What should you ask someone instead of 'Are you a Christian?' when witnessing one on one?
Instead of asking whether someone is a Christian, ask, "How or why should God let you into His heaven?" This opens conversation, prompts them to explain their reasons, and often reveals they overlook Romans 3. It starts with recognizing we are lost and need God's action.
Les explains that witnessing helps, possibly from the Navigators or Campus Crusade, warned students not to simply ask, "Are you a Christian?" because people invariably say yes. Instead, ask, "How or why should God let you into His heaven?" Les says he has used this over the years and calls it the best way to start. It puts the person on a soap box and lets them express themselves. You then hear various reasons people give for why God should let them into heaven, and they invariably overlook Romans 3. This is the first step of faith on the road to salvation: recognizing that in ourselves we are lost, like sheep without a shepherd, separated because of Adam's fall as federal head of the human race. Scripture says everyone has come short of the glory of God, so no one can enter God's heaven unless God does something on our behalf.