How to help those in the message: Difference between revisions

How to help those in the message (view source)

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→‎Ask One REALLY Good Question

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 =Your friends and family in the message are afraid=
-People in the message are fearful.  Message ministers constantly preach fear to their congregations.  They say, "Don't go on those websites!" or "Stay away from the internet!" or "Don't you go questioning the prophet or his message!"  Fear creates anxiety and can prevent people from interacting with a former message follower.
+People in the message are fearful.  '''This is true even if they don't seen afraid.'''  Message ministers constantly preach fear to their congregations.  They say, "Don't go on those websites!" or "Stay away from the internet!" or "Don't you go questioning the prophet or his message!"  Some go on to say you will "catch an evil spirit" or you will be in danger of "blaspheming the Holy Ghost".  Fear creates anxiety and can prevent people from interacting with a former message follower.
 So how do you deal with this fear?
-It is important to take things very slow.
+'''It is important to take things very slow.'''
 It is also [[Cognitive Dissonance|critical to understand cognitive dissonance]] and to recognize it when you are confronted by it (and you will be).
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 If the message follower responds with a "yes", then they are potentially on a journey towards truth.  It depends on their attitude but, if they are sincerely interested in helping you find the truth, this is a big first step.
-=The Socratic method=
+=Ask One REALLY Good Question=
-Socrates was a famous philosopher who died in 399 BC, over 2400 years ago.  He developed a method of teaching that is referred to as the Socratic method which is still used today.  It is simply using questions to get a person to find the proper conclusion for themselves, without having to tell them.
+There are 2 methods that have been very successful in our experience with message followers.  They are both quite similar.  It requires a lot of thought ahead of time... not telling them exactly what you think... and perhaps playing just a little bit dumb.
-==An example of the Socratic method==
+WARNING: You should generally keep this approach to family members or friends.  Pastors or deacons in message churches generally do not respond well to questions.
+==The "Rock in the Shoe" method==
+Can you ask one simple question that will nag at a message follower as if they had a rock in their shoe?  It requires a question to be well thought out and asked at the right time.  Don't ask multiple questions.  One well thought out question is all that you need.  It might be followed up with another "rock in the shoe" at some later date but starting simply and slowly is the way to go.
+===An example of the "Rock in the Shoe" method===
+Q: I was looking up something on the message on the internet and saw something that I don't understand.  Bro. Branham said that his vision of the 16 men drowning when the bridge was being built in Jeffersonville was fulfilled.  But now I understand that it wasn't.  Even George Smith, William Branham's son-in-law admitted that it didn't come to pass.  Can you help me understand this?
+If questioned you can send them a link to our article on [[The Municipal Bridge Vision]].
+Do not try to explain it to them.  They have to explain it to you.  If they can't, just say ''"I don't understand this."''   Next time you see them, ask them again, ''"Can you help me understand this?  I'm trying to understand it... if William Branham was a prophet, this shouldn't happen.  It's really bothering me."''
+==The Socratic Method==
+This is similar to the "Rock in the Shoe" but is for someone who is perhaps a little more cerebral.
+Socrates was a famous philosopher who died in 399 BC, over 2400 years ago.  He developed a method of teaching that is referred to as the Socratic method which is still used today.  It is simply using questions to get a person to find the proper conclusion for themselves, without having to tell them.
+===An example of the Socratic method===
 Q: If Bro. Branham was a prophet then all of his prophecies will have to come true, correct?
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 Q: So can we try to find the evidence that the 16 men died like Bro. Branham said they did?
-From this point, you can use the facts which can be found in our article on [[The Municipal Bridge Vision|the Municipal Bride vision]] to ask further questions.
+At this point, you refer to the facts which can be found in our article on [[The Municipal Bridge Vision|the Municipal Bride vision]] to express puzzlement... ''if what you say is true, how can you explain this?  I just don't get it.  Can you help me to understand?''
 '''NOTE: It is critically important that you do not provide any of the answers.  They must search for the answers themselves.'''
-Sometimes, it is important to even pretend that you don't get it.  Continue to simply ask the questions.  Don't tell them they don't get it.  Just simply keep asking the questions.
+Sometimes, it is important to even pretend that you don't get it.  Continue to simply ask the question on the ONE issue that you have chosen for them.  Don't tell them they don't get it.  Just simply keep asking the question.
 If you don't understand how to do this in the context of your situation, please feel free to send us an [[Contact information|email]] and we will try to help you out.