Why OTM Does What It Does?

Posted by Jim Henderson on: 02.16.2006 /

Off The Map helps Christians understand how we are perceived by Non Christians (a.k.a. missing people as in the people Jesus misses most).

We go right to the source and ask them to tell us what they think.

We propose new ways of approaching missing people.

We are not interested in debates (where both parties argue from strength).

We are interested in dialog (where both parties admit weakness).

3 Responses to "Why OTM Does What It Does?"

  • Comment by: Siamang

    1 02/16/06 10:59 AM | Comment Link |

    I’ll attempt to take this to heart.

    I’m really trying to help you folks here. Of course, from my point of view, I’m not lost!

    There is a doctrine in Christianity that says something like “in the end, every knee will bend before Christ.”

    I cannot say honestly whether or not I will come to Christianity, or any other religion, before I die. I’d like to think I have an open mind, and that my beliefs will be subject to constant re-evaluation and testing throughout my life.

    A different, funny way to look at this for me is that I’m trying to give you the secret soft place in atheists that you can try to hook us with! I have to say that if I knew where it was, I’d have found it myself and brought myself over to Christianity!

    But I believe when it comes down to it, understanding is understanding. Whether you use it to bring people to Christ, or you use it to just get on better with your fellow humans, is up to you.

    I think that in some very core ways atheists forget that Christians have only the very best intentions when trying to bring others to Christ. The key is love in all things.

    I think everyone loses sight of that from time to time.

  • Comment by: earlychurchfathers

    2 02/16/06 12:34 PM | Comment Link |

    Believe it or not, I agree with you. As I mentioned to you recently, Pope Benedict just released his first encyclical, “Deus Caritas Est,” or “God is Love.” So when you say, “The key is love in all things,” you are (believe it or not) speaking with the Pope. Certainly, there are many differences, but I am glad that we can agree on the central significance of love. Perhaps it is the “secret soft place” you were mentioning above.

  • Comment by: Jason Clark

    3 02/17/06 3:07 AM | Comment Link |

    Dear Jim and OTM,

    I find the notion of genuine dialogue with both sides from a point of weakness the most appealling in all this. I too am tired of the polarizing, us and them, being more concerned with being right, than with who we are as people.

    I hope that this process you are engaged in will see your atheist show us his weaknesses, whilst christians admit to theirs, and find a journey of faith together.

    Keep up the good work.

    Jason Clark