I have been doing some thinking. Going out and sharing the Gospel in various ways during Mission-Wynne has prompted a number of discussions with church goers, non church goers, lost people, saved people, people who think that they are saved people, etc.
I have two questions I want to pose to anyone who reads this blog (my mom and perhaps one or two others...that is, if my mom even reads it!) and encourage you to comment on what you think. Here goes...
I have asked a question similar to this one several times this week: "What do you think is required for someone to enter into heaven?" The responses have been varied. One that I have heard more than I thought I would have is the "good works" answer. In other words, many have responded by saying "be good" or "read your Bible" or "pray alot" or "go to church" or "love people." Later on in the conversation, however, when Jesus is mentioned and what He did on the cross for our sins, the response shifts to something like, "Oh yeah, well I've done that!" In other words, when the conversation moves to Jesus, something triggers their memory about a prayer they have prayed or an experience they had in the past.
Question #1: What does a response like this say about their salvation? What does it say about evangelism? Can you get the wrong answer about what it takes to get into heaven and be saved? I would love anyone's feedback. (I know, I know, that's more than one question!)
Question #2: Can a person be saved yet be living in unrepentant sin? Or, to say it another way, can you truly be a Christian and be living in a sinful and immoral lifestyle? Again, I would love your feedback.
**Any Bible verses you can provide to strengthen your answer would be appreciated.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
What Do You Think?
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2 comments:
Question #1: At the very least, it says for sure that the person does NOT have a healthy, growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Much more often than that, however, it says that they have not accepted Christ. They simply want to get rid of you.
This type of answer says that the Church, individual Christians, parents, and anyone else who is involved with Christianity have done a poor job of explaining what salvation is. Salvation is more than a couple of answers to questions read from a little tract, praying a prayer, and being told, "You're saved. Congratulations!" Salvation is much more than that. It says that We agree with Him about our sin nature and inability to reach God without His help. It means we accept His sacrifice on the cross as payment for our sins. We accept His promise to cleanse us and remain in us forever. We begin a relationship with Christ. It also says that evangelism doesn't include the vital last step - discipling those who have come to Christ until they grow into Christians who can use their gifts to bring others to Christ. We would never dream of going to the hospital, having a baby, and saying on the way out the door, "We're so glad you've been born." Essentially that is what is often done to infant Christians. They can't feed or clothe themselves or anything else. Nothing can take away the fact that they have been born again, but they have no other life skills spiritually.
Question #2: I believe a person may be saved and be living in sin, but they can't do it and be happy. They will pretty soon be unfulfilled and empty with their lifestyle. Much like the prodigal son, who lived his life and did things that were very inconsistant with who he was. He was a person who lived in a family where the father had unconditional and endless love for him. He also had many, many resources to offer his son. Yet the boy "took the money and ran" you might say. It was fun while it lasted (to a degree. I believe he was very very empty inside long before his stomach almost resorted to eating pig food.) He didn't stay away from his father's house forever. He "came to himself" or finally realized through the hard knocks that he was not living like a child of his father. He turned back, went home, and made things right. His dad was always watching for him to return and ran to meet him once he decided to come home. In much the same way, a Christian may wander into or storm angrily into a life not fitting for a child of God. But they will not be happy or able to continually stay there. If they are truly a child of God, they will come back home. If they stay away without feeling guilt or without knowing they are living in sin, they cannot be a child of God. God's time table isn't like ours. We may say, "He's been away so long, he couldn't be a child of God." That may be true, but we must also remember that God is longsuffering, kind, and patient. He always accomplishes His purposes - even when we think He's waited too long.
I have had the same questions and frustration. It sometimes seems so hard to find the right words or the right questions to approach unbelievers who "know" the right answers. When we explain the gospel, on the surface, it is incredibly simple. The A B C's if you will are a great example. Despite the simplicity, they really are the true steps to salvation. If you ask how to be saved? they are the correct answer. Yet as true christians we know that the meaning goes much much deeper. But a lost person's eyes are closed, so you can't explain the deep meaning to them. They won't or can't understand. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal it to them. So all we can do is explain Salvation to them in simple terms and ask God to reveal the deeper meaning to them over time. So I'm thinking maybe when approaching someone about their relationship with God, we need to find different questions. What do you think about asking something like "tell me how God has changed your life?" or "what has God been teaching you lately?" or something that is a deeper question that will help you get into a deeper conversation with them. I have never tried it but I wonder how lost people would respond?
To question #2, I have to say yes for a short time. But God always brings you back to a place where you have to cry out to him and He reveals your sin to you and it is a very painful experience. Yes, I am speaking from experience. But can you live your life in sin apart from God for a long period of time and be completely content, I believe the answer is no.
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