the saint that the world is evil, and that life is precious, and that sin is abhorrent but the Saviour from sin is magnificent. This year I am thankful for people who love life, who love people, and who love Jesus. I am thankful that they will be ministers of reconciliation tonight to thousands who are crushed under the burden of materialism and the American Dream. I am thankful that God has called so many out of the darkness of hatred and indifference, quickening them in the love of Christ, and that he is using them to reconcile sinners to himself.

I pray that this Thanksgiving you will awake from slumber to hate sin and love life, to abhor the evil but hold fast to the good. 3300 babies lost their lives yesterday, those babies are held safe in the arms of God, for God saves little ones out of pagan places, "Blessed shall he be, [O Babylon], who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!" (Psalm 137:9) But, 3300 mommies and 3300 daddies, 6600 sinners from one sin yesterday, remain dead in their sins and trespasses, the wrath of God abides on them for their sin.

It is estimated that 1 in 4 women have had an abortion in this country, that's 1 out of every 8 people you meet. Abortion is not a victimless crime, it murders the baby and wounds the mother, it robs a nation of citizens, and it blasphemes the name of the one who gives life. But even while we were a nation of murders and accomplices, while sin was utterly our fault, and the wages of sin were ready to be paid out, Jesus Christ in his great love gave himself to save us from this present evil age; while we had an surplus of death, he gave life, and an overabundance of it. In his resurrection he has secured a place in Heaven for everyone who trusts in him, whose faith becomes like a little child.

So, beloved, this thanksgiving, give thanks to the one who gave the free gift of life, then take his saving message out into a dying world who refuse to give thanks for even the breath they steal from their Despot. Show them their danger, show them the anger they have kindled in the Lifegiver, and then show them the cross where love and mercy met, where sin was atoned for and death was crushed by death.

Those who hate God love death; it doesn't take much looking to find people to prove that fact, so take the message of love of life and righteousness to them. One method to do this is by first letting them condemn the actions of Nazi Germany, then showing them they are as guilty as those soldiers, for failing to stand up for the helpless and oppressed. Living Waters has a great movie describing this method, and I hope you'll take time this long weekend to watch it, and send it into the world, for the message of love, hope, and life that it contains is sure to change hearts and minds, and save lives both in this world and the world to come.


Visit their website, and the Pro-Life section of their website

Pro Choice - Abortion in America

This is the second of three articles on abortion in America.
Click for Article 1 and Article 3

In the 8th century a missionary named Wynfred Boniface breached the darkness of Germany and converted a nation to Christianity. His adventures and exploits, recorded by his biographer, are quite entertaining and edifying.

In one story a young boy runs to Boniface and implores him for help, “Boniface! Boniface! They are going to sacrifice my sister!” Boniface and the boy make haste to the place of sacrifice just in time for Boniface to stop the sacrifice of the fifteen year old vestal virgin by shoving the pagan priest into the nearest tree.

Now, I’m all about choice, I think you should have the choice to be a missionary to America or Germany, you have a choice this Thanksgiving of turkey or ham, the choice is yours to eat apple or pumpkin pie, you have the choice to imbibe in alcoholic beverages or not. But I will not advocate choice in all situations, you DO NOT have the legal choice to drink and drive this Thanksgiving. If you do, I hope you get caught and it costs you $20K in legal fees and cab fare over several years.

Because, like Boniface, I am against your choice to put someone in harm’s way because of what you want to do. It’s illegal to drink and drive, but not all dangerous choices are against mans' law. In this country, it is legal to kill someone before they are 9 months old; in pagan Saxony, where Boniface ministered, it was legal to kill someone in their teens if they were specifically prepared for the purpose; I hope you at least cringe at the thought of a girl having her youth cut short because of some pagan tradition. But in Saxon law it was perfectly legal, which is why we should always defer to the higher and more perfect law of God, which is what Boniface did.

I pray you cringe when you think about babies during gestation cut short because of some pagan tradition. God’s law says so clearly, “Thou shalt NOT murder.” When I think of Boniface’s action, I applaud, thankful that he moved quickly and saved a life; and I pray that if I were in a similar situation I would do likewise. But, beloved, Boniface stopped one immoral killing, today in America over 3300 will be immorally ended. We cannot, and even should not (Romans 12:19), shove every pagan priest of convenience into a tree.

So how do we act? After Boniface helped the girl from the altar, he stood atop it and proclaimed Christ to the crowd; he implored them to flee from idols, to recognize that a sacrifice has been made once for all that saves from death, that Jesus Christ is the righteous given for the unrighteous. When that town was converted, not a single other sacrifice needed to be stopped, because a converted person will not offer their children on the altar of any god, but will love and cherish them (Psalm 127).

We must act by ensuring we preach Christ, that we strive to turn a child-sacrificing nation from idols to the Living God. One way (among many) that you can do this is by watching the 180 Movie and sharing it with everyone you know. Take the world's idols, not their priests, and crush those idols with the truth, and implore them to love the one who gave his life as a ransom for every manner of sin, even the sin of murdering a child. Beloved, be bold, don't worry about what the crowd thinks, think of the little girl on the altar, and act in her behalf while she doesn't have a choice.

Visit their website and the Pro-Choice section of their website

Let us stand fast in what is right and prepare our souls for trial. Let us neither be dogs that do not bark nor silent onlookers, nor paid servants who run away before the wolf. Instead, where the battle rages, let us find ourselves. Run towards the roar of the lion! Run towards the roar of battle! That is where Christ’s most glorious victories shall be won.

– Boniface, Missionary to the Germanic tribes AD672-754

Abortion in America

This is the first of three articles in a series on abortion in America.
Click for Article 2 and Article 3

Anyone who has made anything more than a cursory study of the Old Testament has noticed that there are markers for how bad sin has gotten in Israel. For example, when the king has set up altars for strange gods (1 Kings 3:3), or when false prophets beat the true prophets (Jeremiah 20:2), or both (1 Kings 22:24), you know it has to be bad in Israel. Another marker that cannot be missed is when things get bad in Israel, the children suffer mightily (2 Kings 6:28-29, Deuteronomy 28:53).

But without a doubt, the worst marker of rebellion in the Old Testament is a nation that sacrifices its children to false gods. During the Babylonian exile, an exile in which God is punishing Israel’s heinous sins, here is one indictment against them,

And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? - Ezekiel 16:20-21

In the history of the world, there are no lack of cultures that have practiced child sacrifice for cheap reasons. The Aztecs sacrificed children in hopes that their tears would bring rain, the Moabites sacrificed sons to earn favor in battle, the Inca sacrificed children to end famines, the Pawnee sacrificed girls to appease one of their god’s anger, and the Phoenicians sacrificed babies in return for monetary blessings. This is only a smattering of examples from all over the globe, and in places like China and Uganda child sacrifice is still a horrifying and real means of infant mortality.

It is a tremendous indictment on a nation when God gives them over to child sacrifice. No reason is legitimate, but the worst reason for murdering a baby is for convenience. Are sexual sins such a prize that a child should be offered in order to ensure they can continue? Is the death of a child a means for covering the sin of rape? In a nation that thinks it has evolved past the barbarism of the past, the blood of fifty-million cries out in witness to the stolid nature of mankind’s love of sin and self-interest, and indicts to the hatred of life and willingness to murder others to perpetuate contemptible crimes against God and humanity for the fleeting pleasure of sexual deviance.

Child sacrifice is the marker of a reprobate nation. The souls of its inhabitants are the cost, for God punishes nations in time, but individuals in eternity. Heaven and earth bear witness to our sins, therefore repent towards God, life and death are set before you, therefore choose life that you AND your offspring may have life (Deuteronomy 30). There is no fortune in sacrificing your children (for they cannot cover their own sins, let alone yours), but if you return to the Lord your God, he has made an atonement in the WILLING sacrifice of his Son for sin, then he promises to restore fortunes and give mercy.

But, America, if you continue in the curse, your sacrificed children will see Heaven, but you will face the wrath of a God who hates baby-sacrificers and who will ensure they be adequately punished for offering his sons and daughters as sacrifice. They cry out today against you, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation 6:10) As of now, God says, “Wait a little longer.” But today is the day of repentance, turn from sexual sin to the Living God, repent of idols and self-interest, and worship the God who gives life and mercy, his Son is your only hope.


Visit their website and read an amazing story of a near abortion

Witnessing Technique - Love God & People

The following is a basic transcript of another way to witness; I often hear people who use Living Waters' "The Way of the Master" method of evangelism accused of reciting a script. I know that is not true in most cases, but the following method will provide another method of "The Way of the Master", using Law followed by Grace, to share the gospel. More rationale for this method is located here: Condemned by Love

Evangelist: What do you think happens when someone dies?

Person: (potential answers) Heaven or Hell / Reincarnation / Nothing / Whatever you believe.

Evangelist: If Heaven is real, do you think you're going?

Person: I hope so / Yes / Maybe. (Proverbs 20:6)

Evangelist: Ok, imagine you die tonight, (crazy unlikely scenario, ie. This building falls on us; you get hit in the head by an errant football; you get run over by a bus; etc.) and you stand before God at the gates of Heaven and he asks, "Why should I let you in?" How are you going to answer?
Note: This is not at all a scenario found in the Bible, God will never ask this, but it gets the person thinking about their own righteousness (Romans 3:19).

Person: Because I've done more good than bad / because I'm a good person / because I love God / Because I do things (church, charity) / because I'm saved

Evangelist: The Bible says in order to go to Heaven you have to keep the law (Galatians 5:3, Matthew 5:48), which is found in the first five books of the Bible, in fact there are 613 of them, and they can be summed up in 10 Commandments, and even further, Jesus says they can be summed up in two: Love God, and Love Your Neighbor (Matthew 22:38-40); have you loved God and people?
Alternate: even further, Jesus says the law is summed up in one sentence, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:12) Have you done that?

Person: (confidently) Yes.

Evangelist: Ok, I'm going to give you a short test to see how loving you've been. First question, have you ever lied to anyone?

Person: Yes.

Evangelist: Is it loving to lie to people? Would you like it people lied to you?

Person: No.
Note: I do my best not to argue discretion here, if the person wants to say the loving thing was to lie, I ask if they've ever purposefully told a lie that lifted them up and put someone else down. Almost always the person will say yes.

Evangelist: Have you ever stolen from someone? Regardless of value: music on the internet, something from a brother or sister?

Person: Yes.

Evangelist: Is it loving to steal from someone who worked hard for something?

Person: No.
Note: At this point their countenance almost always starts to change as they are convicted, do your best to not accuse, but continue asking questions.

Evangelist: Have you ever murdered anyone?

Person: (Laughingly/Relieved) No!

Evangelist: Would you agree it's not at all loving to murder someone?

Person: Yes.

Evangelist: Listen to what Jesus said: If you hate someone or call them an idiot or a curse word, you're in danger of judgment as a murderer. (Matthew 5:21-22) Have you ever done that?
Alternate: Use Matthew 5:27-28.

Person: Yes!

Evangelist: So that's three questions regarding people, and just like me, you haven't done very well. Let's look at a question about the love God part: Have you ever taken God's name in vain?

Person: Yes.

Evangelist: That is pretty serious, it's called blasphemy. The Bible says the reason we do that is to set our mouths against Heaven (Psalm 73:9), to declare war on the God who made us (Psalm 139:20). The Bible says we are at war with God in our minds (Colossians 1:21), so we take his blessed name and turn it into a curse word (Psalm 102:8). I've done that too. So we haven't done very well in either the love God or love people categories, have we?

Person: No.

Evangelist: So, if that is the requirement for Heaven, keeping in mind that we've only gone over four of 613 laws, do you think God will let you into Heaven?

Person: No / Probably not by that standard.

Evangelist: Actually the Bible says some really harsh things, it says that all liars will have their place in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8), it says no thief, no blasphemer, no murderer (and/or adulterer) will have any inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Most people set their hope on their love, but in fact we've all sinned and fallen far short of the glory of God. Does it concern you that if you died tonight you'd be judged guilty as a lawbreaker?

Person: Yes / Definitely / A little bit.

Evangelist: It concerns me too, which is why I'm talking to you, the Bible says the loving thing to do is to go out and compel others to flee from the wrath to come (Jude 22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:11-15). The bad news is that we've failed miserably at keeping the law, even in its most basic summation of loving God and loving people, but the good news is that we have a loving God who has done the most amazing thing to provide a way of escape from his judgment. Do you know what he did?

Person: Sent his Son / Gave his Son / Died for us / I don't know.

Evangelist: God, in the great love by which he loved us, gave his Son, Jesus Christ, who is God the Son. He was born of the Virgin Mary, he became God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). He lived a perfect sinless life, tempted in every way we've been tempted, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He reacted perfectly in every situation, always doing the most loving thing for people, which sometimes is correction, he said, "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline." (Revelation 3:19) He also said, "Love hath no greater man than this, that he would lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) In the most amazing act of love, Jesus Christ gave up his life to die on a cross bearing the wrath of God for you (Isaiah 53:10). It was the great exchange, he who knew no sin became sin for us, so that may become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus lived the most perfect loving life, but died as though he had lived our self-centered life, so that we can inherit his righteousness.

Three days later Jesus defeated death, for he had said that one reason his Father loved him was for his obedience, because he would lay down his life and take it back up again (John 10:17). His resurrection proved he was exactly who he said he was: God in the flesh, he proved his payment was accepted by his Father, and he proved that he in no wise will cast out anyone who draws near to God through him (Romans 4:24-25).

It was not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and gave his Son to be the propitiation, the atonement, the satisfaction, for our sins (1 John 4:10). What is required of you to partake in the love of God in Jesus Christ is to repent of your sins, turn away from selfishness to God, and then put your full trust in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.

The way that this all works out is if we're all in Heaven someday, and somebody, maybe an angel, asks, "How did you get in here?" We're not going to have the faintest inclination to say, "Because I was so amazingly loving!" No, we'll be compelled to say, "Because Jesus Christ is amazingly loving, and he sought me, and he bought me, and to him belongs the honor and power and glory forever and ever." and everyone there will say? Amen. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Do you have a Bible at home?

Person: (Almost always yes; make sure they have a Bible or have access to one on the internet: http://www.biblegateway.com/ or http://www.esvbible.org/)

Evangelist: Good, don't take my word for any of this, though everything I've told you is true. Always trust the Word of God over a man. Open up that Bible and read it for yourself. A great place to start is the Gospel of John, it's been called the "Love Gospel" because it was written to fix a church (Ephesus) that was having some serious love problems (Revelation 2:4). It will really show you how much God loved the world, what he did about it, and what it means for you.

So in conclusion, in order to get to Heaven, you have to be perfectly loving; you won't make it that way. Fortunately, we have a perfectly loving God who gave his life for his church. You must repent and put your trust in Jesus, and in his love he will save you.

Make sense / any questions?

Guy Fawkes Open Air