It depends on the rebellion of the pagan (and of course grace) as to how close you can get to the person, when I worked at Late Night people loved me, all of them were nominal Papists, Jews, buddhists and atheists but they loved me.

I had a homosexual roommate who hated me before I even gave him reason because I was a Christian and went to Church (and he was a Baylor student going to a supposedly Christian University).

I never discussed homosexuality unless he brought it up and he always did so in a venomous and asinine tone.

I didn't like him and truthfully the evalgelistic opportunity wasn't there visibly and I did not enjoy his company because of his shameless rebellion and lack of manners.

Late Night knew I was Presbyterian, the lone protestant on staff.

On one occasion I actually was wearing an RUF T-Shirt at work that had a Martin Luther quote on the back and a picture of him on the front wearing a shirt that said "College" (Like John Beluschi from Animal House).

People thought the shirt was great and inspired lots of conversation, and since they trusted me I was not disregarded as an evangelical quack from Texas living in Manhattan.

One Catholic writer for the show was staring at me in the elevator with intrigue and then asked "Is that Thomas Moore?"
"No sir, Martin luther actually" was my reply.
His eyes lit up as the doors opened and he quipped have serious but half teasing, "Ah, Martin Luther...the opposite of Thomas Moore."
And so it was understood we were different and we got along just the same and occasionaly dove into theological questions.

No one ever went to church with me but I think I was permitted the opportunity to get "Evenagelical Right Wing" out of their heads when protestant Christianity was the discussion.

__________________

Travis Speegle
Redeemer Presbyterian, PCA (Waco, Tx)
Pacific Cross Roads, PCA (Los Angeles, CA)


"When it comes to trustworthy theologians one can usually honor the rule of thumb that the deader the better."-Dr. John Hannah, DTS (of all places)