God, why do I have to tell people they're wrong, when they seem so at peace with their wrong views? Is it so bad when someone doesn't know you? If their false beliefs lead them to do kindness to one another, but the only fault in their actions is that they don't do it for your glory, but they do it only because they love their neighbor, then is it so wrong? Is it so bad to be wrong? If to know God is to love God, then is not knowing God the same as hating God?

I hear the pharisees telling Jesus, "not for your good works do we stone you, but because you, being a man, make yourself God". If Jesus was really just a man, then they would have been right. But Jesus was going around healing people. How could they be right to stone someone who does so much temporal good, even if his theology is blasphemous?

God, when a stranger is kind to me with unsolicited generosity, but then I ask them about their faith and they tell me about some bizarre contortion of your created spiritual order... how do I tell them with love, "you're wrong, and you need to repent and believe the Gospel"? And worse, how can I give them the gospel when they preempt me with stories about how the Catholic church hurt them, and then they lump all nominally Christian groups together. How can I tell them, "we're not all like that" without sounding like a cliche? It would take so long to explain the history and the reasons why the Catholic church is not the true church, because of the nuances in their beliefs and the impact that has on their greater theology, and all that seems totally irrelevant to this individual who needs the gospel in plain and doesn't even believe in Catholicism anyway! I don't like to do it, God! I have never brought myself to be so bold in common interactions!

Is it laziness? Sometimes a person's view of the spiritual world is so twisted that I have no idea how to express the truth to them in a short time with words that would even make sense to them. They would certainly interpret anything I say in light of their own worldview and find themselves back where they started as soon as I leave. I don't like long conversations, especially with people I don't know well.

What does it mean to share the Gospel in a loving way? Is there a "right" tone of voice for this? Is there a certain phrasing that should be used? Do I need to adjust my body language to seem more kind? Am I supposed to weasel the Gospel into a conversation indirectly, as if I don't fully believe it myself?

God, help me and teach me to do what is good in your sight!

The Gospel is offensive when presented in its full integrity. It tells people, "you are wrong, and every intention of your heart apart from God's good grace is evil, but God nonetheless loves you. He humbled Himself by coming down as a man to take the penalty for your sins. All you have to do is believe this, and God's gift of forgiveness is yours". Why, oh God, do you command me to declare the Gospel to all men, and at once command me to be at peace with all men as much as it depends on me? How much does it depend on me? How do I obey you, God?

Lord God Almighty, your servant has no idea what he's doing. Give me some direction in those moments when I'm near people who don't know you. I'm so bold in writing, but so soft spoken in person.

Maybe the problem is that I don't see unbelief as such an egregious sin, especially when it is paired with sweetness of character. It's an underestimation of the seriousness of failing to acknowledge our creator, and a lack of faith in the Most High God to work out these situations if I would just act in faith by telling the truth. But God, how do I do it in a way that communicates your love? It's not a lack of faith alone; it's also a lack of wisdom, and really a lack of social skills. God, I'm not able to do what you've called me to do. Please enable me and embolden me to do it, or else I will never do it on my own. Forgive me, Lord, for my weakness in this; I want to do what is good, but I don't have it right. I trust you, Lord, that you will sanctify me in this. Please do it.

...

I want to start doing the things that God has made me love to do. I haven't done art with my hands in such a long time. I'm going to join a pottery class.

"That sounds apocryphal."