5
Sample Salvation Dialogues
Each
salvation dialogue is unique. Each, however, contains many of the
elements discussed in Chapters 3 and 4. I have chosen to include one
dialogue here because it went so smoothly and followed the guidelines
so closely. I have added part of a second dialogue, because it had a
twist in the procedure. Each seeker was saved. Each confessed
salvation in a Christian chatroom. One responded to a standard
approach, while the other did things differently.
Some lines have been edited out of each dialogue.
Content related to my purpose in presenting the dialogues here is
unaffected.
Dialogue
1
1 CHATROOMSAINT [7:19 PM]: Hi, Seeker. Would you like to get your
reservation for Heaven? You can have a guaranteed place there 10
minutes from now, if that's what you want.
2 SEEKER [7:19 PM]: no thanx luv, i think i'd prefer 2 stay on
earth
3 SEEKER [7:20 PM]: What do i have 2 do 2 get a place in
heaven?
Names,
screen names, and locations are all false. Capitalization,
punctuation, and spelling from the original IM's have been preserved.
4 CHATROOMSAINT [7:20 PM]: You don't have to go now! The reservation
is guaranteed. You may arrive at any time.
5 SEEKER [7:20 PM]: ok, how do i reserve my place?
6 CHATROOMSAINT [7:21 PM]: You have sinned. We all have. That has
separated you from God, Who is holy.
7 SEEKER [7:21 PM]: so i need 2 get back with god?
8 CHATROOMSAINT [7:22 PM]: He paid the penalty for your sin in the
Person of Jesus Christ. Do you remember how Jesus died?
9 SEEKER [7:22 PM]: yes
10
CHATROOMSAINT [7:23 PM]: In the Crucifixion, God punished Jesus for
all your sins. When Jesus said, "It is finished!", He was
really saying, "Paid in full!"
11
CHATROOMSAINT [7:24 PM]: Sin is not an issue between you and God
anymore. Faith is the only issue.
12
SEEKER [7:24 PM]: i didnt know that. Do i have 2 go 2 church
if i want 2 go 2 heaven? Do u think it would b ok if i just prayed at
home?
13
CHATROOMSAINT [7:26 PM]: That's not the issue that's crucial at this
point. Church attendance is good, but it won't make things right
between you and god.
Side
issues and distractions need to be avoided. If an issue not critical
to the seeker's salvation arises, handle it quickly and
diplomatically. Then get back to the business of leading the seeker
to Jesus.
14
CHATROOMSAINT [7:26 PM]: *God
15
SEEKER [7:26 PM]: ok, what will make things right?
16
CHATROOMSAINT [7:27 PM]: Do you believe that Jesus was God in the
flesh?
17
SEEKER [7:28 PM]: I hadn't really thought about it but i
suppose it could be possible
18
CHATROOMSAINT [7:29 PM]: He called Himself by God's Personal Name. If
that's not who He was, then He was a liar and a fraud. There's no
middle ground.
19
SEEKER [7:29 PM]: R u a priest?
20
CHATROOMSAINT [7:30 PM]: No, just a supermarket cashier who knows God
personally and loves you too much to deny you a chance to be saved.
21
SEEKER [7:31 PM]: Thankyou, u r a very nice person saint
22
CHATROOMSAINT [7:33 PM]: That's not the point. Jesus suffered the
torments of Hell so you can live eternally in Heaven with Him. He is
calling you to trust in His sacrifice to save you from eternal
condemnation. Will you do it?
23
SEEKER [7:33 PM]: yes
24
CHATROOMSAINT [7:33 PM]: Do you believe that Jesus was God in the
flesh?
25
SEEKER [7:34 PM]: yes i do
26
CHATROOMSAINT [7:35 PM]: Do you trust His death and resurrection to
save you?
27
SEEKER [7:35 PM]: yes
28
CHATROOMSAINT [7:35 PM]: Will you pray with me right now?
29
SEEKER [7:35 PM]: yes ok
30
CHATROOMSAINT [7:36 PM]: Type in after me, and pray it to God with
all your heart.
31
CHATROOMSAINT [7:36 PM]: Dear God,
32
SEEKER [7:37 PM]: Sorry, i'm confused, do i just repeat what u
r typing?
33
CHATROOMSAINT [7:37 PM]: Yes, but pray it also, from your heart to
God's.
34
SEEKER [7:38 PM]: ok Dear God,
35
CHATROOMSAINT [7:38 PM]: I know that I have sinned.
36
SEEKER [7:38 PM]: I know that I have sinned.
37
CHATROOMSAINT [7:38 PM]: I know that I can't do anything to make
myself right in Your sight.
38
SEEKER [7:39 PM]: I know that I can't do anything to make
myself right in Your sight.
39
CHATROOMSAINT [7:39 PM]: Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die
for my sins.
40
SEEKER [7:40 PM]: Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to die
for my sins.
41
CHATROOMSAINT [7:40 PM]: I trust in His death and resurrection to
give me eternal life.
42
SEEKER [7:40 PM]: I trust in His death and resurrection to
give me eternal life.
43
CHATROOMSAINT [7:40 PM]: Send Your Holy Spirit to live in me.
44
SEEKER [7:41 PM]: Send Your Holy Spirit to live in me.
45
CHATROOMSAINT [7:41 PM]: Make me Your child, Lord. I trust in You for
this.
46
SEEKER [7:41 PM]: Make me Your child, Lord. I trust in You for
this.
47
CHATROOMSAINT [7:41 PM]: In Jesus' Name I pray.
48
SEEKER [7:42 PM]: In Jesus' Name I pray.
49
CHATROOMSAINT [7:42 PM]: AMEN!!!
50
SEEKER [7:42 PM]: AMEN!!!
51
CHATROOMSAINT [7:43 PM]: NewBeliever, you are my sister in Christ!
52
NEWBELIEVER [7:43 PM]: And u Saint are my brother! Thankyou
very much for all your help and support
53
CHATROOMSAINT [7:44 PM]: Glad to do it!
54
CHATROOMSAINT [7:44 PM]: Will you please do me a couple of favors?
55
NEWBELIEVER [7:44 PM]: U have no idea how grateful i am
56
CHATROOMSAINT [7:44 PM]: I'm Phil. What's your name?
57
NEWBELIEVER [7:44 PM]: yes of course, what would you like me
to do?
58
NEWBELIEVER [7:45 PM]: Debbie
59
CHATROOMSAINT [7:45 PM]: Debbie, you're a child of God now!!!
60
NEWBELIEVER [7:45 PM]: and its all thanks to you
61
CHATROOMSAINT [7:45 PM]: NO!
62
CHATROOMSAINT [7:46 PM]: Only Jesus saves!
63
NEWBELIEVER [7:46 PM]: Yes, but you have guided me
64
CHATROOMSAINT [7:46 PM]: I just try to obey when God speaks.
65
NEWBELIEVER [7:47 PM]: Do you often help people in this chat
room?
66
CHATROOMSAINT [7:47 PM]: I wish you'd give a brief testimony in the
room. It will help solidify your faith.
67
NEWBELIEVER [7:47 PM]: ok, what should i say?
68
CHATROOMSAINT [7:47 PM]: Just type in "I was born again at 1:42
AM."
ChatroomSaint
and NewBeliever are six time zones apart.
69
CHATROOMSAINT [7:48 PM]: Please wait for me to get focused on the
room first.
70
CHATROOMSAINT [7:48 PM]: I'm ready!
At
this point, NewBeliever typed the testimony from line 68 into the
chatroom dialogue. ChatroomSaint and several other Christians in the
room celebrated the good news.
71
CHATROOMSAINT [7:51 PM]: May I make a few suggestions to make your
new life easier?
72
NEWBELIEVER [7:52 PM]: yes of course
73
CHATROOMSAINT [7:53 PM]: Save this IM. You will occasionally have
doubts about your salvation. If you have it in writing, you can
resist Satan when he raises doubts.
74
NEWBELIEVER [7:54 PM]: Ok, thankyou
75
CHATROOMSAINT [7:54 PM]: Make a hard copy, too. New saints' disk
drives can fail (unlike Jesus).
76
CHATROOMSAINT [7:54 PM]: Do you have a Bible, Debbie?
If
time permits, begin the follow-up in the salvation IM. This allows
you to answer questions as they occur to the new Believer.
77
NEWBELIEVER [7:55 PM]: ok i will do that, i do have a bible
but i've never read all of it
78
CHATROOMSAINT [7:56 PM]: Start reading daily. The Gospel of John is a
good place to start. Read a chapter every day. The Holy Spirit will
open the Bible to you, and you will learn from it like never before!
79
NEWBELIEVER [7:57 PM]: I will do, the only trouble is, when i
have read passages I find them hard 2 understand
80
CHATROOMSAINT [7:57 PM]: God is living in you, and it's His Book. His
Spirit will explain it to you.
81
NEWBELIEVER [7:58 PM]: I put my faith in God
82
CHATROOMSAINT [7:58 PM]: Pray constantly.
83
NEWBELIEVER [7:59 PM]: Yes i will
84
CHATROOMSAINT [7:59 PM]: Just tell God what's on your mind. He's
always interested, and He can help with every situation in life, not
just crises.
85
NEWBELIEVER [8:00 PM]: God will be my best friend
86
CHATROOMSAINT [8:00 PM]: You need fellowship with God's people, and
you need to worship Him with His people. The church is where that
happens.
87
NEWBELIEVER [8:01 PM]: Yes, I will start going to church
88
CHATROOMSAINT [8:04 PM]: My Website address is in my Member Profile.
I have links that will show addresses of churches where God's Word is
proclaimed in truth. The Church of Scotland and several Baptist
groups over there are very Biblical in their doctrine.
A
Website or Web Page that includes links to church and denomination
addresses is very helpful. You can easily build one; or you may refer
the new Believer to another Site, if you are sure it is linked to
Bible-believing Christian churches.
89
NEWBELIEVER [8:05 PM]: Ok thankyou very much, I am glad you
have helped me to find the true path!
90
CHATROOMSAINT [8:07 PM]: I'll write you over the next few days, and
I'll put other Christians in touch with you. Anyone I send will open
the e-mail with Phil Erickson sent me. I don't give my last
name out too much online, so you'll know the ones I've sent.
Note
the recognition sign in Line 90. Distinguish your e-mails from the
electronic junk mail that every Net subscriber receives daily.
91
NEWBELIEVER [8:08 PM]: Ok thankyou once again, i would like to
keep in touch with you
92
CHATROOMSAINT [8:09 PM]: What's your hometown, Debbie? I might be
able to send some fellow saint to you in person.
93
CHATROOMSAINT [8:11 PM]: If you'd rather hold off on that, I
understand.
Don't
rush familiarity. Build trust before meeting the new saint in person,
or sending anyone else for personal contact.
94
NEWBELIEVER [8:11 PM]: Cwmbran in South Wales. I'm quite
friendly with the local pastor, he's invited me to chapel on several
occasions but I've always been working.
95
CHATROOMSAINT [8:12 PM]: You're Welsh! I work with a lady from
Cardiff.
96
CHATROOMSAINT [8:12 PM]: Where do you work?
97
NEWBELIEVER [8:13 PM]: Do you? I will go to chapel on Sunday.
I work part-time in a shop
98
CHATROOMSAINT [8:14 PM]: That's great! I'm going back to the room
now, Debbie. May God bless you as only He can!!! Good night.
99
NEWBELIEVER [8:15 PM]: Good night thanks once again, i am
leaving the room now, speak to you soon Phil
Dialogue
2
Some
seekers come to the IM with more questions than others. Some even
have their own ideas about the way the IM should proceed. Be cautious
about distractions, and make sure the purpose of the conversation
does not get lost. Pray about any situation that seems
unconventional; but don't miss the opportunity to lead a lost one to
the Savior.
1 CHATROOMSAINT [8:37
PM]: Hi. How can I be of service?
2
SEEKER [8:38 PM]: confused
3 CHATROOMSAINT [8:38
PM]: What's confusing you?
4
SEEKER [8:39 PM]: born again? saved ? this might make sence
to you, but i dont get it
5
SEEKER [8:39 PM]: what do i have to do?
6 CHATROOMSAINT [8:39
PM]: They mean the same thing. A person is saved by faith in Jesus.
7 CHATROOMSAINT [8:40
PM]: May I introduce myself first? I'm Mike.
8
SEEKER [8:40 PM]: hi,im "r"
9 CHATROOMSAINT [8:41
PM]: May I capitalize that?
10
SEEKER [8:41 PM]: sure
11 CHATROOMSAINT [8:41
PM]: Pleased to meet you, R.
12
SEEKER [8:41 PM]: just the first letter tho
13 CHATROOMSAINT [8:41
PM]: OK.
14
SEEKER [8:41 PM]: same here
15 CHATROOMSAINT [8:42
PM]: You have sinned. We all have. However, God loves you, anyway.
16
SEEKER [8:42 PM]: mike, ive heard this stuff before,
17
SEEKER [8:42 PM]: but its always
18 CHATROOMSAINT [8:42
PM]: It's true.
19
SEEKER [8:43 PM]: presented so that christians understand it
20
SEEKER [8:43 PM]: not so that anyone can get it
21 CHATROOMSAINT [8:43
PM]: Because God loves you so much, He lived on Earth as a man,
Jesus Christ.
22
SEEKER [8:43 PM]: why?
23 CHATROOMSAINT [8:44
PM]: He wanted to live a human life without sin, and then to die to
pay for your sins.
24 CHATROOMSAINT [8:44
PM]: He did it because He loves you.
25
SEEKER [8:45 PM]: he has no reason to love us does he?
26 CHATROOMSAINT [8:45
PM]: None at all. He chooses to love us.
27
SEEKER [8:45 PM]: thats not easy to understand
28 CHATROOMSAINT [8:46
PM]: We can't understand God's motives. He doesn't require that,
though. He just wants you to respond to His love with faith in the
death and resurrection of Jesus.
29
SEEKER [8:47 PM]: for what purpose was the death?
30 CHATROOMSAINT [8:49
PM]: When Jesus was crucified, He was without sin. But God put the
punishment for your sin on Him. Jesus suffered eternity in Hell for
you in six hours' time. There's no other way your sins can be
forgiven.
31
SEEKER [8:49 PM]: ok ,can anyone get saved , or does God
choose who he wants?
32 CHATROOMSAINT [8:51
PM]: He invites everyone to be saved! He's inviting you right now.
Jesus paid for all our sins. Eternity in Hell for everyone who's
ever lived, all suffered in one day--that's how much He loves us.
Her
questions answered, Seeker is ready to be saved. A phone call
interrupts the IM just as Seeker is preparing to pray. The call ends.
All goes smoothly for a few lines. Then...
40 CHATROOMSAINT [9:40
PM]: Will you type in a prayer after me?
41
SEEKER [9:40 PM]: you type , i,ll read, o.k.?
42 CHATROOMSAINT [9:41
PM]: I wish you'd repeat it, and pray it to God from your heart. Is
that OK?
43
SEEKER [9:41 PM]: yes
44 CHATROOMSAINT [9:42
PM]: Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner.
45 CHATROOMSAINT [9:44
PM]: Still there?
46
SEEKER [9:45 PM]: yep
47 CHATROOMSAINT [9:45
PM]: If you type the prayer after me, you can save it as proof of
your salvation. That will help you when doubts come. Will you do
that?
48
SEEKER [9:46 PM]: eternal life will be all the proof i need
At this point, is it
better to keep persuading Seeker that your way is best? Is it better
to go ahead her way, and see if the result is eternal life? Which
choice maximizes the probability that salvation will come from this
IM?
49 CHATROOMSAINT [9:46
PM]: OK.
50
SEEKER [9:47 PM]: im not comfortable talking to god on an
i.m.
51
SEEKER [9:47 PM]: kinda personal
52 CHATROOMSAINT [9:47
PM]: Dear Lord, I know that I'm a sinner.
53 CHATROOMSAINT [9:47
PM]: I know that I can't do anything to save myself.
54 CHATROOMSAINT [9:48
PM]: I know that You sent Your Son Jesus to die for my sins.
55 CHATROOMSAINT [9:48
PM]: I trust in His death and resurrection to give me eternal life.
56 CHATROOMSAINT [9:49
PM]: Please send Your Holy Spirit to live in me.
57 CHATROOMSAINT [9:49
PM]: Make me Yours, Lord.
58 CHATROOMSAINT [9:49
PM]: I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen!
59
NEWBELIEVER [9:50 PM]: ok. now what?
Now it's time to check
the result of Seeker's prayer. A simple question and its answer can
serve as the first confirmation of salvation.
60 CHATROOMSAINT [9:50
PM]: Do you know for certain that God saved you just now?
61
NEWBELIEVER [9:51 PM]: i am 100 % positive that i am a child
of god now
62 CHATROOMSAINT [9:51
PM]: Amen!
63
NEWBELIEVER [9:51 PM]: what next?
Public profession of
faith is strong evidence of salvation. Someone who has not really put
faith in Jesus will not go into a Christian chatroom and announce a
new birth.
64 CHATROOMSAINT [9:52
PM]: It always solidifies faith if you confess it right away. Are
you willing to type in a quick confession in the room?
65
NEWBELIEVER [9:53 PM]: do you have a scripture refference for
that?
67 CHATROOMSAINT [9:53
PM]: Yes. Hold on.
70 CHATROOMSAINT [9:55
PM]: Romans 10: 9-10
71
NEWBELIEVER [9:55 PM]: well there you go !
72
NEWBELIEVER [9:56 PM]: brb
NewBeliever goes into
the chatroom and announces her newfound faith, to the cheers of the
saints.
73 CHATROOMSAINT [9:56
PM]: OK!
83
NEWBELIEVER [10:00 PM]: ok,how long you been b.a.?
84 CHATROOMSAINT [10:00
PM]: Since 1965.
85
NEWBELIEVER [10:01 PM]: older than dirt ,huh,
86
NEWBELIEVER [10:01 PM]: do you ever loose your joy?
87 CHATROOMSAINT [10:02
PM]: Rarely, anymore. The joy of the Lord is strength.
88
NEWBELIEVER [10:02 PM]: do you still sin?
89 CHATROOMSAINT [10:04
PM]: Yes, but I confess. God forgives and restores fellowship
immediately.
90
NEWBELIEVER [10:05 PM]: do you have time for a battary of
questions?
91
NEWBELIEVER [10:06 PM]: didnt scare ya off did i ?
If you must cut the IM
short, make follow-up arrangements.
92 CHATROOMSAINT [10:06
PM]: I really don't right now. May I send you an e-mail later this
week?
93
NEWBELIEVER [10:07 PM]: yes, can i e you back?
94 CHATROOMSAINT [10:07
PM]: Yes!
95
NEWBELIEVER [10:07 PM]: thank you
96 CHATROOMSAINT [10:08
PM]: It will likely be Wednesday before I'm back on the computer.
I'll e-mail you on the basic follow-up to salvation then. Meanwhile,
pray constantly that God will reveal his ways to you as you read the
Bible.
97
NEWBELIEVER [10:09 PM]: ok, thanx alot , and look forward to
hearing from you again!
98 CHATROOMSAINT [10:10
PM]: Good night for now, R. May God grow you in your Christian
faith as you serve Him. Visit my Website at www.web.site.
99
NEWBELIEVER [10:11 PM]: ok, nite
When
the IM is over, save it as a text or word-processor file. Pop back
into the chatroom, and thank the Christians there who supported you
with their prayers. As soon as time permits, send a follow-up e-mail.
If the new Believer is reluctant to contact a local church, e-mail
one in his hometown, and try to get contact established.
As
the time stamps in the dialogues above reveal, a salvation IM can
easily take an hour. The work can be slow, tedious, and exhausting.
On the other hand, the payoff is eternal life for the seeker and joy
unspeakable for the one who leads the seeker to Jesus.
Chapter 6
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